Maybe moving to Western Isles of Scotland Help!

[dawnsandy]

May have a chance to relocate to the Isle of Lewis in western Scotland (if I get through the interview lol.) can anyone give me any info about the area?

Is it very horsey? I would be looking to take my two lads with me so need to be sure. Hopefully will go up for a couple of days soon but that would be spent trying to find OH a job and of course somewhere to live, so anything anybody could tell me would be appreciated. Even if its bad it could stop me making a big mistake.

Thanks anyone.

Dawn

[rosemaryhannah]

I'm afraid I'm in the Clyde - so much further south. Things to think about - limited choices, limited social life. Go in and realise that you are moving to a foreign land, and and a different culture, and take a bit of time to learn. Asking questions is generally appreciated, sounding bossy is the steriotype of the English so to be avoided. Beautiful beautiful place - freedom from many of the fears that beset one in modern cities. Here (and it will be so there) you can leave your house unlocked, walk out and know everything will be untouched when you get home. It will take time money and a big effort for family and friends to come to visit you. I know our farrier visits there regularly. Your own visits to the mainland will require planning, and an overnight stay, and cost a lot. Ferries will be Cal Mac and dear.

The earth belongs unto the Lord
And all that it contains,
Except the Western Isles and they
Belong unto MacBraynes.

[dawnsandy]

Thank you rosemaryhannah for your reply. I've only just sent off my application form and already I'm getting butterflies. Think the OH is not as enthusiastic as he was (think after 29yrs of marriage I could always trade him in for a new model lol!!, except unfortunately there would be no trade in value left in him!!!)

I really can't see it coming off but we can all dream.

Dawn

[rosemaryhannah]

Whyever not? The much lower house prices may do much to convince him :-) the new Scottish access laws (you can ride on any land without stock or a crop on it now) may stiffen your resolve!

[Scotty]

Gosh, I would think twice about moving up there. It is beautiful, but really remote and isolated, and unwordly. There are few jobs except in the public sector so your OH might have real difficulty in finding one. There are few shops and goods are more expensive, particularly petrol. There are fewer amenities than you might be used to.

As for the horses, the grazing is poor, the islands are windswept, northerly and almost treeless. Hence good doers with maybe some native or cob blood might do best, pure TBs or warmbloods may struggle. There are actually not that many good riding tracks on the islands as there are few people to make and use them and no forestry or anything to ride in. Yes in theory you can ride anywhere there are no crops growing but there are hardly any crops in the western isles but a lot of fenced off moorland which is boggy and difficult to ride over, ie no real tracks. Harris is extremely rocky, Lewis is more boggy.

The ferry journey is quite long and that only takes you to Ullapool, another 2-3 hour drive is needed just to get to Inverness.

But if you like quiet places, then housing is certainly cheap. Land often goes with established crofts which hardly ever come up for sale because they are rented on such long, cheap leases which can be inherited. I know there is an active riding club up there, maybe you could find out about it and contact them for more info.

[joc]

Just come back from Western Scotland, Clachan Seil nr Oban. It's beautiful and we've often thought of moving as our friends have an idyllic lifestyle with sailing etc. Not sure what Lewis is like but I don't see many horses around and about, lots of ragwort. Take a step at a time, explore the possibilites and visit when you are ready - could be an exciting challenge, why not try you can always come back. Good Luck - keep us posted!

[dawnsandy]

Thank you all for your reply's. I have at least submitted my application form for the job, think I might go for the interview (obvioulsy if I'm shortlisted, lol) then I think we might have to sit down and think long and hard about our options. Problem being my OH needs a job (can't quite afford him sitting around doing nothing!!) then its an awful long way to move the neddies then to have to bring them back if things don't work out, but I think the worst part about it is at the moment I am in a job I love and of course if I go it wont be mine anymore so will have burn't my bridges so to speak.

Thank-you all again, any more infor just keep it coming and I will keep you posted about what we decide to do.

[joc]

What sort of work do you do? How many people live on the Island?

[dawnsandy]

Hi Joc,

I'm a renal dialysis nurse, they want someone to open a dialysis unit on the island so that people on the island with kidney failure do not have to travel to the mainland for ther treatment.
There are approx 26,000 people living on the island.

[DawnBuckley]

Oh Dawn it sounds idylic! You only get one shot at this life, go for the interview and see where that takes you. You know Im a big believer in fate, throw it out to the 4 winds and see what comes back. Wishing you all the luck in the world mate, you deserve it x

[dawnsandy]

Thank-you Dawn,

Have to see what happens now, its really is in the hands of the gods so to speak, like you I believe in what will be will be. By the way thanks for the photos of little savannah she is gorgeous, glad things are looking good for you.

p.s. the worlds not such a big place anymore is it?

Take care
Dawn XXX