Scotland’s property hotspots have been revealed, with two lesser-known locations within commuting distance of Glasgow and Edinburgh making the list. Halifax has released its list of the biggest UK regional house price risers and fallers, with one Scottish city and one town featuring in the top 10.
House prices in Dunfermline, Fife, and Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, increased by more than 10 per cent over the year, with a surge in demand for properties in these areas. Both boast unique attractions and growing communities that enjoy proximity to urban centres as well as rural landscapes.
The growth in these two areas even outpaced London boroughs such as Harrow, Enfield and Westminster, which all experienced price drops over the past year. Scotland ranked fourth overall among Britain’s nations and regions for house price growth, with an increase of just under 6 per cent, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Dunfermline, Scotland’s newest city after being granted the status during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, came in ninth on the list with an average house price of £230,379, a rise of 10.8 per cent. It is connected to Edinburgh by the £1.35bn Queensferry Crossing and it is less than an hour by train to the capital.
You can also make the drive from the Fife city – which was Scotland’s de facto capital for hundreds of years – to Glasgow in under an hour, making it an affordable option for commuters.
Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline is home to a unique set of peacocks, thanks to philanthropist Henry Beveridge who brought them from India. The birds have been freely roaming the town since their arrival and are often spotted along the lower end of the High Street and even in nearby villages.
Earlier this year, they were granted the freedom of the city, recognising their status as a beloved part of Dunfermline. A sanctuary was established for their care in 2016, maintained mostly by volunteers. Dunfermline also has a connection to golf in the US, with locals John Reid and Robert Lockhart credited with introducing the sport there.
Hamilton ranked tenth in the Halifax list, with average house prices of £229,835, up 10.3 per cent. Situated beside the M74, the town provides quick access to the central belt, Glasgow, and the south. Regular train services make it a popular commuting town.
Named after the Royal Dukes of Hamilton, the town boasts several landmarks built by the family. One such structure, the Hamilton Mausoleum, holds the record for the longest-lasting echo in any building worldwide.
Across Scotland, Halifax reported a 5.9 per cent increase in home prices, pushing the average property cost from £233,360 last year to £247,094 in 2024. This equates to a cash gain of £13,733.
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