UKC

Mrs A and I have been toying with the idea of re-locating to the north of Scotland when I retire next year. I've spent quite a bit of time in Scotland, but never right at the top.

We've looked at few houses we like on the north coast. But I just wondering how bad are the midges right on the north coast of Scotland. Somewhere between Thurso and Durness.

Thanks.

Not as bad as the west. I've just had a week's holiday in Orkney and sat out every evening until around 9.00pm with no midges at all. 

My tip of the day. Spend at least a month, in winter in the north before you decide to move. I've seen a lot of people come and go over the years. Often around 3 years after they have moved up is when they go.

It's exposed and generally windy up there so although there are midgies they don't compare to further south and especially the west.

As said, it's a very particular place so it might be an idea to spend at least a month there, preferably between October and March, to make sure.

FWIW I love it, I've spent a lot of time up there with work as well on breaks but I'm not sure I'd live there permanently. Orkney on the other hand...

Something you might consider is the impact of the **500.

We live on the West coast and it's fairly easy to escape but locals in the north report a pretty stressful life during peak months, not what you'd want in retirement.

Too late to edit my previous reply but I should have added 

Twentytwoangrymen's comment about living up there for a period in winter is certainly valid but I wouldn't dismiss entirely the trials and tribulations of everyday living during the summer months. Of course, it depends what you're used to.

Good luck whatever!

Too late to edit my previous reply but I should have added 

Twentytwoangrymen and 65's comments about living up there for a period in winter are certainly valid but I wouldn't dismiss entirely the trials and tribulations of everyday living during the summer months. Of course, it depends what you're used to.

Good luck whatever!

You already have good advice. Midge can be bad on occasion, but as a windier environment they are less an issue than on the west coast. I would echo what others have said, but I would suggest not just a month but a full 5-6 months across the darker season. It's brutally beautiful and raw and is very much where you feel alive. However, the hunkering down across winter can be too much for some.

Hunkering down in winter makes it worthwhile for me.

Catching up with friends after we return from an Autumn abroad.

Long nights reading by the fire or binge watching serials we missed.

Short, intense days in deserted boulder fields.

Sitting outside wrapped up with a dram on cold clear nights.

Leisurely social breakfasts in quiet cafes.

The appeal of winter hasn't dimmed in the  20 odd years we've lived in the NW. Wouldn't live anywhere else but as Jimbo says it won't suit everyone.

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. 

We're not big social animals, and prefer the quite life. There is a massive drive to build new houses where we live at the moment, 3500 of them in fact. Our house used to be the last one in our village, and now it's in the middle. Too many people about now and It's affected us more than we thought. 

With regard the climate and weather, I've worked outside all my life so used to that part. The long winter is something to think about, but I quite enjoy being tucked up in a nice warm house, out of the way so to speak. I'm good with my own company, and do nothing quite well. Although we would miss our Daughter and grandkids somewhat, as they live close by at the moment. 

The midges, however, are something I do struggle with as they really like me and make being outside when they're about, very difficult.

Lots to think about.

Do you have anywhere in particular in mind? Some places can feel really remote and it's worth factoring that in if you intend to be there long term.

Definitely worth checking out climate statistics.

As for the midgies, I only find them a problem when I'm cragging or camping and when you live in a place you can pick your times for that. They're also only out from late May to September so it's not the whole year.

The 'long winter' thing isn't what it used to be, I'd be delighted if we got a proper winter but mostly it's just wind, rain and short days. Less of a problem if you're retired I suppose.

There was a nice place in Armadale, but it's now under offer. 

I don't retire until next year, so plenty of time to look.

Yup. Have experience of winters in Glenelg and North Uist and the Winter and weather can feel long, but also glorious and if you like a fire, a book, and your own company, or become part of community and like a ceilidh kitchen, or the local surrogate pub shed, then you'll be fine. I'd love to one day move back up that way, ideally to Sutherland, so I can't knock it at all!

The daylight thing is real. Even in Inverness it doesn't get fully light in midwinter. And there is also too.much in summer

If retiring, bear in mind limited medical facilities too.

