FOUR Scottish towns have been named among the best places to live by the sea in the UK with one featuring "everything you want" from a coastal setting.
The list featured towns across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with places like Folkestone, Ballycastle and Mumbles making the cut.
Why these Scottish towns were named among the best places to live by the sea
North Berwick in East Lothian, Portobello in Edinburgh, Arisaig and Nairn in the Scottish Highlands were the Scottish seaside towns named on The Times list.
On the popular seaside town of North Berwick, the writers said: "With two great beaches and a harbour, North Berwick has everything you want for a life by the sea, and a whole lot more besides: a brilliant high street packed with independent shops, natural beauty all around, excellent schools and a half-hour train link to Edinburgh.
"You’ll see swimmers in the water and dog-walkers on the sand all year round, but it’s in summer that the town really comes into its own. There’s a summer solstice beach bonfire, the Fringe by the Sea festival brings in the crowds for cultural high jinks and the lobster shack serves its famous lobster rolls.
"No wonder house prices are high. A period mansion in a prime spot on Fidra Road could cost over £2 million."
Portobello was dubbed a "sandy suburb" and praised by the publication for its number of artisan and indie establishments.
The newspaper said: "Go back 20 years and it’s hard to imagine that down-at-heel Porty would become one of Edinburgh’s most fought-over addresses. But with three-bedroom houses flying off the shelves for about £800,000 and the best detached homes topping the £1 million mark, this sandy suburb is where every artist, author and cool young family now wants to live.
"The beach — with kayaking and volleyball in summer, bonfires in winter and swimming all year round — is the big draw.
"The useful high street has more than its fair share of artisans and indie establishments. Pizza from Civerinos Slice Bar and seafood from Shrimpwreck ensure that foodies don’t need to take the 20-minute bike ride or 30-minute bus journey into the city centre for seriously good grub."
Arisaig, with its "glittering turquoise seas and miles of sparkling sands" was also one of the Scottish locations to top the ranking.
The Times said: "With their glittering turquoise seas and miles of sparkling sands, the beaches on this corner of Scotland’s magical west coast have a good claim to be Britain’s best.
"Some are well known — Camusdarach, which featured in the film Local Hero, and the Silver Sands of Morar — while others remain well-kept secrets best explored by kayak."
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Last but certainly not least was the central town of Nairn which was dubbed "one of the sunniest, driest corners of Scotland".
The writers said: "You wouldn’t mistake the weather for Tenerife, but Nairn is one of the sunniest, driest corners of Scotland. Faint praise, perhaps, but that means there’s more time to enjoy the panoply of pursuits on offer in this handsome town on the Moray Firth.
"It has two beaches, two championship golf courses and limitless walking and mountain biking opportunities nearby, and a resident pod of dolphins to watch out for.
"A books and arts festival highlights Nairn’s cultural depth. The bright lights and superstores of Inverness are close at hand (30 minutes by car, 20 by train), but you can get most of what you need in the town centre. There’s a good range of Victorian homes, from cottages for about £200,000 to large detached villas (£500,000 or so)."
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