Why I Moved to Scotland + One Year Update!

How many times have you visited a new city or town and thought, “Yeah, I could live here”?

For me, it was just once — when I visited Edinburgh, Scotland.

A person with long hair stands in a quiet, old European courtyard surrounded by beige buildings with red roofs, potted plants, and stone pathways. — White Horse Close, Old Town Edinburgh

Table of Contents Show

What Inspired Me to Move Across the World?

The idea of moving to Edinburgh, Scotland came to me on my first visit in 2022 as I walked around the cobblestoned streets of Old Town and daydreamed about living among these medieval buildings.

I returned three times to Edinburgh (in 2023, 2024, and 2025), just to make sure I really wanted to move there (and yes, I really did).

When I told my family about my plans (in early 2025), they didn’t believe me — not until I secured my visa and gave my full-time job my 2-week notice.

Ever since paying off my student loans in 2020, I had been saving money, for a house downpayment one day or some other responsible venture.

But I realised I no longer wanted to live in California. I’d seen all I wanted to see there, and I now felt trapped. I wanted new horizons and freedom.

I wanted to live in Scotland.

I’d never lived abroad before, and that’s always been a dream of mine. To stay somewhere long enough to experience all of the seasons and soak in the culture.

So I made it happen.

I moved to Edinburgh in August 2025, and it’s been the best year of my life so far (no regrets!).

A woman kneels in a grassy field beside a resting Highland cow, with rolling hills, trees, and a distant town visible under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

One Year Update: The Dream of Living in Scotland (So Far!)

It’s been a year since I packed my three suitcases (all I now owned) and hauled them across the world, from LAX to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Has it been a magical fairytale?

Honestly, yes. But there’s also been some downsides, which I’ll get into in a bit.

But first, the dream.

A woman with long dark hair walks along a garden path lined with colorful flowers and greenery, with a large historic castle-like building in the background. — Abbotsford, Scottish Borders

I Explored More Than Ever — Even Without a Car

Living near a train system that goes everywhere is real freedom.

Since I don’t have a car anymore, I take the train nearly everywhere in Scotland.

I book my tickets in the Trainline app on the way to Waverley Station, buy a meal deal at Sainsbury’s, then hop on the train, ready for a day of exploring. Brilliant.

And there’s so much to see in Scotland, and you can’t just see it once. You have to see it in every season.

Every month in Scotland brings something new.

Autumn is extraordinary with its golden and red leaves.
Spring comes in waves and it’s so magical.
- In February, snowdrops cover the grounds.
- In March, daffodils pop up everywhere.
- In April, the trees in Edinburgh are covered in pink and white cherry blossoms.
- In May, frolicking in a bluebell forest is a must-do.
Summer goes back and forth between hot and cold days, like it can’t make up its mind, but the wildflowers are stunning.

Scotland is beautiful. The Georgian and medieval architecture, the nature, the greenery.

Living amid so much beauty has been good for my soul in a way I didn’t expect.

A woman with long hair, wearing a light blue skirt and white top, walks along a narrow path through a lush green forest with blue wildflowers covering the ground. — Bluebell forest, Dalkeith Country Park

My Favorite Experiences in Scotland So Far

After a full year of living in Scotland, what are the best places I’ve been?

I’ve had some incredible experiences in Scotland so far.

I’ve seen the northern lights in the Isle of Skye (in January). I’ve toured beautiful castles, frolicked in woods and gardens, and explored ancient ruins.

Here are some of my favorite places so far:

I’ve spent most of the year exploring the area around Edinburgh, since this was easiest to reach.

It’s beautiful, and I saw a lot, but I have so many more places on my list!

A night sky glows with bright red and orange colors, illuminating clouds above dark silhouettes of houses and trees in the foreground. — Northern lights in the Isle of Skye (January)

girl standing in the middle of a leaf-littered pathway with golden autumn trees lining one side and a fence lining the other — Blair Castle in autumn

I Got Fit and Lost 35 Pounds (16kg)

Living in a walkable city has made me the healthiest I’ve ever been.

In Edinburgh, nearly everything I need is walking distance from me (the grocery store, my gym).

I’ve even walked the entire length of Edinburgh — from Balerno to Leith — on the Water of Leith Walkway (14 miles!).

All this walking helped me lose 35 pounds (16kg) my first year living here!

In January, inspired to progress my fitness journey, I joined a gym and began weightlifting twice a week with a personal trainer.

Doing this, I gained muscle for the first time in my life.

I started off lifting 0kg and ended up lifting as much as 70kg (155 pounds) on hip thrusts and RDLs. Insane!

