Moving to the highlands

[Fulmar]

One thing, if you are a lover of the outdoors so possibly you like walking and maybe have a dog(?), there are a lot of ticks in the summer and a risk of Lyme's disease so best to be aware of that when out and about and to take precautions.

[KJSigns]

Having moved up to Lybster from Devon in March 16 Ive got to say there is some fantastic advice in this post and its covered nearly everything we have encountered. I would just add that why not come try it out before selling your soul into the move, we looked at a few different houses before committing and then came up over Christmas 2015 for a week in a holiday cottage. Or you could even rent for a few months before making the final purchase and commitment.

The time of the year you move will also dictate employment prospects so if your needing to work to cover expenses then March - September is the best time for job prospects, during the winter I found not a lot was advertised except for care and NHS positions so you need to ensure you have this covered or it could be 6-12 months of no earnings before you find anything possibly a lot longer.

When we came up on holiday we had a lot of expectations and a huge amount of doubts, within a couple days most of the doubts had gone and we had also realised a lot of what has been mentioned already. Even better for us is the fact we loved our holiday cottage so much that on the last day we found out it was for sale, quick call to the owner and local estate agent saw our house go up for sale 2nd Jan and we sold and moved in on 1st March and we can honestly say never once looked back.

Rules for Caithness

Tell people your business or they will make it up
Talk to locals they don't bite (most of the year)
Offer your support to the community offer ideas but don't try and change things.
If your coming to visit first, do it during the middle of winter, if you love that then summer will be a easy.

Any questions about moving please feel free to ask will try and help with anything we encountered.

[Bogbrush]

One word: naked sabbats! And if you're swingers, Halkirk's the place for you.

[The Horseman]

You will find that there are mmmmany homes for sale there... I don't know how they can ask the prices they do.
Knock at least 25% off their asking price. The problem is that if you buy and want to sell, you will lose big time. Best to rent and when you set you eye on a place go LOW.
I do follow the Real Estate market and there is a large house that has been for sale for years....this is an example......it started out at £475,000and went down to 285,000. It keeps coming back......don't know where its is now but for years this has been going on.
Yes Halkirk takes the prize for criss/crossing! Won't take you long........Trust the Royal Mail!
Mind you, Lybster is an active little Village.....of course it depends what you want.

[2little2late]

Lybster is an active little Village.....of course it depends what you want.

and the worst village in the county for incomers.

[Fulmar]

and the worst village in the county for incomers.
I'm guessing that KJsigns will not agree with you!

[SteveMarquis]

Get one of these, they're perfect for man (woman) or beast! http://www.tickcard.co.uk/

And maybe one of these (if you're out in the wilds like we are) http://www.midgie.net/

We've just moved up from NE Wales, it's bliss but not without some effort (which we don't have a problem with).

Everyone has been very helpful and friendly and we are completely taken with the place.

Thoroughly agree with the idea of rental recce if you've nowhere in mind, we airbnb'd to recce our place over 6mths or so prior to moving (we've just arrived).

We wish you much luck and best wishes.