The Ultimate Guide to Moving to the Coast of Scotland

For those who love nature, history, quaint fishing villages, real community spirit, value-for-money homes, and a laid-back lifestyle, the coast of Scotland offers endless choices to find a wonderful new home.

One of the advantages of looking to move to the coast of Scotland, amongst the many that there are, is that there are so many Lochs that you could also move to that would give you that beach or waterside vibe, opening up so many more opportunities of fantastic places to live.

Then of course there are the beautiful isles that are dotted around the coastline of Scotland offering you even more choices.

Moving to Scotland is a fantastic opportunity for many people to live their dream life, but the process of buying a home in Scotland is different from buying a home in the rest of the UK, which we will cover later in this guide.

You will also find that many removal companies will not travel to the islands of Scotland, or you may find that the costs of doing so are very high.

So in this week’s home moving blog, we will guide you through the whole process of finding a home and moving to the wonderful coastal towns and villages of Scotland.

Moving to the Coast of Aberdeenshire

If you are thinking about moving to the beautiful coast of Aberdeenshire then your first port of call will likely be the estate agent websites.

Whilst a few hours surfing the net will let you see what is available and the asking prices, how about learning all about the quaint villages, the wildlife, and the stunning beaches of Aberdeenshire on foot?

What better way to explore this wonderful region than by spending a few days walking the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail?

Taking you along 165 miles of this dramatic coastline you will pass through beautiful coastal towns and villages such as Stonehaven, Cruden Bay, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Banff, and Portsoy giving you a unique insight into places that you may soon be calling home.

Discover more about each of the coastal towns and villages on the Aberdeen Coast Trail at www.visitscotland.com     

3 Great Places to Move to on the Aberdeenshire Coast

• Stonehaven 
• Fraserburgh
• Banff 

Average Property Prices in Stonehaven

• The average cost of a detached home in Stonehaven is £334,449
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Stonehaven is £214,977
• The average cost of a terraced home in Stonehaven is £183,662
• The average cost of a flat in Stonehaven is £123,021

Average Property Prices in Fraserburgh

• The average cost of a detached home in Fraserburgh is £259,031
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Fraserburgh is £137,485
• The average cost of a terraced home in Fraserburgh is £96,208
• The average cost of a flat in Fraserburgh is £63,868

Average Property Prices in Banff

• The average cost of a detached home in Banff is £235,217
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Banff is £131,353
• The average cost of a terraced home in Banff is £93,629
• The average cost of a flat in Banff is £74,575

3 5-Star Rated Estate Agents in Aberdeenshire

• Peterkins
• Savills Aberdeen
• EweMove 

Moving to the Coast of Argyll

The coast of Argyll is understandably a dream home location.

Not only do you have the choice of some beautiful coastal towns and villages on the mainland, but there are also 23 inhabited islands off the coast of Argyll.

With about 3,000 miles of coastline, outstanding scenery, and wonderful wildlife, there is the choice between large towns such as Oban and islands such as Jura where the deer far outnumber the humans.

The area is well served by several large schools in the main towns as well as several campuses of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Steeped in history, with beautiful old castles and monuments, this part of Scotland attracts many tourists and this is the industry in which many locals find employment, as well as in the fishing industry.

And for outdoor types there can be nowhere better than the coast of Argyll to find endless coastal walks, adventure sports, go bird watching, hill walking, or perhaps even sampling a dram or two at one of many whiskey distilleries in this region.

Find lots more local information about living in Argyll and Bute at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk  

3 Popular Places to Move to on the Argyll Coast

• Oban    
• Rothesay   
• Helensburgh   

Average Property Prices in Oban, Argyll

• The average cost of a detached home in Oban is £382,468
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Oban is £234,173
• The average cost of a terraced home in Oban is £3187,167
• The average cost of a flat in Oban is £149,353

Average Property Prices in Rothesay, Argyll

• The average cost of a detached home in Rothesay is £242,563
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Rothesay is £185,000
• The average cost of a terraced home in Rothesay is £118,000
• The average cost of a flat in Rothesay is £89,625

Average Property Prices in Helensburgh, Argyll

• The average cost of a detached home in Helensburgh is £399,731
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Helensburgh is £279,930
• The average cost of a terraced home in Helensburgh is £199,182
• The average cost of a flat in Helensburgh is £163,617

You may also like to read: How to Decide Where to Move Next. In this guide, we suggest 12 things to take into consideration when choosing where to move next to help you choose the perfect location and home for your next move.

