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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/nov/23/lets-move-elgin-morayshire
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Let's move to Elgin, Morayshire | Let's move to Elgin, Morayshire |
| (4 months later) | |
| What's going for it? Yes, as in marbles. On the face of it, there's precious little to connect the sun, ouzo and austerity riots of Athens with Elgin. On second thoughts, mind you, if you swapped ouzo for the mellow offerings at Gordon & MacPhail's whisky emporium; and Elgin does have its fair share of austerity; and, back in its 14th-century heyday, visiting Scottish royals used to holiday here for its balmy dry climate (balmy and dry for northern Scotland, that is). But otherwise, Elgin is very, very far from Athens, though a perfect spot to sit out the winter nights, with its refined, civilised air – all sober, elegant, low, stone houses, prim and buttoned up against the North Sea – and snug watering holes. It has a lot of craft shops and a great bookshop. Those winter nights can be long. | What's going for it? Yes, as in marbles. On the face of it, there's precious little to connect the sun, ouzo and austerity riots of Athens with Elgin. On second thoughts, mind you, if you swapped ouzo for the mellow offerings at Gordon & MacPhail's whisky emporium; and Elgin does have its fair share of austerity; and, back in its 14th-century heyday, visiting Scottish royals used to holiday here for its balmy dry climate (balmy and dry for northern Scotland, that is). But otherwise, Elgin is very, very far from Athens, though a perfect spot to sit out the winter nights, with its refined, civilised air – all sober, elegant, low, stone houses, prim and buttoned up against the North Sea – and snug watering holes. It has a lot of craft shops and a great bookshop. Those winter nights can be long. |
| The case against The sense that the glory days of the 14th century, all Robert the Bruce and pillaging, are long ago. An overbearing bleakness, come February: too much grey stone. | The case against The sense that the glory days of the 14th century, all Robert the Bruce and pillaging, are long ago. An overbearing bleakness, come February: too much grey stone. |
| Well connected? Trains every two hours trundling prettily to Aberdeen (90 minutes); along the coast to Inverness (hourly/two-hourly, 43 minutes). Driving: an hour to Inverness, and up to the Cairngorms; a few minutes from the coast. | Well connected? Trains every two hours trundling prettily to Aberdeen (90 minutes); along the coast to Inverness (hourly/two-hourly, 43 minutes). Driving: an hour to Inverness, and up to the Cairngorms; a few minutes from the coast. |
| Schools Primaries: New Elgin, Greenwards and Seafield are mostly "good", HMIE says, with East End and St Sylvester's RC mostly "very good". Secondaries: Elgin Academy is "good" on the curriculum and learners' experiences, and Elgin High "supports young people well to develop and learn". | Schools Primaries: New Elgin, Greenwards and Seafield are mostly "good", HMIE says, with East End and St Sylvester's RC mostly "very good". Secondaries: Elgin Academy is "good" on the curriculum and learners' experiences, and Elgin High "supports young people well to develop and learn". |
| Hang out at… The Northern Fish Restaurant: hunker down over a cuppa and a plate of chips. | Hang out at… The Northern Fish Restaurant: hunker down over a cuppa and a plate of chips. |
| Where to buy A nice line in detached, elegant Victorian villas, with a surfeit of dormer windows. The town was heavily redeveloped in the early 19th century, which removed the medieval core but replaced it with some very elegant streets of stone houses. The West End, for preference, especially west of Hay Street; less dense and greener by the cathedral, river and Cooper Park – King Street is nice. Suburban estates pepper the outskirts; pleasant west, on the Pluscarden Road. | Where to buy A nice line in detached, elegant Victorian villas, with a surfeit of dormer windows. The town was heavily redeveloped in the early 19th century, which removed the medieval core but replaced it with some very elegant streets of stone houses. The West End, for preference, especially west of Hay Street; less dense and greener by the cathedral, river and Cooper Park – King Street is nice. Suburban estates pepper the outskirts; pleasant west, on the Pluscarden Road. |
| Market values Large detacheds, £300,000-£500,000. Detacheds, £120,000-£300,000. Semis, £90,000-£230,000. Terraces, £85,000-£120,000. Flats, £65,000-£140,000. | Market values Large detacheds, £300,000-£500,000. Detacheds, £120,000-£300,000. Semis, £90,000-£230,000. Terraces, £85,000-£120,000. Flats, £65,000-£140,000. |
| Bargain of the week A delicious Victorian four-bedroom stone detached house in the centre, packed with period details, £150,000, with AB+S (abands.uk.com). | Bargain of the week A delicious Victorian four-bedroom stone detached house in the centre, packed with period details, £150,000, with AB+S (abands.uk.com). |
| From the streets | From the streets |
| Alison Wilson "The Lantern of the North – the Cathedral: take a walk up the tower, the view is stunning, and wander round the graveyard. Yeadon's, an old-fashioned, independent bookshop with staff who go out of their way to help you. Cadora fish and chip shop, where you can eat in glorious 1960s Formica booths. Gripes: the bus station is badly designed and in totally the wrong place. Too many charity shops, and we now have the ubiquitous Starbucks and Costa Coffee." | Alison Wilson "The Lantern of the North – the Cathedral: take a walk up the tower, the view is stunning, and wander round the graveyard. Yeadon's, an old-fashioned, independent bookshop with staff who go out of their way to help you. Cadora fish and chip shop, where you can eat in glorious 1960s Formica booths. Gripes: the bus station is badly designed and in totally the wrong place. Too many charity shops, and we now have the ubiquitous Starbucks and Costa Coffee." |
| • Live in Elgin? Join the debate below | • Live in Elgin? Join the debate below |
| Do you live in Exmoor? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please email lets.move@guardian.co.uk by Tuesday 27 November | Do you live in Exmoor? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please email lets.move@guardian.co.uk by Tuesday 27 November |
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