Living in the Highlands and Islands

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is one of the most stunning areas of natural beauty on the planet and is frequently placed in the top five most desirable places to live in the UK. 

The information below gives some practical information on living in the Highlands and Islands.

Housing

The Highland Council owns and manages around 13,700 houses, many of these are in Inverness.

There are also a large, and growing, number of private houses and grants to help you improve your home in the area.

The average house price in the Highlands and Islands is £117,750.

Education

The region is well provided for in terms of primary and secondary education, and in remoter areas secondary school pupils may have stay at the school during the week.

The number of pupils leaving school with qualifications is well above the national average.

The University of the Highlands and Island (UHI) Millennium Institute is a revolutionary concept in distance learning at tertiary level.

This unique partnership of 15 colleges and research institutions offers university-level education throughout the Highlands and Islands.

Many of the colleges also operate local learning centres, enabling students to join courses and study without making long daily journeys.

More on studying in the Highlands and Islands 

Sport and leisure

Being the 'big outdoors', the region offers a wealth of sporting opportunities that include mountain climbing, sailing, skiing, fishing, riding, diving, wind-surfing, shooting and golf.

There are numerous leisure pursuits also with an abundance of parks, beaches, historic sites, galleries, museums and shopping destinations to interest people of all ages.

Medical services

As in the rest of Scotland, healthcare is available through the National Health Service (NHS). 

New arrivals to Scotland should contact the local doctor's surgery to register for healthcare