Yes. Climate stats are probably worth considering and especially if you go really coastal where access could be affected. Roads where we have lived will be increasingly affected by accelerating climate change and where storms and spring tides could seriously impact road infrastructure over the next 25+ years, which my very personal view is that it is unlikely to be systemically affordable to be addressed. This really was a consideration in us selling up in the past, but then I will be honest and say I am very worried about climate and think and read about the scientific impacts alot. It wouldn't stop me living up in Sutherland though!

Dry & cold for longish periods last couple of winters but not much use if snow & ice is your bag.

Bouldering wise it's been good but you've got to move at short notice but we're both retired so it's not a problem as you point out.

I'd say this is more important than the weather and the midge. It's a long way to raigmore.

That's a very good point.

But locally our GP's are brilliant.

Yes. Good point about medical facilities. These have been downgraded systematically in the Northwest. There are small numbers of ambulances covering big geography. GPs do less than they did, and there can be areas that get poor cover and depend on locums. I am not specifically sure about the far North, but it has certainly been an issue elsewhere in the Northwest. My view is you choose to live in these areas accepting that though the risks of medical events are higher, they are worthwhile for the place you are living. Apologies, don't want to be negative, but it's definitely something to consider.

It must vary of course but our pocket of the NW has an excellent service and has done for as long as I've been here. Some of the locals still complain but they've never lived anywhere else.

I dont doubt it at all Sherlock. There are many great GPs and GP services that have bucked the trend in comitting to their communities in your area, across the Northwest, and in Shetland. My comment relates to my direct experience of further South than you, but also wider and more generally in how much controversy there has been with active service consolidation by the SNP (and associated community resistance) across the last 25+yrs. The most crucial determinant of health outcomes here will be the level of out of hours service you receive, and associated with this, the time to definitive intervention, such as thrombolysis of a heart attack or better still the gold standard of cardiac catherisation in your nearest centre. Time is inevitably a component here in outcomes. As a doctor, I would expect my chances of surviving a significant medical event would be lower living in these parts. At the same time, there has been the emergence of the rural practitioner model of upskilled GPs such as based in Broadford, who provide a fabulous services even as GP service provision has changed radically over that 25yrs especially with massive downsizing in out of hours cover. And many allied services are also really struggling. Mental health, for example, is severely understaffed across the Northwest with a fraction of the cover required for the very high level of demand.

Yeah, no doubt at all re . mental health services being understaffed, pals working in that sector are under constant pressure.

All just my experience of course and we've drifted a long way from midges on the north coast!🙂

Re the remoteness thing, the north coast really is a long way from the south. Living in Inverness, its easy enough to get to the central belt (3ish hrs depending on exactly where). The north coast is almost the same again depending on where you end up (Inverness to Thurso is 2.5hrs). 

Sounds like you're in Englandshire, which makes it a big undertaking if you have any commitments/family down south.

The isolation wouldn't be a problem for me, I'd love it. Not so much Mrs A, she'd miss our daughter and grandkids.

But it's about getting away from all the hustle and bustle we now have living where we do. If it hadn't of been for all the new development in our area, we wouldn't have been thinking of moving.

It doesn't have to be the far north, but the midges eat me alive, so was looking at the best option as I know from experience how bad they are in the west.

Eh? Sorry but this is nonsense. It may not stay light for long but there is nothing wrong with light levels between c0900-c1430 even around the solstice, certainly at Inverness latitude. Indeed the light can be magical at that time.

Also of course if you do require treatment that Raigmore can’t offer then you end up in Aberdeen/ Edinburgh/ Glasgow which can be a very long drive for family to visit, or repeat consultant visits. Even for us from Badenoch it’s a fair schlepp to ARI (MiL was there for a while last year) - folk from Webster Ross/ Sutherland/ Caithness potentially looking at 5+hr drive…

Which Armadale?

