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Relocation: where?

(15 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Dave
  • Latest reply from DaveC
  • This topic is not resolved
  • poll: Best out-of-town bike commuter satellite
    South Queensferry : (1 votes)
    8 %
    Ratho : (0 votes)
    Baleno corridor : (2 votes)
    15 %
    Penicuik : (0 votes)
    Dalkeith : (0 votes)
    The Seaside : (7 votes)
    54 %
    Other..! : (3 votes)
    23 %

    12 votes

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  1. Dave
    Member

    The first few speculative searches have gone in on ESPC as our flat continues to choke my aspirations to own more than four bikes and two kayaks while still having room to swing a cat.

    Really we're set on a house rather than a flat with ~3 bedrooms, a toy store garage (essential) and a private garden. On our unspectacular incomes this precludes buying inside the bypass?

    So, with these constraints (and a tolerance of 10 miles each way for a bike commute), where would the panel suggest is best to live ?

    - Penicuik (horrendous driving, unless there's a fast way into town avoiding Straiton this is pretty much ruled out IMO)
    - Ratho (canal, but untreated in winter might mean driving for a couple of months of the year, or braving roads of death)
    - South queensferry (strong option - even connects to north Edinburgh path until that goes the way of the trams)
    - Balerno corridor (no idea about this at all. WoL probably safe from trams, but suitable for brisk commuters?)
    - Dalkeith (seems like it would be a nightmare at rush hour whether you chose the A7 or Gilmerton)
    - Musselburgh way (again, not much idea about this. Innocent comes out at Joppa but is a bit cyclocross, also not convenient for getting out west / north)

    I've lived in Edinburgh for ages now but never outside it. There must be some experts on the forum?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "north Edinburgh path until that goes the way of the trams)"

    Never.

    There are people in several of those places on here - and further out.

    Most of the Balerno WoL Path isn't tarmac - or lit.

    Of course there's more to the size/price balance than crowfly distance from the centre of town.

    There are various places you might like to look that are not traditional/fashionable/leafy.

    Ex-council properties (but not only).

    Go to the ESPC site, Click "Advanced Search", fill in max price, tick garage (next screen).

    Think you might be surprised at some of the things on offer.

    This may or may not be in your price range and might not quite fit the term 'house', but there will always be an un-built-on view and when the WoL floods again you'll be able to rescue the people below by kayak!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I voted Seaside. because that's where I'd like to live. No other reason!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    We moved from Leith to Musselburgh about 14 years ago and it's a pretty good place to live if you like cycling and cycle commuting (+1 for seaside in the poll). It's nothing like living in Edinburgh though. Friends of ours moved from South Morningside to Dunbar and have recently moved back as they just missed Edinburgh too much.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. Dave
    Member

    Yeah, 10 miles is the limit (bonus points if served by a night bus too?) as we're not ready to be countryside dwellers quite yet...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Nelly
    Member

    I put other, as (has been mentioned) its a buyers market in town - you may be surprised what you can get closer in.

    What about currie etc ? Lots of property not moving (chap in office is case in point).

    You might find your flat is a better seller than the one you try and buy - and puts you in a better position, cashwise ?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    What about Portobello? Seaside, new branch of Earthy, bike shop, good cafes, sort of Edinburgh by the sea.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. amir
    Member

    I'd keep your options open as there are so many factors that can influence your choice. We moved out to Eskbank mainly because the house had a lovely garden but it has number of other positives.

    In terms of transport, it is okay going in by Gilmerton but there are other longer routes. For the weekend there is easy access to country roads.

    Being outside Edinburgh has some obvious downside and you'll need to balance these.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. Instography
    Member

    I'm finding life in Fife, combining drive (15 minutes) to Ingliston Park and Ride and cycle (7 miles) into Edinburgh incredibly bearable. Coffee and radio 4 in the car on the way in. Timing is important on the way back but by time I've cycled back to the car, the traffic on the bridge has dwindled to around 10 minutes of relatively slow progress. It's also nice listening to PM and then the news.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. druidh
    Member

    I'm in Balerno and reckon it's just about perfect - but then I'm into Mountain biking too so easy access to the Pentlands plays a part in that. The Lang Whang is a great training facility if you are into road biking, though a bit more limited than East Lothian.

    I was commuting into town every day by bike and found it was never a problem. Lanark Road is obviously the fastest option. WoL is also OK, not too busy in the mornings, and you can switch onto the canal at Longstone if that helps. It is pretty filthy when wet though and regular commuting would likely eat drive trains. 30-35 minutes to Canonmills, 50-55 minutes on the way home.

    Balerno is also "blessed" with more than average snowfall which might affect your commuting (although there were days last winter when ONLY a bike was getting through).

    With kayaks, would you not prefer a seaside location?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    With kayaks, would you not prefer a seaside location? How long from Balerno to Leith in a canoe?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. gembo
    Member

    The canal path paved out to Hermiston [and actually a bit after Ratho now too]. Really just two miles un-paved. Kirknewton has good back road to Heriot Watt then Canal from Hermiston. It took us at least 2 years [ten years ago] Balerno delivered then, but our house is on the main road. There is always an element of compromise necessary whenever you buy a house, I guess.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. Dave
    Member

    As far as the boats go, there's no much of interest closer than Callander (although you can make a good go of it on the Esk around Roslyn) so that's neither here nor there.

    Maybe I need to spend a week doing "fake" commutes (riding to destinations and back to work) to see what is best?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. cc
    Member

    You could be radical and move to the Netherlands, and have lovely cycling in every direction.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. DaveC
    Member

    We moved out to Dalgety Bay. The bridge is the only pita, as far as the commute but otherwise it takes me 1.10 to get in. I've also see folk park out at Barnton Ave and cycle in from there.

    I thought I'd miss Edinburgh but have a whole new county (and more) to cycle round and explore.

    When we moved up we looked at living in Preston Pans, which is very next to the sea, (the house we looked at was 200 yards from sea). It was right next to the Silversands hol place which put me off but I've since cycled out to Haddington, in under and hour which is nice.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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