The Top 10 Reasons To Live in Scotland
Scotland has amazing landscapes, and a vibrant culture, and is well-known for its friendly and welcoming population. This post lists the top reasons to live in Scotland.
For centuries people from all over the world have relocated to Scotland. The cost of living in Scotland is almost 50% lower than in other UK cities and there are policies to support people at every stage of their life.
There are plenty of reasons why Scotland is an excellent place to live, there are wonderful landscapes, arts and culture, the Scottish people, Scottish food and drink.
Also, there are great job opportunities, a good education system, and good access to healthcare and Scotland is a safe country.
Wonderful Landscapes
Scotland has so much spectacular scenery including mountainous landscapes, sweeping bays and beaches, dense forests and gentle glens. Impressively, Scotland has 30,000 lochs and 700 islands to explore.
There is so much to discover in Scotland, you can view the grand castles and historical castle ruins. Also, you can climb the highest peaks in the British Isles, view the famous lochs, and join a road trip or long-distance walking route.
Moreover, you can view the rugged coastline and winding rivers by joining a kayaking or river-rafting tour. One of the best activities to do is to island hop in the Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides and the Small Isles.
Compared to other parts of the country and the rest of the world, the country is largely uninhabited. Scotland has 78,8000 square kilometres with a population of just over 5 million people.
Interestingly, London has more people living there than the whole of Scotland. The much lower population level has many benefits including lower property prices, and the cost of living is much lower.
Most of the population live in the Central Belt, in the large cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh or somewhere in between. Scotland is the perfect place to get into the great outdoors.
Arts and Culture
The Scottish culture is one of the most unique and well-preserved cultures in the whole world. Also, the rich and varied history influences everyday life in Scotland.
The arts and culture are important to the economy, communities and almost every aspect of daily life in the country. There are many vents throughout the year which celebrate Scotland’s culture.
Enjoy the Highlands Games, Burn’s Night, Hogmanay, St Andrews Day and many more events throughout the year.
Also, at any of the festivals or events you can see the stunning tartan kilt is the unique national dress for Scotland, try Haggis the traditional Scottish dish and dance at at ceilidh.
Scots are passionate about many traditional sports including golf, curling and shinty. All of the events and activities listed above give Scots a sense of identity, pride and belonging.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival occurs every August and is one of the largest arts festivals in the world. The festival is held in central Edinburgh, along the Royal Mile up to Edinburgh Castle.
The Scottish People
The communities of Scotland include people from all backgrounds and cultures. Scotland is well known for people being very warm and welcoming.
The Scottish people are very friendly. It is normal to be walking past someone in the street and give to give a wave or nod.
The Scots have a strong identity but also it is believed that Scotland has a population that ranges over 170 languages including Gaelic, Punjabi and Polish. The dialects in Scotland highlight the richness and diversity of the population.
The Scottish People love a party, there are many events and festivals throughout the year where you can have a good time. Finally, there are plenty of famous Scottish people in a large number of fields.
Scottish Food and Drink
Scotland’s food is served fresh and is made by local produce. The farming and fishing industry is booming.
Scotland has gentle rolling countryside, with lush farmland and crystal clear waters to make the perfect natural produce. Scotland is well known for the Aberdeen Angus Steaks and seafood including salmon, trout and oysters.
Some of the traditional food dishes to try are haggis, fish and chips, Scotch broth, full Scottish breakfast, cranachan, Cullen Skink and a deep-fried Mars bar. Some sweet treats to try are Scottish shortbread and Scottish tablets.
Moreover, there are plenty of whisky distilleries and gin distilleries to visit with sites dotted all over the country. Tourists from all over the world travel to Scotland to experience the distinctive flavours of Scottish food and drink.
Career Opportunities
Scotland’s economy is booming and there is plenty of career opportunities in different kinds of labour. From the creative industries, including gaming, to STEM subjects including engineering and medical research, Scotland has new interesting developments for almost every sector.
In addition, Scotland is home to plenty of start-ups and tech hubs. More recently, Scotland has had a growth in the tourism and hospitality sector as well as oil and gas, financial services and social enterprise.
Scotland is continuing to develop its policies, infrastructure and technology to ensure sustainable economic growth. The job market continues to grow as Scotland is an attractive investor for investors.
The central belt has the highest proportion of people therefore it is where there are the highest job prospects. Also, you can try and find jobs in the major cities such as Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A few of the most Scotland-specific industries are agriculture and forestry, fishing, oil and gas, renewable energy and whisky. In addition, there are plenty of job opportunities in more traditional public sector jobs such as healthcare workers.