Moving to the Coast of Ayrshire

Stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, numerous world-class golf courses, easy commutes into Glasgow from places such as Troon, Prestwick, and Ayr, great value-for-money homes, and good schools mean this is a popular area for people looking for a beautiful place on the coast to live.

With numerous castles and stately homes, plenty of history to discover (Alloway is the birthplace of Robbie Burns), an observatory in Galloway Forest, as well as endless outdoor adventures to be had, this region of Scotland has plenty to offer.

There is a wide choice of homes in Ayrshire, from fisherman cottages to sandstone villas, and plenty of newly built homes, all at very reasonable prices.

Find out more about living in Ayrshire at www.myjobscotland.gov.uk

3 Stunning Places to Move to on the Coast of Ayrshire

• Largs    
• Troon   
• Girvan 

Average Property Prices in Largs, Ayrshire

• The average cost of a detached home in Largs is £304,322
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Largs is £231,745
• The average cost of a terraced home in Largs is £151,734
• The average cost of a flat in Largs is £121,940

Average Property Prices in Troon, Ayrshire

• The average cost of a detached home in Troon is £323,155
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Troon is £215,651
• The average cost of a terraced home in Troon is £141,628
• The average cost of a flat in Troon is £122,107

Average Property Prices in Girvan, Ayrshire

• The average cost of a detached home in Girvan is £173,056
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Girvan is £136,037
• The average cost of a terraced home in Girvan is £94,331
• The average cost of a flat in Girvan is £58,566

You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Living in the Countryside. Scotland is mostly rural and if you have never lived outside a large town or city then you may find it quite a shock. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living in the countryside so that you can decide if it is the right move for you.

Moving to the Coast of the Scottish Borders

Most people just pass through the Scottish Borders heading further into Scotland, but they miss some lovely places that are filled with history, beautiful scenery, some excellent schools, and great value homes.

If you are thinking of making this part of Scotland your home it also has the advantage of great rail and road networks making commuting into Newcastle, Edinburgh, or even London easy.

For history lovers, there are numerous places of interest, including battlefields, abbeys, castles, and stately homes.

There are numerous sandy beaches along this beautiful rugged coastline, with traditional fishing villages such as St Ebbs and historic harbour towns such as Eyemouth.

Compared with some other parts of Scotland property prices may seem a bit higher in the Scottish Borders, but relatively cheap when compared with the South of England.

The upside of that is that there tend to be better amenities and facilities locally than in the more remote parts of Scotland.

3 Lovely Places to Move to on the Scottish Borders Coast

• Eyemouth   
• St Abbs    
• Burnmouth   

Average Property Prices in Eyemouth, Scottish Borders

• The average cost of a detached home in Eyemouth is £330,857
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Eyemouth is £142,300
• The average cost of a terraced home in Eyemouth is £145,500
• The average cost of a flay in Eyemouth is £119,700

Average Property Prices in St Abbs, Scottish Borders

• The average cost of a 2 bedroom home in St Abbs is £225,000
• The average cost of a 3 bedroom home in St Abbs is £305,000
• The average cost of a 4 bedroom home in St Abbs is £345,000
• The average cost of a 5-bedroom home in St Abbs is £623,333

Average Property Prices in Burnmouth, Scottish Borders

• The average cost of a 2-bedroom home in Burnmouth is £225,000
• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home in Burnmouth is £305,000
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home in Burnmouth is £345,000
• The average cost of a 5-bedroom home in Burnmouth is £623,333

You may also like to read: Which is More Important House or Location? 31 Things to Consider. Most people have to make some compromises when choosing their next home or location, rarely will you find the perfect home in the perfect location at the right price. So in this guide, we suggest 31 things to consider when choosing your new home and area.

Moving to Dumfries and Galloway

The coast of Dumfries and Galloway will tick many boxes for a wide variety of people hoping to move home.

Great value-for-money homes, low crime rates, good schools, excellent healthcare, historic towns and villages, stunning countryside, and a beautiful coastline are just a few of the reasons why you might like to consider this region of Scotland for your new home.

Dumfries and Galloway is a very rural area and agriculture accounts for a large proportion of the employment opportunities here.

In fact, it is so rural, with so little light pollution, that the UK’s first Dark Sky Park was built here offering you the opportunity to gaze out at over 7000 stars and planets.

If you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, like history, and want a safe and rural place to live, with easy access to some major towns and cities, then the coast of Dumfries and Galloway may well be worth exploring further.

