West Scotland Marinas - Project Status

[Guest]

We have now returned from a 9 day West Scotland marina tour, streching from Troon up to Dunstaffnage. In addition to marinas and sailing areas we have looked at the property market and some job prospects. We had a brainstorming session back home and would appreciate comments to our current thinking.

As the whole project depends on adequate finances, we will both be looking at professional jobs which we understand are mostly available on the south east clyde coast (West Glasgow / Greenock). Houses there or around Largs are however expensive and the feeling of space we are looking for a bit restricted.

We loved the Cowal peninsula and the protected sailing areas of the Clyde, Kyle of Bute and Loch Fyne, but jobs appeared to be more scacre. So the hatching plan at the moment is to find jobs on the mainland, buy a relatively low cost property on the Cowal peninsula a reasonable driving distance from Dunoon, commute by ferry to work, keep the boat either at Holly Loch Marina which was a bit pressed for space or at Largs which was more expensive and further away.

The main questions are:

Are our assumptions concerning jobs and properties correct?

Is it feasible to commute daily to a job on the mainland from Dunoon?

It is the sailing, space and quality of life we are looking for but this project will stand or fall on the practicalities.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

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[Gunfleet]

I always come back with the same feeling whenever I visit the W of Scotland. Doesn't the answer to your question depend on what you mean by 'professional'? I mean, brain surgeons are always welcome, but if you think being a copper or a clerk is a profession, the Scots are surprisingly well educated (from an English pov) and well paid available jobs less frequent than you'd think. Also, rushing to get on that blinking ferry in the morning - aaargh! It's bad enough when you're a tourist.

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[oldsalt]

Allow up to 2 hours door to door commuting from the Cowal peninsula to Glasgow by ferry and train. Horrendous by Scottish standards, but totally acceptable by London standards, where people live in boring dormitory towns miles from their work. Wheras Tighnabruich houses are magnificent Victorian bulidings and going for a song, and you'll end up with neighbours who will actually speak to you.

Other cheap areas include Ayrshire south of Troon and Ayr. An hours drive plus to Glasgow. Got to be better than living in a London suburb and driving to the Solent every weekend.

You only live once- go for it!

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[ean_p]

Go back in late November or January and then ask yourself the same questions..........

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[Ohdrat]

Jobs outside of the Central Glasgow/Edinburgh axis are not easily found.. I decided that I could take a pay and career (I no longer do what I was trained to do or what most of my qualifications are for)

If you want to earn a living outside of the EdinGlas areas be willing to be flexible about what work you do, your pay, often your conditions of employment, and job spec may not equate to what you are used to.

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[craigbalsillie]

As has already been said a lot depends on what sort of work/property you are looking for.
As far as property goes,
I live 25 miles south of glasgow in a 3 bed semi that costs £70,000 . It takes me 45m to 1 hour to get to work in Glasgow at peak times. I work in IT so I can only advise on IT type jobs. There are jobs out there but as has been said they are mainly in Glasgow/Edinburgh. Where about in England are you based at the moment? Do you have any kids at school age? I was born up here and lived here till I was 18 when I joined the Navy for the next 10 years I lived in Plymouth, Portsmouth, Belgium and the West Country. Given half a chance I would be living in the West Country, but unfortunately the cost of living there is prohibitive whereas here in sweaty sock land I earn a decent wage, live in a lovely house, drive a decent car and generally speaking I do all right thank you very much. A lot to be said for the cost of living up here. It does rain a lot though. If you like the sun beating down on you for days on end , stay put, it'll really jack you off when you get one day's sun in June and that's summer. It was last Friday I believe so you missed it, If you want any further advice or have any questions PM me I'll be pleased to offer any help I can..

cheers

craigbalsillie

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[claymore]

Agree with John
Scotlands fine but a wee holiday is no basis for making such big changes. Unfortunately life demands more than living in a beautiful spot - see how you feel about it when you've had a week there in November or February. And don't think you'll be earning southern pay - you wont and the lower cost of living is not a factor - its expensive!

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Claymore
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[craigbalsillie]

Don't agree that it's expensive.

I can afford to live here and I earn above the national average in wages but there's no way I could afford to live down south. If I could I would!!

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[webcraft]

We've downsized severely and are facing a life of genteel poverty now we've moved West - small boat, tiny house, uncertain financial future but no huge monthly commitments and plenty of friends to go and stay with on the drier E. coast when it gets too dreich here in Winter.

Our priority was finding a house in the area we wanted at a price we could afford - only one came up in two years.

You are obviously planning a more upmarket lifestyle, so I would say that jobs are your priority as you will be able to afford to look at a wide selection of properties. If you are serious about this move, find the jobs first, take them and work out the rest later.

