Scots have shared their picks for the “best towns to live in” in Scotland. Whether you are a fan of the hustle and bustle of city living, or prefer being surrounded by nature, Scotland has it all.
We recently shared our list of the top 20 places to live around the country. And one person thinking about moving to Scotland posted online asking for advice.
They wrote on the Singletrack World mountain biking forum seeking recommendations on where to live, and were quickly flooded with responses.
The user wrote: “I’m planning on moving to Scotland within the next six months or so, entirely for the scenery, outdoor activities and mountain biking. I work from home so can literally be anywhere with an Internet connection.
“I was wondering where people thought would be best? I am in my mid 20s so preferably somewhere with some young people, but I’m not into the clubbing scene, a local bar or two is fine. I would like to live close to a town, but doesn’t necessarily need to be a big city.”
The suggestions they received ranged from small villages to larger towns with more amenities. Meanwhile, others proposed cities that still offer plenty of greenery.
Among the top destinations in Scotland recommended was Perthshire. Featuring more than 200,000 acres of woodlands, the region is perfect for nature lovers thanks to its picturesque glens, rivers, and forests.
One user wrote: “I’d recommend somewhere near Perth. I’m up in Moray but always loved Perthshire, not too far to the big cities and not far north to the Cairngorms etc.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love where I live and there’s plenty to do here but would probably like to be closer to the big cities if I were younger.”
On the other hand, another argued: “Lived in Perth for the first 23 years of my life, it’s nice enough, been going a little downhill but for what you’re after it does tick the boxes. It has a lot of decent pubs, is just down the road from Dunkeld/Pitlochry so you can do watersports, hiking, etc up that area.”
Meanwhile, other Singletrack World users suggested the Scottish Borders. Famous for its rolling hills and open countryside, the council area is also home to Glentress — one of the world-class 7stanes mountain bike venues.
One user shared: “Borders towns of course would fit the bill in many ways with ease of access (by car) down south and good access to Edinburgh for city stuff. Some really nice places to live there.”
A second echoed: “We were looking at Perthshire, now we’re tending toward the Borders, and Selkirk. Property is very affordable, loads to do locally – we cycle, road and off road, as well as kayak whitewater, and motorbiking, enough local facilities to live, Hawick is 15 minutes away for bigger shopping.”
However, another disagreed: “I couldn’t really recommend the Borders, great biking obviously but not so good for decent kayaking or more mountainous biking and hiking. I’d be looking further north and probably a bit west.”
Other destinations in Scotland that were named as top places to live include Inverness and Stirling. The former was praised by one Scot for its town centre and “great bike/outdoor scene”, while Stirling was described by a local as “meeting all expectations”.
What are your top picks for places to live in Scotland? Let us know in the comments below!