In this week’s article we discuss:
Rural property specialist Austin Halliday focuses on the renaissance of towns within the Central Belt of Scotland
Much has been written in the last two years about the Covid-induced ‘escape to the country’, however, while demand for rural properties has undoubtedly risen, we have also witnessed a marked rise for a less extreme city swap – homes in the many picturesque and historic towns within the Central Belt of Scotland.
Moving from a big city to a perceived rural idyll can be huge leap of faith and is not without challenges. A small town, however, provides the opportunity to downsize on location and upsize on a property, without sacrificing essential amenities and services. In fact, many would argue popular towns such as Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Auchterarder, Larbert, and Linlithgow strike an ideal balance in terms of size, amenities, proximity to hills and open countryside, high-speed internet connectivity, and easy access to the motorway network throughout the central region.
Long established in Bridge of Allan, Halliday Homes’ pre-covid expansion into Linlithgow was largely a response to the increased demand for easily commutable overflow locations from Glasgow and Edinburgh – and Linlithgow is a perfect example. Historically the county town of West Lothian, the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow is best known for its 15th Century Palace on the edge of Linlithgow Loch. However, demand in recent years has more to do with lifestyle benefits: quick access by road and rail to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and an eclectic mix of historic buildings, interesting shops, fine-dining restaurants, cafes, pubs, parks, and the Union Canal. Most important, compared to Edinburgh, Linlithgow’s property market offers a similarly broad spectrum of property styles but at lower prices, which gives buyers more house for their budget.
If rural seclusion seems a step too far, Halliday Homes can provide valuable insight to town and village locations across the Central Belt where the living is easy.