All the comments so far should be well considered. North Coast is a long way from definitive medical care should it become needed, or even just consultant appointments. It’s a long and slow way by road to Inverness, let alone friends and family further south when old; slow in summer due to tourist traffic, slow in winter when wet and dark. It will also be a long way from family support as older.
 

I have had more than one friend who has moved and lived in the North and when it’s been either a very bad day, or the medics have chosen caution (good day; for their yet to be first born) , watch the departing SAR-H or Air Ambulance and thought bugger; limited family support network, three hours drive on a dirty night when emotional not fit to do so to be with loved ones at potential life defining events.

If you go make the most of it and integrate well, it’s got a lot going for it.

If uncertain consider a bit further South and East (for better weather and fewer midges), and quicker connections to family in the South and services you need as you age.

That's was too strongly put, yes. But it the light is level  very low because the sun is so low. It is also often cloudy then.

Crazy haircut, man.

I don't know where you currently live, nor how well you know Scotland. But the advice above about trying out areas in Winter before you commit to buying a place seems pretty good to me.

One comment from me: the north coast (depending on exactly where you mean) is a long way from the mountains. So it depends on what you are looking for.

Good luck with it all. 

If you want to be able to sit out in your garden then go north east or east, it's night and day when it comes to being able to enjoy being outside in the highlands in the summer so east is definitley best in that respect. I live 20 miles from Inverness and work in Kyle and the difference in being able to operate out of doors is quite marked between the west and east!  Failing that just bugger off for the midge months or invest in a midge screened porch and get a couple of those goggle/ veil combos to get out and climb when the midge is upon you, ugh they are not fun so totally understand your question ! Good luck and pick your spot!

That sounds like a romantic notion and while enjoyable on holiday can be quite oppressive and depressing during the not infrequent 6 weeks of rain in winter. Dark at 3pm and the sun doesn't rise for 18 hours. 

I’ve seen the street lights come in at 1300hrs on a bad day, and I’m nowhere near that far north.

But I can imagine being quiet happy tucked up, but with things to do.  Let’s face it there a two definitions of a Shetlander, who are much father up; 1) a fisherman with a Croft and 2) someone that lives in a small house with a big barn, and they spend most of the winter in the barn.

Indeed.  I have lived in Orkney for 20 years.  Do not underestimate how much a dreary winter, interspersed with wind and rain storms can get you down.  Bearing in mind I’m originally from NE Scotland and thought I knew about crap weather - no, I did not!  In the time I’ve been here I’ve seen a lot of people come and go.

Also just how far away you are from services that you might need as you age.  An aging population in rural areas puts a lot of pressure on health and care services.  

FWIW when I retire I’ll be looking to move somewhere more populous, probably a small town, so I can be near services without needing to drive everywhere and to be within a train journey of my adult children.  Somewhere with better weather would help too, likely back to NE Scotland 

Tbh, it's not really going to work then, is it?

Apologies if that isn't what you wanted hear.

In reply to 

Umm, looks like too many negatives. We'll have to look elsewhere.

You might consider Morayshire/Speyside or the Black Isle. The midgies are not so bad around there and you can get to Inverness fairly easily if you need to travel south to visit the kids and grandkids. Good local climate too.

Northumberland or the North York Moors would be my second thoughts.

Or East Lothian.

There are negatives, but there are also huge positives - and you can see the evidence of this in those who choose to live here, or move there and stay. If the idea wasn't just a passing idea, then do give it some investigation, trials, and keep your wife fully on board with the exploration and consideration. There are many alternatives, but of course, these also have pros and cons! Good luck!!

Have you considered the Moray coast? Not too far north and def not as wild or remote. However, there are lots of cute villages, beautiful beaches, a very favourable climate (low rainfall and lots of sunshine) and importantly no midges.

Once you are into the realm of dialysis or chemotherapy/cancer/heart transplants or whatever the quality of one's GP becomes somewhat irrelevant!

The guardian lifestyle section is this way---->>>

Perhaps look at somewhere round Nairn, which has a reputation for not being so bad for midges.  Also closer to an airport or railway station for less stressful trips south.

T.