Dundee has among the worst quality of life anywhere in the country, according a survey conducted by the Bank of Scotland.
The City of Discovery was ranked 27th out of 32 local authorities in Scotland, with only West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow finishing lower in the list.
Quality of life was measured in the survey using information taken from census data and official reports produced by the Scottish Government, UK Government, Met Office and other public bodies.
It ranked Angus highest of the Courier Country local authority areas at seventh, while Perth and Kinross and Fife came in lower at eighth and 19th respectively.
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The survey noted Dundee does have the joint best coverage of broadband above 5 mbs in Scotland, matching the 99% reported in West Dumbartonshire. It also has the lowest rainfall in the country, providing a slight lifestyle boost.
However, researchers discovered Dundee is not the sunniest city in Scotland, as is often claimed, with the accolade actually belonging further up the east coast in Aberdeen where residents enjoy an average of 27.9 hours of sunshine a week.
Orkney was crowned not only the best in Scotland but the best place to live anywhere in the UK, with the archipelago famed for its spectacular landscapes and archaeological treasures.
It sealed the top spot based on Orcadians’ high employment levels, low crime rate, strong exam results, smaller primary class sizes and good health and happiness scores.
Ricky Diggins, Bank of Scotland’s network director, said: “Orcadians will be thrilled to learn that not only is their home the best place to live in Scotland, it’s now taken the crown for the whole of the UK.
“With Shetland and Eilean Siar coming second and third in Scotland, it’s a clean sweep of the podium places for these island communities.
“Their more remote locations may not appeal to everyone, but with benefits including high employment, low crime rates, smaller class sizes and more affordable housing, people around the country will now be dreaming of a life spent on the isles.”
Shetland was the only other location north of the border to break into the UK top 50 (38th, up from 70th last year), while the Western Isles, Argyll and Bute, and Dumfries and Galloway make up the rest of the top five in Scotland.
