Dunbar and North Berwick offer the best quality of life of seaside towns in Scotland, according to a new survey.
East Lothian town Dunbar came out on top for best quality of life
The Bank of Scotland research shows the East Lothian towns offer a quality of life which ranks them within the top 50% of areas in Scotland.
Quality of life was measured by a range of indicators, including the labour market, the housing market, the environment, education and health.
Montrose, Dunoon and Kirkcaldy offered the best value for money, it said.
Eight of the 14 seaside towns offering the best quality of life had an average house price below the Scottish average of £140,000.
Average prices in Montrose, Angus, were £106,408, in Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, they were £107,871 and in Kirkcaldy, Fife, £111,436.
HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE AND AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES
1 Dunbar - £185,223
2 North Berwick - £255,046
3 Eyemouth - £155,278
4 Burntisland - £121,973
5 Kirkcaldy - £111,436
6 St Andrews - £223,894
7 Montrose - £106,408
8 Arbroath - £116,362
9 Carnoustie - £131,504
10 Stranraer - £112,476
These three towns, therefore, offered a combination of relatively low property prices and high quality of life.
In terms of house prices, Girvan in Ayrshire was the best performing seaside town across Britain over the past year with the average rises of 41% to £131,512 at March 2007.
More than three quarters of Scottish seaside towns (16 out of 20) saw an increase of at least 10% in their average house price in the past year.
The next best performing seaside towns in Scotland were Arbroath in Angus, up 30% to £116,362 and Ardrossan in North Ayrshire, up 28% to £103,184.
Scottish seaside towns were amongst the best performers in Britain, accounting for six of the 10 biggest price rises over the past year.
Over the past three years, Eyemouth, in the Borders, was the seaside town with the biggest house price increase in Scotland and across Britain, with the average price rising by 82% to £155,278.
Out of the 10 largest increases across Britain over three years, the top nine were all in Scotland.
Portree on Skye saw a 27% rise in its average house price over the past three years, the smallest rise of any Scottish seaside town.