People in Scotland have named the villages they would retire to in a heartbeat, following a social media post by travel blog Love Scotland. On Tuesday, July 21, the blog asked its followers on Facebook: "What's the Scottish village you'd retire to in a heartbeat?"
The post received over 50 responses, with destinations across the country being suggested. Among the most popular was Comrie in Perthshire, described by one respondent as having "people [who] are pure gold."
Comrie, Perthshire
Comrie is a large village in the southern Highlands, at the west end of the Strathearn district of Perth and Kinross. It has a population of around 1,900 and lies in a national scenic area along the River Earn. Highlights include a nine-hole golf course, Auchingarrich Wildlife Park with over 40 animal species, and eateries such as Deils Cauldron restaurant and Comrie Fish and Chip Shop. Another attraction is Cultybraggan Camp, a preserved prisoner of war camp open to the public, built to house Nazi prisoners, featuring a museum and holiday accommodation.
Braemar, Aberdeenshire
Another respondent chose Braemar, a tranquil village around 60 miles from Aberdeen with a population of less than 1,000. It is popular for its hikes and wildlife spotting, and is home to the annual Braemar Gathering Highland games. The village also has royal connections via nearby Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the Royal Family since 1852.
Arisaig, Inverness-shire
Arisaig was also suggested as a dream retirement location. This small coastal village in Lochaber offers access to beaches such as Arisaig Beach and Traigh Beach.
Other destinations named included Luss on Loch Lomond and Glencoe at the foot of the Glencoe Mountains. The full list is available on the Love Scotland Facebook page.