Take heed of Claymore's warning though - it's no place for the faint hearted in Winter, and commuting across the Clyde in February may not be much fun.

- Nick



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[Gordonmc]

Without knowing anything about your jobs background it is impossible to say anything about prospects. Teachers, for example may need additional qualifications and lawyers need a Scottish degree.
Generally all the professions are present in Scotland, but all in smaller sectors, so competition is greater. I don't think salaries are significantly different, other than where London weightings apply.
Property prices are gradually rising, but the market is skewed by fierce demand in one or two hotspots, like the West End of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Get away from the central belt and prices start to fall away in proportion to the distance from a jobs market. Where that is not the case is in some of the resort towns on the Clyde where retired folk traditionally use their pension lump sums to pay cash for houses.
Using the ferry might seem attractive and the service is fairly reliable, rarely missing sailings. They are a lot quieter in the winter as well. On the downside it means an additional expense. Remember if you get off the ferry at Gurock you still have an hour's car journey or a train ride into Glasgow. Do that twice a day and the idyll will soon get tarnished.



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[PeteMcK]

In answer to your first question, I'd say you're slightly out - desirable properties are far from cheap on the Clyde Coast, and, as for job prospects, it depends what you're hoping to work in, but it's likely you'll have to travel to Glasgow or further. Further would be a real pain as public transport is geared to getting you from outlying areas, say Dunoon to Glasgow, but beyond that, think about adding another hour to your journey if you're using train or bus. As for your second question, an uncle of mine commuted from Dunoon to the centre of Glasgow during the 40s and 50s and it's considerably easier now (ferries till near midnight - not 6pm in winter as was, radar! - fog caused a lot of disruption back then, electric trains). Commuting by ferry and train is not low cost and it'll consume a big chunk of mortgage opportunity. As others have said, check Dunoon on a real winter's day in January - dark grey, wet, cold, windy and dead; it can be like that for half the year, and slightly milder for the remainder. It needn't put you off (but be realistic). A lot of people do it - hence the houses prices; I've been toying with the idea myself for a number of years. You get more house for your money in Rothesay (keep your boat on a mooring in the bay or at Port Bannatyne) but the ferries are more likely to be disrupted in winter, usually for just a few hours but sometimes for a full day or more at a time; you'd need a sympathetic employer or a friend's place to doss at.


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[1114C]

Lots of advice flying here!

Winter is poor everywhere so I do not think that living in Largs will be so much of a shock compared to the south coast - if you were moving to the Hebrides or Shetland that would be a point but not on the Clyde Coast so much - the weather can be crap but is that not the same everywhere in the lovely UK if it is - 3 or -5 is that such a difference? I saw more snow in London this Winter than I did up here and I live in Glasgow

Problems are Cowal peninsual is not that cheap by Scottish standards and there are no jobs - Tighnabruaich houses are not cheap particualrly - Dunoon is ridiculously cheap since the Americans left years ago
- go to the GSPC.co.uk site for house prices. I too work in IT and look after recruitment for the firm and there really are not many jobs out there and hundreds of people looking.

I spoke just last week to someone who used to commute from Dunoon to Glasgow but stopped when it all came a bit too much in terms of time - 6:30 am start was a killer she said.

In sailing terms, Kip is the same price as Largs and closer to the Cowal ferry (and nicer I think but I am biased as our boat is at Kip)

The sailing/space/quality of life is all here and lots of people make the move and love it so do not be put off.

Let us know what you decide


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[craigbalsillie]

I don't think it's the winter's that will put you off living up here.

You will be prepared for freezing cold winters and rain etc..

It's the summer that will jar you off. You'll be on the phone to some of your oppo;s down south and they will be talking about how HOT and sunny it is and you'll be tracing the raindrops down the window and looking at your 12" long grass that you haven't been able to get cut as it's been wet since about 23rd May.

We have been subjected to the wonders of Big Brother in this house (SWMBO is a fan) and I occasionally catch a glimpse of the bikini clad inmates frolicking in the garden as I dig out a fleece or a raincoat to go and move the car into the drive...

The best thing you could do , if possible is live here for 6 months .. from about February till August.. you'd experience summer (14th - 17th April) and Winter (the rest of the time) .. but if yoir employer is anything like mine, a 6 month leave of absence is probably a non starter..

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[zvidoron]

Thanks Tom for that,

As the other half involved in this project, could you please leave me a PM with your email I would like to ask you more specific questions about IT job prospects etc.

Kind regards
Zvi

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[claymore]

Its all relative!

The Clyde forecast always seems much pleasanter than the Caledonia one with words like weather - fair and Sea - Slight
Then again - the forecast for the Minch is often horrendous!

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Claymore
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[PeteMcK]

True

Especially when I'm on a foray to Caledonia or the Minches.

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[1114C]

have sent the PM!

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