Scotland’s ‘most stylish’ village is found between mountains and liked by royals

A quiet and rural Scottish village has been named the “most stylish place to live” in the country.

When it comes to choosing a place to settle down, everyone has their own priorities and preferences. One aspect of a town or village that you may consider when moving is how ‘stylish’ it is.

Experts at Furniturebox have ranked the 60 most stylish destinations across the UK based on factors such as the beauty of their buildings, their scenery, how ‘Instagrammable’ their best features are, and their popularity as a filming location. Coming in at number one for Scotland is Braemar in Aberdeenshire.

Nestled amidst idyllic woodlands between the dramatic Grampian Mountains, this bustling little village in the Cairngorms National Park is a hotspot for hikers and climbers. Braemar has also long been a favourite of the Royal Family, and is close to their Scottish retreat Balmoral.

It isn’t just royalty that has been lured by the village’s charms. Braemar was even used as a filming location for the iconic Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, which should give you an idea of just how spectacular the vistas in the area is.

The village itself is also home to a treasure trove of independent and artisan shops. Selling everything from chocolate and pastries to clothes and furniture, you could easily spend an entire afternoon just walking around its charming streets.

In terms of food, Braemar is home to a huge selection of bustling pubs, comfy cafés, and renowned restaurants. Highlights include Farquharsons Bar and Kitchen, The Bothy Braemar, and The Flying Stag pub.

Meanwhile, following in second place on Furniturebox’s list of the “most stylish places to live” in Scotland is Kelvingrove in Glasgow. Rounding out the top five are Ballatar in Aberdeenshire, Culross in Fife, and Dunblane in Stirling.

A Furniturebox spokesperson said: “Braemar is the most stylish place to live in Scotland. All 60 places on the list would have been worthy winners and show why the UK is such a stylish country, loved by artists, film-makers and tourists from all over the world.

“What is interesting is how influential Instagram has become in boosting tourism in many of our top 60, particularly around Scotland. It is a massive help for visitor numbers, too, if a popular film or TV show uses a town or village as a location.

“Most of the locations in the top 60 are not the most affluent or fashionable in their localities. It shows that style can be achieved whatever your budget — and that is very true of furniture.”

More information about the full list can be found on the Furniturebox website.

Most stylish places to live in Scotland in 2024

1. Braemar
2. Kelvingrove in Glasgow
3. Ballatar
4. Culross
5. Dunblane
6. Inverness
7. Melrose
8. Selkirk
9. Peebles
10. Bruntsfield in Edinburgh

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