In this weeks article, we disucss:
‘What you are dreaming of, might be closer than you think..’
While rural and semirural locations remain key drivers for house hunters, enthusiasm for wild swimming and newer sports such as paddleboarding, are evident in the noticeable increase in demand of late for properties close to, or within easy reach of, water, be it freshwater lochs and reservoirs, or the sea.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Central Belt of Scotland caters for both, from the many picturesque villages in and around the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, to Loch Venacher, Port of Menteith (the only significant village on the scenic Lake of Menteith), the town of Kinross, which sits beside Loch Leven, the largest loch in the Scottish Lowlands, not forgetting the Forth and Clyde Canal, and the many smaller lochs and reservoirs liberally dotted around the Ochil Hills, Lomond Hills, and the Carron Valley.
Least known, perhaps, are coastal gems such as Bo’Ness and Blackness, both of which lie on the south bank of the Firth of Forth, which provides superb views across the water to Fife. These truly stunning locations offer all the charm and benefits of small town and village lifestyles close to both open countryside and water, but with excellent connectivity, easy access to major cities and motorways – and, of course, the ability to buy more for your money. Central Scotland’s wonderfully diverse landscape is matched by an equally diverse choice of property styles at much more affordable prices compared to the city suburbs – all the advantages of coastal towns but with an easier commute.
