Nice towns and villages around Glasgow

t1gger

Hi hi,

looking to buy a house in 2009 around Glasgow (anywhere around it) and I'm looking for suggestions for nice places. Criteria is basically

- 1 hour max by train to Glasgow (I work from home but may need to commute in the future, don't want to drive every day)
- clean and "safe"
- good school(s)
- not inner cityish

We have just moved back to Scotland from London, I grew up in the Highlands so don't know around Glasgow that well. For an example, a place we love so far is Lanark. We'd like to find some more places though to keep our options open.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Always_Harassed

I would rent before you buy to make sure you like the area. Lanark looks pretty but would drive me daft as it is difficult drive into Glasgow and does not have good shops etc but I know people who love staying there. I'm sure that you can get school league tables on line so would check that out also.

t1gger

Thanks! Yes that road is a bit windy but it doesn't bother us (actually we love the area and scenery after coming from London). Don't think we'd rent first as son goes to school where we are now (Largs - talking of windy roads to Glasgow!), don't want to move him then find we need to move again. We will have to be sure 100% that we like to place, so lots of work still to do!

Any suggestions on other areas plleasee??

The_One_Who

Have you thought about more coastal areas in Ayrshire like Troon or Ayr? Ayr is about fifty minutes away from Glasgow on the train and roughly the same driving.

t1gger

Thanks, we have looked around there. We love Troon but it's very expensive.

Is Hamilton ok? Seems quite reasonable compared to Lanark and much better connected for Glasgow.

zappster1966

Hamilton's a wee bit mix'n'match, good parts & bad. Compares very well compared to Motherwell just across the Clyde. East Kilbride's another good alternative.

Don't rule out Lanark though. By train you'd get into Glasgow within an hour, probably by car too if you went via Carluke>Garrion Bridge>M74 route. Despite what a contributor above said, Lanark's shops aren't too bad. It's got a Somerfield & Tesco, a small retail park with Argos, Halfords, Homebase & Pet City plus lots of little specialists shops. Lots of garden centres too if that's your thing. Lanark Grammar School has an excellent reputation & the town itself just grows on you the longer you live there. It's such a quiet place. You'll love it.

And we're moving back there once my I get my transfer through work !

The_One_Who

Hamilton is fine in parts in a bit dodgy in others. Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Lenzie and all quite nice too. Lenzie is quite expensive though.

t1gger

Thanks for the suggestions, promise we'll check them all out!

We are keeping our options open and looking around, no rush in this market but we certainly love Lanark. If the shops are substandard that's totally perfect!! The wife can go to Glasgow and give me peace to watch the footie.

Many thanks again.

hamstercheeks_2

Strathaven is a lovely town, and the schools are amongst the top rated in Scotland

here's a link

http://www.strathaven.org/

hamstercheeks_2

Bearsden is another nice place but very overpriced. Depends on how much you want to spend on property i suppose

hamstercheeks_2

Thorntonhall is another nice area but pricey