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LIVING THE DREAM

With its rugged landscape Isle of Skye tops list of most desirable places to live in the UK – and best of the rest are by the sea

Scottish island is where most people would like to live

THE Isle of Skye has been voted as the most desirable place to live in Britain.

With its rugged landscapes and pretty harbour town of Portree, Skye topped a survey of nearly 24,000 people by website Rightmove to discover where they would most like to live in Britain.

The Isle of Skye was top of the list thanks to its stunning scenery
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The Isle of Skye was top of the list thanks to its stunning sceneryCredit: Alamy

Seaside locations were popular in Rightmove's survey, with Woolacombe in Devon placed second and the popular Cornish holiday destinations of St Ives, Padstow and Newquay also among the top 10.

Derwent Water and Keswick from Catbells, Lake District National Park, Cumbria, England. Autumn (November) 2010.
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The Isle of Skye has rugged landscapesCredit: Alamy

Many of the most desirable places to live in Britain have house prices which are relatively cheap compared with the national average, the study found.

The average asking price for a home on Skye is just under £231,000, according to Rightmove - well under the average price tag of a home generally across England and Wales, at £305,670.

St. Ives, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe
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Seaside locations were popular in Rightmove's survey . . . like St IvesCredit: Alamy

Pembroke in Wales was also among the most desirable places to live. And with the average asking price for a home there at £169,969, Pembroke is the least expensive place to live on the list of the most desirable areas.

But in Salcombe in Devon, which was also among the most desirable places to live, the average asking price for a home is £635,083 - just below the average asking price for a home in London, at £643,838.

Many of those surveyed also dream of setting up home where they can enjoy the views of the Lake District, with Ambleside and Keswick also appearing on the list.

Woolacombe in North Devon was second-top of the most desirable places to live
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Woolacombe in North Devon was second-top of the most desirable places to liveCredit: Alamy

Nowhere in London or the South East of England - where house prices tend to be higher - appeared in the top 10.

Rightmove's 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, from as north as the Isle of Skye to as south as the glitzy town of Salcombe.

"It's interesting that none of the areas are in the highest priced regions of Britain - London and the South East - 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 most desirable places to live in Britain, with their average asking prices

1. Isle of Skye, Scotland, £230,952

 Sunrise over the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, as the Isle of Skye has been voted as the most desirable place to live in Britain
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Sunrise over the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, as the Isle of Skye has been voted as the most desirable place to live in BritainCredit: PA:Press Association

2. Woolacombe, South West, £346,396

Woolacombe Sand, Morte Point and the seaside town
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Woolacombe Sand, Morte Point and the seaside townCredit: Alamy

3. Callington, South West, £235,860

Casonbury hillfort at Newbridge Callington
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Casonbury hillfort at Newbridge CallingtonCredit: Alamy

4. St Ives, South West, £366,628

A view over the lichen covered stone rooftops and harbour in St. Ives, Cornwall
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A view over the lichen covered stone rooftops and harbour in St. Ives, CornwallCredit: Alamy

5. Keswick, North West, £319,628

Derwent Water and Keswick from Catbells, Lake District National Park, Cumbria
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Derwent Water and Keswick from Catbells, Lake District National Park, CumbriaCredit: Alamy

6. Pembroke, Wales, £169,969

Green Bridge of Wales, St Govans Headland, Pembrokeshire, Wales
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Green Bridge of Wales, St Govans Headland, Pembrokeshire, WalesCredit: Alamy

7. Padstow, South West, £421,290

Padstow Harbour, Cornwall, England
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Padstow Harbour, Cornwall, EnglandCredit: Alamy

8. Salcombe, South West, £635,083

Pristine sandy beach at Elender Cove, looking towards Gammon Head, Salcombe
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Pristine sandy beach at Elender Cove, looking towards Gammon Head, SalcombeCredit: Alamy

9. Ambleside, North West, £431,669

unrise in Ambleside, Lake District National Park, Cumbria
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Sunrise in Ambleside, Lake District National Park, CumbriaCredit: Alamy

10. Newquay, South West, £246,976

People relaxing in park above Towan beach, Newquay, Cornwall
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People relaxing in park above Towan beach, Newquay, CornwallCredit: Alamy


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