wbryce I fly out of Perth and Kirknewton. Kirknewton cannot be used for ab initio PPL training, as it is not licensed (unless you wish to fly and land at a licensed airfield before starting the lesson. Cumbernauld is also an option and Perth is a good training field (due to having a triangular runway pattern, which minimises non-flyable days due to strong crosswinds). I live in Kirknewton and work in Livingston, so if you wish to meet up and talk things through face to face, I'm more than happy to do so. If you wish to go somewhere in Scotland (such as Inverness, which has been recommended by others who have done that) for an intensive 3-4 wk course, then that may open up different options. I have never flown with any of th ePrestwick clubs, but they have consistently been recommended here. For completeness, there is also training at Fife (Glenrothes) and Dundee, also Carlisle.
Would really need to sit down and talk to you to ascertain your priorities (cost, time, big or small airfield, ground school required, etc) to be able to offer much detail. The email address in my profile currently points to my work account, which will not be regularly monitored over the holidays, but if you want to try to talk things through in the next couple of weeks, PM me and I'll send my home tel / mobile number through. If you want to go flying with me at some point to get some experience, that may also be possible. I'm chockers with marauding in-laws for a lot of Xmas, so don't be too insulted if I don't get back to you too quickly!!
Happy Xmas!