UK’s ‘cheapest’ seaside town where a two-bed flat costs as little as £62k

In a village tucked away in Scotland known for friendly locals, cosy pubs and seaside walks, you can buy a two-bedroom seaside escape.

And, triggering the unattainable dream of any millennial – it comes with a garden – for just £62,000, according to Rightmove.

The flat isn’t an anomaly; Saltcoats in Scotland has the lowest average house price of all seaside towns in the UK, at just £114,365. But at such a price, it’s a lot more luxurious than you may think.

Sat on the stunning coastline of Irvine Bay southwest of Glasgow, Saltcoats’ golden sandy beaches, stunning coastline and Victorian architecture make it a popular retreat for walkers and cyclists.

Its name comes from the town’s earliest industry – salt harvesting – and a beautiful harbour dating back to the 17th century stands as evidence of the once busy port, where fossilised trees can be seen at low tide.

It’s considerably below the national eye-watering average house price of £373,493, which is over 10 times the average £35,464 yearly wage in the UK, according to government data published in October.

The 10 cheapest seaside towns for buying a house are in the north of the UK according to Rightmove, with the most expensive of the 10 averaging £146,674 in Hartlepool, in County Durham.

County Durham features three times on the list, with Easington and Peterlee taking second and third cheapest, while Ashington in Northumberland follows at an average of £132,660.

Heading to the Northwest, Bootle in Merseyside has an average house price of just £133,197 while Maryport and Workington in Cumbria sit around the £141,000 mark.

Flying the flag for the Midlands, Grimsby and Girvan in Lincolnshire both made the cut at an average of £135,951.

Unsurprisingly, the 10 most expensive seaside locations were in the south of the UK, with Sandbanks in Dorset taking the top spot at an average price of £1.58 million.