Moving to Aberdeen area

CopperPlate_2

Also, house prices tend to be cheaper in the suburb towns (except Inverurie and Kintore which are ridiculously inflated for what you're getting).

oldstand

Thanks for the replies, would prefer to stay outwith Aberdeen, I will be working in Dyce, and would like to only have at most about a half hour drive to work.
Also require an area with a secondary school , or one close by.

Glitzkiss

If you are working in Dyce then try for one of the towns north or west of Aberdeen. The backroads from Ellon to Dyce are busy but substantially faster than the A90. Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore are all on the A96 and again backroads or timing your journey well can help you avoid the queues at Tyrebagger (big hill just before the A96 joins Aberdeen). Both Kingswells and Westhill are easily accessible for Dyce too.

All the schools for these areas are on par imo so that may not help your decision making. Do you require a local nightlife? If so avoid Ellon as it has very little (and I'm speaking as a resident ) It does have some ok places to eat tho

janken

oldstand wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, would prefer to stay outwith Aberdeen, I will be working in Dyce, and would like to only have at most about a half hour drive to work.
Also require an area with a secondary school , or one close by.

Alright this narrows it down.

I live in a village about 4 miles from dyce (Blackburn) so know this area well. Many people living here work in dyce, if you want village life i would recommend either Kinmuck or Fintray both with easy access to Dyce.

If you are traveling at rush hour all the roads into dyce are very busy. Many big companies have their offices in the area BP, Woodgroup, Kaverner, etc, etc. plus its the airport for aberdeen (+largest heliport in europe). Dyce itself is a suburb and in my opinion is just a large housing estate so would not be my first choice. With 1/2 hour commute you will be limited to the following:

1. Newmacher about 5 miles from Dyce (with secondary school, not sure). This is a popular area for commuters to Dyce.
2. Old Meldrum nice town with a very new secondary school. About 10 miles furthe on from Newmacher.
3. Inverurie, nice town again with a good secondary school (at least it was when i was there) Have a number of teacher friends who work there and say it's still good)
4. Kintore - expanding but not the best town, another very new school.
5. Kemnay nice town with secondary school.
6. Ellon - nice town but dont think you would do this in 1/2 hour.

I would recommend you think about renting for a while to get a feel for the area and the commuting distances. Small vilages can be more friendly and there are many to chose from. The school will be served by bus.

All these places are easy commuting to aberdeen and aberdeen is an expensive place. I dont think Inverurie and Kintore are any more expensive but you will get a lot more for your money if you can get further out. such as Alford or Huntly. Both very nice towns with secondary schools but give yourself at least 1 hour commute. Huntly has a station and i know of quite a number who comute by train right into the center of dyce.

oldstand

janken wrote: »

Alright this narrows it down.

I live in a village about 4 miles from dyce (Blackburn) so know this area well. Many people living here work in dyce, if you want village life i would recommend either Kinmuck or Fintray both with easy access to Dyce.

If you are traveling at rush hour all the roads into dyce are very busy. Many big companies have their offices in the area BP, Woodgroup, Kaverner, etc, etc. plus its the airport for aberdeen (+largest heliport in europe). Dyce itself is a suburb and in my opinion is just a large housing estate so would not be my first choice. With 1/2 hour commute you will be limited to the following:

1. Newmacher about 5 miles from Dyce (with secondary school, not sure). This is a popular area for commuters to Dyce.
2. Old Meldrum nice town with a very new secondary school. About 10 miles furthe on from Newmacher.
3. Inverurie, nice town again with a good secondary school (at least it was when i was there) Have a number of teacher friends who work there and say it's still good)
4. Kintore - expanding but not the best town, another very new school.
5. Kemnay nice town with secondary school.
6. Ellon - nice town but dont think you would do this in 1/2 hour.

I would recommend you think about renting for a while to get a feel for the area and the commuting distances. Small vilages can be more friendly and there are many to chose from. The school will be served by bus.

All these places are easy commuting to aberdeen and aberdeen is an expensive place. I dont think Inverurie and Kintore are any more expensive but you will get a lot more for your money if you can get further out. such as Alford or Huntly. Both very nice towns with secondary schools but give yourself at least 1 hour commute. Huntly has a station and i know of quite a number who comute by train right into the center of dyce.

Many thanks,

will be looking around inverurie, old meldrum, blackburn areas in the coming weeks.

oldstand

Glitzkiss wrote: »

If you are working in Dyce then try for one of the towns north or west of Aberdeen. The backroads from Ellon to Dyce are busy but substantially faster than the A90. Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore are all on the A96 and again backroads or timing your journey well can help you avoid the queues at Tyrebagger (big hill just before the A96 joins Aberdeen). Both Kingswells and Westhill are easily accessible for Dyce too.

All the schools for these areas are on par imo so that may not help your decision making. Do you require a local nightlife? If so avoid Ellon as it has very little (and I'm speaking as a resident ) It does have some ok places to eat tho

cheers , nightlife not so important, take it there is pubs in Ellon!
Aberdeen seems to have plenty nightlife!

mitchaa

You'll need flexitime as the drive into the dyce industrial estate between 0745-0845 and out of at 1645-1800 is an absoloute nightmare.

At its worst this morning, I travelled 1 mile in 22 minutes, and last night to get out of the industrial estate it took 45 minutes for the 1 mile along howe moss drive.

It may be a little better coming from the north side, but from the south side, it is by far the worst ive experienced. Grid lock central.

Dyce is about 6/7 miles north of the city centre, the main airport is also in the industrial estate which does not help the traffic congestion.

If youve got a start time of 0730 and finish 1530, you'll be okay

Glitzkiss

oldstand wrote: »

cheers , nightlife not so important, take it there is pubs in Ellon!
Aberdeen seems to have plenty nightlife!

There are pubs but the only nightclub was closed down last year (or was it 2 yrs ago? time flies ) tbh, it wasn't a great loss to the town :cool:

There are a couple of decent restaurants in the area and the pubs are busy at the weekend.

As mitchaa said Dyce can be a bit of a nightmare to get into during peak times therefore if your job is flexible try and time your day to avoid it

janken

Keep us posted on how you get on - nice to find an outsiders take on the area. As everyone says the trafic is !!!!!! from all directions.

Ali1501

Glitzkiss wrote: »

If you are working in Dyce then try for one of the towns north or west of Aberdeen. The backroads from Ellon to Dyce are busy but substantially faster than the A90. Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore are all on the A96 and again backroads or timing your journey well can help you avoid the queues at Tyrebagger (big hill just before the A96 joins Aberdeen). Both Kingswells and Westhill are easily accessible for Dyce too.

All the schools for these areas are on par imo so that may not help your decision making. Do you require a local nightlife? If so avoid Ellon as it has very little (and I'm speaking as a resident ) It does have some ok places to eat tho

tis true. I'll go out for a meal but never go 'out' I arrange to stay in Aberdeen for my nights out. Like Glitz says tho, some great places for food

I usually leave between 6 - 6.30 to beat traffic, Id rather be in the office with a coffee than stuck at a snails pace on the A90!