Find out more about living in Dumfries and Galloway at www.dumgal.gov.uk    

3 Popular Places to Move to on the Coast of Dumfries and Galloway

• Annan    
• Portpatrick   
• Kirkcudbright    

Average Property Prices in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway

• The average cost of a detached home in Annan is £255,047
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Annan is £124,585
• The average cost of a terraced home in Annan is £99,120
• The average cost of a flat in Annan is £70,189

Average Property Prices in Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway

• The average cost of a detached home in Portpatrick is £242,350
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Portpatrick is £92,000
• The average cost of a terraced home in Portpatrick is £206,000
• The average cost of a flat in Portpatrick is £86,667

Average Property Prices in Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway

• The average cost of a detached home in Kirkcudbright is £250,776
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Kirkcudbright is £150,994
• The average cost of a terraced home in Kirkcudbright is £158,692
• The average cost of a flat in Kirkcudbright is £84,625

You may also like to read: What Type of House is Right for Me. House, Bungalow, or Flat? In this guide, we look at the various designs of homes and the pros and cons of each to help you decide which type of home would best suit you.

Moving to the Coast of Dundee and Angus

Lower than average home prices and council taxes, good bus, rail, and road links, stunning sea cliffs, mountains, glens, history, and an abundance of leisure activities, all make this a great region in which to live.

There are some great schools in the region as well as several universities.

If you are in the video games industry then you will already know that this region is home to many world-leading video game companies.

Agriculture and food production are also vibrant employment sectors in Dundee and Angus.

For commuters to Edinburgh or Dundee, the A90 runs right through the region.

If you are thinking of moving to Dundee and Angus then you may find this website useful which not only shows homes available in the area but helps you through the buying process.

3 Most Popular Places to Move to on the Coast of Dundee and Angus

• Montrose    
• Arbroath    
• Carnoustie    

Average Property Prices in Montrose, Dundee and Angus

• The average cost of a detached home in Montrose is £279,690
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Montrose is £186,504
• The average cost of a terraced home in Montrose is £144,465
• The average cost of a flat in Montrose is £75,746

Average Property Prices in Arbroath, Dundee and Angus

• The average cost of a detached home in Arbroath is £248,768
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Arbroath is £185,441
• The average cost of a terraced home in Arbroath is £129,331
• The average cost of a flat in Arbroath is £85,310

Average Property Prices in Carnoustie, Dundee and Angus

• The average cost of a detached home in Carnoustie is £260,221
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Carnoustie is £184,180
• The average cost of a terraced home in Carnoustie is £149,520
• The average cost of a flat in Carnoustie is £123,618

You may also like to read: How to Make a Smaller Home Work for You. Many people moving to the Scottish coast choose to live in a cottage which may be smaller than the home they are leaving. In this guide, we look at how moving to a smaller home can improve your quality of life.

Moving to the Lothian Coast

Traditionally an area popular with the wealthy, the Lothian coast is now extremely popular with younger people, families, and those who seek homes in a beautiful, relaxing, seaside setting but with easy access to Edinburgh.

There are some pricey areas of the coast such as North Berwick, whilst Dunbar is a beautiful place to live within easy reach of Edinburgh, but with more affordable property prices.

East Lothian has a wide variety of stunning countryside to explore whilst the sandy beaches offer you innumerable possibilities for coastal walks and stunning views.

There is plenty to keep you occupied from the beautiful John Muir Country Park to the Gifford Model Village, to the National Museum of Flight Scotland.

There is always something new and different to do on the Lothian coast.

For families looking to move to the coast of East Lothian, there are many great schools here as well as the renowned Loretto private school in Musselburgh and several excellent private schools in Edinburgh.

You could try this website to find your ideal home on the Lothian coast. 

 3 Popular Places to Move to on the Lothian Coast

• Dunbar   
• North Berwick (Voted Best Place to Live in Scotland 2021)
• Gullane   

Average Property Prices in Dunbar, Lothian Coast

• The average cost of a detached property in Dunbar is £394,992
• The average cost of a semi-detached property in Dunbar is £273,796
• The average cost of a terraced property in Dunbar is £288,590
• The average cost of a flat in Dunbar is £177,813

Average Property Prices in North Berwick, Lothian Coast

• The average cost of a detached property in North Berwick is £655,489
• The average cost of a semi-detached property in North Berwick is £477,535
• The average cost of a terraced property in North Berwick is £415,072
• The average cost of a flat in North Berwick is £343,023

Average Property Prices in Gullane, Lothian Coast

• The average cost of a detached home in Gullane is £626,571
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Gullane is £415,371
• The average cost of a terraced home in Gullane is £541,882
• The average cost of a flat in Gullane is £294,442

You may also like to read: How to Find a Forever Home. In this guide, we help you decide what you want from a dream home and the pros and cons of wanting your next home to be your forever home.

