House prices in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are higher than in some of Britain's best-known National Parks, including the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, according to new research by Nationwide.
The building society found the average property price within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is £330,000, compared with £325,000 in the Lake District and £315,000 in the Yorkshire Dales.
Accessibility may drive prices
Nationwide said the relative accessibility of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs may be helping to drive property prices in the area. Around half of Scotland's population lives within an hour's drive of the National Park, which is also the most visited in Scotland.
However, buyers looking for a home in Scotland's other National Park face considerably lower average prices. The Cairngorms, which covers the largest land area of any of Britain's 15 National Parks, has an average property price of £255,000 and is among the more affordable locations included in Nationwide's research.
National Park homes attract 24% premium
The research found properties located within a National Park command an average 24 per cent premium compared with an otherwise similar property elsewhere. Nationwide calculates that is equivalent to around £66,500 based on the current UK average house price of £278,784 during the second quarter of 2026.
There is also a smaller premium for living close to a National Park without actually being within its boundaries. Homes located within 5km, or around three miles, of a National Park command an average six per cent premium compared with properties further away.
Andrew Harvey, Senior Economist at Nationwide, said: “National Parks are highly desirable areas to live in thanks to the beautiful countryside. Those living in the parks are ideally placed to make the most of the great outdoors and take advantage of a range of activities and amenities.
“Development is also controlled with limited new housing construction, which may also help to explain why house prices tend to be relatively high.”
How Scottish prices compare
The New Forest remains the most expensive National Park included in the research, with an average property price of £563,000. It is followed by the South Downs at £485,000 and Peak District at £450,000. Dartmoor has an average of £348,000, putting Loch Lomond and the Trossachs next at £330,000.
Below the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, average prices stand at £310,000 on the Pembrokeshire Coast and £292,000 in Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly known as the Brecon Beacons. The Cairngorms average of £255,000 is higher only than Eryri, formerly Snowdonia, among the National Parks included in Nationwide's table. The average there is £203,000.
The Cairngorms covers 4,528 square kilometres but has a population of just 18,000. Nationwide said its relatively sparse population could help explain why its average house price is lower than in many other National Parks. By comparison, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs covers 1,865 square kilometres and has around 15,200 residents.
The findings are based on Nationwide's house purchase mortgage lending at the post-survey approval stage during the 12 months to June 2026. Its analysis takes account of factors including property type, age, number of bedrooms and local neighbourhood when calculating the premium associated with living in or close to a National Park.
