Skye voted most desirable place to live in Britain

Skye has been voted the most desirable place to live in Britain.

With its rugged landscapes and pretty harbour town of Portree, Skye topped a survey of the most desireable place to live in the UK. Picture: Tom White/PA Wire

The island, famous for its jagged mountains, has topped a survey of nearly 24,000 people by website Rightmove to discover where they would most like to live in Britain.

It is the only Scottish location in the top ten, which is dominated by the south west of England, led by Woolacombe in Devon, and Callington and St Ives in Cornwall.

Rightmove said the average asking price for a home on Skye is just under £231,000, - well under the England and Wales average of £305,670.

The Cuillin mountains on Skye from the Sligachan bridge

Rightmove research manager Abiola Oni said: “The nation clearly want to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and settle down in some of the most beautiful places around Britain.

“It’s interesting that none of the areas are in the highest priced regions of Britain - London and the south east.

“This is likely because the appeal of some of the big cities is the good job options and transport links rather than moving for the amazing scenery.”

The Cuillin mountains on Skye from the Sligachan bridge

Ian Drury, of the Skye Property Centre, said several of its clients had moved between Skye and south west England, reflecting their similar attractiveness.

He said: “Many people are looking to move away from busy urban life, and a lot of our properties sell to English people. Scenery is a big pull, from the Cuillin mountains to loch views.

“The Skye Bridge is another major help - if the weather is bad on some islands, you can’t get off.”

Hugh MacLeod, director of the Dunvegan Castle-based MacLeod Estate, Skye’s biggest private sector employer, said: “Skye is an extraordinarily beautiful place.

“It has stunning and varied land and seascapes, and has attracted much new blood to launch businesses here.”

The most desirable places to live in Britain, according to Rightmove, with the average asking price for a home there:

1. Isle of Skye, Scotland, £230,952.

2. Woolacombe, South West England, £346,396.

3. Callington, South West, £235,860.

4. St Ives, South West, £366,628.

5. Keswick, North West England, £319,628.

6. Pembroke, Wales, £169,969.

7. Padstow, South West, £421,290.

8. Salcombe, South West, £635,083.

9. Ambleside, North West, £431,669.

10. Newquay, South West, £246,976.