The Garan Gab is a short monthly blog where we hear from villagers - young, old, local, and incomer. We love the voices that we hear in everyday Muirkirk conversation and we want to represent everyone and show the world wide web the wonderful diversity of our wee population. If you'd like to get involved please contact us. We'd love to hear your own stories and ideas.
August 2025
This month we find out why Chaz chose to move here, what she loves about the area, what made her stay, and what she would like to see for the future of the village.
"My partner had always wanted to move to Scotland after working for the Forestry Commission in Fort William, so we decided to make the move from Cumbria back in 2014. We weren't at all sure where in the country we wanted to be, but we knew we didn't fancy a mammoth trek back down to see family - so not too far north. To be honest, we'd never heard of Muirkirk until we spotted a wee cottage on Zoopla and travelled up to view it. It was run down, but perfect for a skinted couple downsizing and happy to get our hands dirty.
We fell in love instantly. The mining heritage of the area is so similar to where I lived as a kid it brought a real sense of nostalgia, and nowhere else we'd looked had quite the same appeal. It had a rough and ready feel to it, not twee, and not pretentious. It felt as though the village had a heart. We didn't have much money, so the cheap house price was another temptation, never ignore a great bargain right? The funny thing is, the life we have forged here, the friends we've met, the incredible flora and fauna, and the feeling of peace, are all worth so much more. A million pound house in the poshest end of Edinburgh wouldn't have suited us in the way our little home here does. Of course, the people are one of Muirkirk's best assets, friendly, down to earth, and genuinely welcoming - so that's what's helped us feel so at home.
When I think about what I would like to see in the future for Muirkirk, I actually wouldn't want to see it change. It's such a lovely place to live as it is. However, there is room for more local jobs and I think that little villages like this are both overlooked for government funding and often unnoticed by holidaymakers, which is why I was drawn to Muirkirk Creatives' passion to see a heritage and arts centre built here.
Capitalising on the natural beauty of the surroundings - offering creative exhibitions and education, good food and friendly staff, regeneration of the landscape, wetlands and walks, public toilets for visitors, and a space for artists', writers' and filmmakers' retreats - would not only benefit local people looking for work, but would bring in tourists with money to spend in existing businesses. It's a real hidden gem of a village, with so much to offer that it seems almost selfish to keep it to ourselves, especially if visitors contribute to the local economy."
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