Moving to the Coast of Fife

The coast of Fife offers you a stunning choice of first-class places to live whilst being within easy commuting distance of Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee.

Transport connections are good with a Coastal train line to Edinburgh and Dundee, regular buses, and the M90 connecting the major commuter routes.

Residents of Fife enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with golf featuring prominently.

The Fife Coastal Path runs 117 miles from Kincardine to Newburgh, as well as having plenty of local historic and cultural places of interest to visit.

The property in Fife is surprisingly affordable considering the excellent amenities and stunning surroundings.

Along the eastern peninsula of Fife, you will find The East Neuk Area with quaint, cobblestoned old fishing harbours and stunning whitewashed fishermen’s cottages whilst Aberdour, further south, is worthy of mention due to its stunning location and ease of commute to Edinburgh and Dunfermline.

5 Most Popular Places to Move to on the Coast of Fife

• Kirkcaldy    
• Dalgety Bay    
• Pittenweem    
• Aberdour     
• Anstruther    

Average Property Prices in Kirkcaldy, Fife

• The average cost of a detached home in Kirkcaldy is £269,725
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Kirkcaldy is £178,161
• The average cost of a terraced home in Kirkcaldy is £123,862
• The average cost of a flat in Kirkcaldy is £94,865

Average Property Prices in Dalgety Bay, Fife

• The average cost of a detached home in Dalgety Bay is £322,676
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Dalgety Bay is £193,664
• The average cost of a terraced home in Dalgety Bay is £186,016
• The average cost of a flat in Dalgety Bay is £158,685

Average Property Prices in Anstruther, Fife

• The average cost of a detached home in Anstruther is £403,293
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Anstruther is £258,637
• The average cost of a terraced home in Anstruther is £290,252
• The average cost of a flat in Anstruther is £207,594

You may also like to read: How to Find a New Housing Development. In this guide, we look at how to find a new housing development. Some areas of the Scottish coast are part of regeneration or expansion projects so in this guide, we suggest how to find developments by not only the major developers but by small, independent builders too.

Moving to the Coast of Highlands Scotland

The Highlands cover the largest area within the north of Scotland and are renowned for their stunning scenery including the highest mountains in the UK, and the incredible Cairngorms National Park.

You cannot help but live an outdoor lifestyle here with so much fresh air, breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, and endless sports and leisure activities.

Look at any list of the best coastal villages to live in Scotland and Plockton will always rate in the top 5 best places to live.

Idyllic stone cottages line the shore of this historic fishing village and you cannot help but slip into a laid-back way of life here.

With a very good network of schools and 7 universities, high quality of life, and excellent value-for-money homes, moving to the coast of the Highlands is a very appealing prospect.

To learn more about living in the Highlands and to see some of the job opportunities in this wonderful region visit www.hie.co.uk

3 Most Popular Places to Move to on the Highlands Coast

• Nairn     
• Ullapool     
• Plockton     

Average Property Prices in Nairn

• The average cost of a detached home in Nairn is £306,673
• The average cost of a semi-detached home in Nairn is £224,380
• The average cost of a terraced home in Nairn is £168,136
• The average cost of a flat in Nairn is £167,723

Average Property Prices in Ullapool

• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home in Ullapool is £185,000
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home in Ullapool is £310,000
• The average cost of a 5-bedroom home in Ullapool is £600,000

Average Property Prices in Plockton

• Terraced homes cost an average of £338,409
• Semi-detached homes cost an average of £403,545
• Detached homes cost on average £410,000

Average property prices were correct as of March 2024 and were taken from www.home.co.uk and www.zoopla.co.uk where you can find more in-depth information about average property prices and the types of homes available.

You may also like to read: All You Need to Know About Intentional Community Living. Intentional community living is when a group of like-minded individuals all live together to realise their common goal, sometimes in a communal house, sometimes in their individual homes. There are many such communities in Scotland and can be a great way to live your dream cost-effectively.

Where to Find Scottish Coastal Properties for Sale

From the white beaches and rugged cliffs of the Highlands to the superb sandy beaches of the East Coast, Scotland offers you some of the most breathtaking scenery and a way of life that it would be almost impossible to find anywhere else in the UK.

Here are some suggestions for websites that will help you find your dream seaside home in Scotland.