Now I can walk 20k steps in a day and not feel tired, and I can hike to my heart’s content.

Fitness is a life hack, and I am prioritizing my health going forward, so I can continue to do what I love for many decades yet.

A woman in a black dress stands on a stone path, facing an old stone castle ruin surrounded by green gardens and flowering plants under a partly cloudy sky. — Falkland Palace

I Took Writing More Seriously and Wrote a Novel

Living near dozens of bookstores and cafes has helped me keep writing.

There are dozens of bookstores in Edinburgh, the first city of literature. There are also cozy cafes tucked around every corner.

You can probably find me at my favorite matcha cafe, in Morningside, as I’m there so often (the staff even make bets on what I’ll order that day — strawberry or black honey matcha!).

For a writer like myself, this is a dream.

Over the past year, I took my writing more seriously, joined a women’s writers group, and studied the craft.

I even started writing my second novel and hope to finish it by the end of this year!

A narrow, stone alleyway leads to a view of a city with a tall, gothic-style spire in the distance, framed by dark walls and an old-fashioned street lamp. The sky is overcast. — Advocates Close, Old Town Edinburgh

A woman takes a mirror selfie in an elegant room with vintage decor, tall candles, and framed portraits on the wall behind her. — Georgian House, New Town Edinburgh

One Year Update: The Reality of Living in Scotland

Moving abroad — alone — and not knowing a soul in this new country is not without its challenges.

For me, the pros have far outweighed the cons, but I can’t just talk about the sunshine and daisies.

There has been some things I haven’t liked about living in Scotland, but, I mean, there are downsides to living anywhere.

The Unpredictable Weather

The locals ask me one question over and over. “You’re from California, so why in the world did you move here to Scotland?”

Scotland is known for its rainy, cold weather. California is supposedly all sunshine. Perhaps it’s odd that I abandoned the sun, but to me it makes perfect sense.

I’m sensitive to heat, so summers in California were brutal for me. I usually stayed indoors most of the year (in the A/C). And I actually enjoy the moody, cloudy weather of Scotland (for the most part).

One thing about the weather here is that it changes constantly.

There’s a saying that if you don’t like the weather in Scotland, just wait ten minutes — it will change! And boy, is that true. Rain one minute, sun the next. It makes it hard to know how to dress in the mornings.

Edinburgh is also SO WINDY, especially in the winter months. My hair was forever flying around.

The wind honestly was a lot more difficult to endure than I expected.

A person with windswept hair stands on a stone walkway of a coastal castle ruin, looking toward the sea. The scene includes rocky cliffs, green fields, and blue sky in the background. — Tantallon Castle

The Loneliness of Being in a New Country By Yourself

Living abroad, away from your family and friends, means starting over and sometimes being lonely.

However, I chose to live in one place (instead of being a digital nomad and moving somewhere new every few months) because I could better establish a new community and make new friends.

Which I have!

I’ve joined a gym and fitness community, a walking group, and a women’s writers group, all here in Edinburgh, where I’ve been able to meet new people.

I also go on 1-3 day trips every week to explore new places. Because I don’t have a car, I use the trains or the buses to get around, and I inevitably always chat with people on the way, especially in the smaller towns of Scotland where people are even more friendly.

I stay in touch with my friends back in California, and I’m choosing to remain positive and hopeful.

Scotland has felt like home since the moment I stepped foot in this beautiful country, and I know it just takes time to feel settled and find a true community.

A person holding a clear umbrella stands on wet stone pavement among ancient ruins, viewed through a rocky archway on a rainy day. — Dirleton Castle

Would You Ever Move Abroad?

Have you ever thought about living in a different country? Would you ever consider Scotland?

If so, what’s stopping you from making that big move abroad or even finally saying yes to your dream trip?

I know I love to plan, too, but we can’t prepare for or know everything before we go.

Sometimes, we have to prioritise ourselves, our dreams, and say yes to adventure (responsibly, of course), and just go.

A woman with long hair stands in tall grass on a hillside, overlooking a lush green landscape, a river, and a long bridge under a cloudy sky. — Cramond Island, Edinburgh

A woman in a dark dress stands among blooming white flowers in a sunlit forest with tall trees and patches of moss on the ground. — Snowdrops in Dalkeith Country Park (in February)

Final Thoughts

As I head into my second year in Scotland, I feel more confident than ever that I made the right decision to move here.

In doing so, I’ve put one of my personal values — exploration — front and center in my life, which has done wonders for my well being.

On that note, I can’t wait to share, here on my blog, about all the new places I’ll explore.

So subscribe to my newsletter, if you haven’t already, and stay tuned. 🙂