With over 6,000 miles of coastline, knowing where to buy a Scottish coastal property can be tricky. Our guide can help you narrow down your options…

What attracts people to the Scottish coast?

The Scottish coast is a varied landscape from quaint villages to rugged coastlines, so what attracts people depends very much on where they choose to go.

A lot of it is to do with stunning views and remote wilderness – some of the places on the west and north west Coast are incredibly remote with white sands and turquoise waters. It’s a lifestyle you can’t really get anywhere else. The only comparable place in the UK is Cornwall, but then the area is crawling with people. Whereas, in Scotland’s Sutherland coast or on its Western Isles, you can have such beaches to yourself for whole days.

More people have recently been attracted by the North Coast 500 coastal route, which is branding itself as Scotland’s answer to Route 66. This iconic coastal touring route has opened up the area to people who might not have known where to start when exploring the 500 miles of coastal paths and roads.

On the east coast a big attraction is the many, many world class link golf courses – from just east of Edinburgh round to the world-famous St Andrews and Carnoustie.

Other sports are also a big draw. Tiree, on the outer isles, is a big resort for watersports especially for kite and windsurfing. While on the north coast in Thurso you have a lot of surfing competitions.

Who is buying on the Scottish coast?

The coastline to the east of Edinburgh, buyers here tend to be locals who will commute in Edinburgh. North east Fife is a popular location for second homeowners for people from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Around Glasgow, you’ve got places like Helensburgh which again is a commute spot for those working in the city.

In the north west and the Islands, many of the coastal properties are second homes. The buyers here come from a variety of locations – some from Scotland, others from England and we’ve even had a buyer recently from Texas.

The current housing market

There is a strong housing market on Scotland’s coast, no matter where you buy. While it’s affected by national house price swings, there tends to be a premium on such properties that keeps them above the average.

People are willing to pay a big premium to be right on the coast. If you don’t have a main road in front of the house and own the sea frontage, it adds serious value. Uninterrupted views are also a big plus point.

Having a mooring or a jetty that can allow homeowners to make full usage of the coast are also big selling points.

Scottish coastal property hotspots

• St Andrews. The town is famous for both its university and golf courses, but also has stunning beaches, plenty of life and some excellent properties.
• East Lothian coastal villages. From Musselburgh to Dunbar the coast here is scattered with attractive villages with views across the Firth of the Forth.
• Isle of Skye. The rugged coastline and stunning beaches here are also home to little touches of luxury including Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Elie. Located on Fife’s coast, this small town has great fish and chips, a large beach and a number of pubs that used to be favourites of Prince William when he was attending St Andrews University.
• Thurso. From salmon fishing to surfing, coastal views and open moorland, Thurso is a nature lovers’ paradise.