Living in South Scotland

South Scotland is a rich and colourful place to live. You can live in one of the main towns of Ayr, Dumfries or Peebles and experience a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, entertainment and amenities.

Within easy reach of these are many towns and villages where you can enjoy a quieter pace of life and the beauty of Scotland’s countryside. The beaches and coastline stretch for miles.

Housing

In all of the council areas in South Scotland there are a variety of options when looking for somewhere to stay. There is council provided housing along with a wide selection of flat, cottages, villas and townhouses to rent across the region.

Many people in Scotland buy their house and average house prices in the South region are

  • Ayr £127,000
  • Dumfries £162,000
  • Peebles £198,000

Education

There are many outstanding education establishments in the South region with a wide provision of primary and secondary schools, even in more remote areas.

Further and higher education is well provided for in the region with colleges in Ayrshire, the Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway as well as smaller learning centres elsewhere.

There are four universities within commuting distance of South Scotland

  • West of Scotland
  • Heriot Watt
  • Napier
  • Scottish Agricultural College

More on learning and studying in the South of Scotland  

Sport and leisure

Sport and leisure opportunities in the area are limitless. South Scotland offers some of the finest sporting pursuits in the country including

  • Golf
  • Kayaking
  • Windsurfing
  • Cycling
  • Fishing
  • Walking and hiking 

The main towns in the region have outstanding retail shopping and there's lots of other leisure pursuits to keep people of all ages occupied.

From children's amusement parks, historic sites such as Culzean Castle, beaches, museums and galleries, there's something for everyone in South Scotland.

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