• www.remax-scotland.net    
• www.struttandparker.com     
• www.rightmove.co.uk   
• www.coastscotland.com    
• www.s1homes.com    

Useful Resources When Choosing Where to Live in Scotland

• Schools: View school inspection reports at www.education.gov.scot   
• Colleges: Discover all you need to know about the colleges in Scotland at www.collegesscotland.ac.uk  
• Universities: Learn about each of the 19 Scottish universities at www.scotland.org     
• Crime: See local crime figures by postcode at www.postcodearea.co.uk  
• Council Tax: Find out about council tax bands at www.mygov.scot  
• Broadband: Find out how fast the broadband connection is in Scotland at www.labs.thinkbroadband.com   
• Commute Times: Find a property within a radius drawn by commuting time at www.zoopla.co.uk   
• Healthcare: Read the latest hospital inspection reports for Scotland at www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org    
• Forum: From finding the best areas for your favourite hobby, to where the quietest beaches are, visit www.community.visitscotland.com

You may like to read: Moving Home and Broadband – All You Need to Know. If you intend to become a digital nomad as many people moving to Scotland do, then knowing how good the local internet connection is is vital. This guide will explain how to find out how good your local internet connection will be and how to arrange the connection of internet services in your new home.

How to Buy a Property in Scotland

If you are moving to Scotland for the first time you will find that the process for buying a home there is different from the rest of the UK.

• The majority of homes in Scotland are sold through a blind bid process whilst you may also find some homes are sold at a fixed price. The seller states a minimum price for the property and then you bid against whoever else is interested in it.
• Homes for sale in Scotland come with a home report which contains three documents: an energy report, a property questionnaire, and a survey with valuation.
• The energy report details the home’s energy efficiency, how much on average it costs for heating, water, and lighting, and the home’s environmental impact.
• The property questionnaire includes the tax band, previously known problems with the property such as storm damage or asbestos, details of any alterations, details of any guarantees or specialist work that has been carried out, and any further issues about the property that you should be aware of.
• The survey will detail how much the property is worth, any remedial work that needs to be carried out, and the general condition of the home.
• You will make the property purchase through a solicitor who will handle everything for you.
• Once you have found a property the solicitor will place your bid on your behalf. You should inform your solicitor of the property you are interested in, the bid you wish to make, the date you wish to move in, any items that you wish to buy from the seller, and any other conditions of sale that you may have.
• Your solicitor then sends your offer to the seller’s solicitor
• If accepted, the sellers’ solicitor will send a qualified acceptance letter to your solicitor.
• If there are any conditions set out in the acceptance the solicitors will negotiate these in what is known as missives.
• Once these missives are agreed by both parties you will enter into a binding contract.
• NOTE: If you pull out of the sale after this time you will be liable to pay the seller substantial damages so be very sure that you want the property before it gets to the binding contract stage.

There are numerous schemes in Scotland to help you buy a property and more details of these can be found at www.mygov.scot  

There is also some very useful information regarding buying a home in Scotland on www.citizensadvice.org.uk    

Moving to Scotland – Finding a Good Removal Company

Whilst you may find the cost of living and property prices cheaper on the coast of Scotland than in many places in the UK, the cost of moving your stuff up to Scotland will not be cheap.

What is the average cost of moving from England to Scotland?

The average cost is between £3500 and £8500 depending upon how much you are moving, what services you require, and where exactly you are moving to.

Expect to pay more if you are moving to one of the Islands of Scotland as there are ferry charges that can be applied.

Thankfully there are ways to make quite considerable savings on your moving costs.

The number 1 money-saving home moving tip: The fewer things you move to your new home, the cheaper your home will be, so ensure that you declutter and take only the things with you that you absolutely love and need.

You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move will take you step by step through the process of getting rid of all your unwanted items so that you substantially reduce your moving costs.

There is nothing you can do about the mileage between your old and new home, that is fixed, but you may be able to find a removal firm that is returning to Scotland or can pair your things with another load they are taking.

However, you could spend hours and hours ringing around removal firms trying to find one that is available and able to move you to Scotland (many firms do not travel that far as it is usually a 2-3 day move).

The easiest option is to request a quote using this quote form, it takes just a few minutes before you will be contacted by up to 4 removal companies who are prevetted, available on the date you want to move, and actually perform home moves to Scotland.

You may also like to read: How to Pick a Good Removal Company. The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide. In this guide, we take you step-by-step through the entire process of choosing the best removal company for your particular home move.

Once you have received your quotes be sure to visit our home moving blog where there is a whole library of tips and guides that will show you how to choose a good removal company and ways to make your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.

Good luck with your home move to the coast of Scotland and come back and share with us your amazing new life in the comments below.