Good Education
Scotland has a good education system where there is a strong sense of equality, fairness and social justice. Public schools are very popular and the government offer free school meals for primary school.
Every citizen who has stayed in the country for at least three years is entitled to free education. This includes college and university for people who are under the age of 25 years old.
Moreover, for certain courses such as nursing, there are free bursaries or grants. I felt like at university there are plenty of opportunities to build connections and network with companies and universities from all over the world.
The Univerisity of Glasgow, the University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews are all top universities that rank a position in the QS World University Rankings. As a bonus, St Andrews, Aberdeen and Glasgow campuses offer ancient buildings and great architecture.
Healthcare
Scotland has a well-known public National Health Service. In Scotland, the waiting lists and waiting times for treatment are a lot shorter compared to England and the staff ratios are better.
Also, in Scotland, there are free prescriptions for medicines on the NHS and free care for anyone over the age of 65 who needs it.
Public Transport
There is a wide range of public transport in the larger cities in Scotland. In Glasgow, you can get regular buses, an underground subway or trains to navigate around the city.
In Edinburgh, there are also buses and a new tram system has been set up to get you around the city. Many of the main towns and cities are connected by trains and buses.
The islands of Scotland have regular ferry times. In addition, there are national bus services which offer low fares and timely journeys to get to your needed destination.
Finally, bus transport is free for those under 22 years old and for those who are over 65 years old.
Scottish Ancestry
It is crazy to think that 50 million people from all over the world have Scottish ancestry. Most people want to live in Scotland or at least visit the country where their ancestors lived.
With the rise in popularity of tracing your DNA kits and tracing your family tree many people are retracing their roots and ancestors.
As well as the ancestry Scotland has a fascinating history, many historical events including the Highlands Clearances and World Wars forces people to leave their home country and settle elsewhere.
Many people, especially Americans are interested in moving to Scotland because of their ancestral connections.
Scottish Weather
Okay, so usually Scottish people will rant and rave at how much it rains in Scotland. But in the spring and summer months, the weather can be quite warm despite the temperatures.
In the summer, Scotland can see up to 18 hours of sunlight with the sun setting after 11 pm on some days. However, the winters can be miserable with only 7 hours of daylight.
The lack of daylight hours is made up by all of the celebrations that happen over winter so you always have something to look forward to. Also, the cooler autumns and winters are some people’s cups of tea, it is nice to cosy up indoors while watching the rain pour outside.
Scotland is one of the most northern countries and despite this, it has a very mild climate. Without the rain in Scotland, we would not have the amazing green luscious landscapes which Scotland is well known for.
Safety First
Scotland is considered one of the safest countries in the world. Due to its location, Scotland does not experience any extreme adverse weather events and is far away from wars and unstable countries.
Also, the crime rate is low compared to other countries as well as the homicide rate.
What are the advantages of living in Scotland?
The main advantages of living in Scotland are the spectacular landscapes and vibrant culture and history. Also, Scotland has good transport links, it is safe, good education system and good job opportunities in a strong economy.
What are the benefits of living in Scotland compared to England?
The benefit of living in Scotland compared to the UK is that the cost of living is less expensive. Scotland has a lower population density and there are less waiting times for the NHS.
What to consider when moving to Scotland?
When moving to Scotland there are plenty of things to consider including the cost of living and what area you would like to live in. You can also consider if the employment well paid for the field you work in, what transport links are like in the place you wish to relocate to plus many more.
Checklist of Things to Consider When Moving to Scotland
- Cost of Living in different parts of the country
- Accessibility to public transport and facilities in that area
- Look at VISA options, can your family come with you, are you working or studying etc.
- Find out the salary for your profession and compare rates
- Research things to do and what life is like in Scotland
- Research local schools if required
Final Note
Scotland is a great place to live due to its welcoming people, wonderful landscapes, food and drink, career opportunities, arts and culture and the great outdoors. It is a lovely country that is safe and offers an excellent place to live.
Before you think about living in Scotland I would recommend researching online and joining local Facebook groups where you can ask questions and get first-hand experience. Also, you can find out what things people do at the weekend and the best way to spend your time off.
Currently, the islands of Scotland are seeking more people to relocate there to increase the population. There are incentives being offered including grants to start new businesses or build new homes.
There are some hidden costs in Scotland. For almost everything you buy VAT is included in the bill. Also, in your pay slip tax is deducted at an average of 20% and there are also National Insurance contributions which contribute to the NHS.
Households are expected to pay for a TV license which covers live TV channels and council tax which covers charges for the school system, general city maintenance including garbage collection, libraries, police and fire services and much more.