Orkney remains on top as it becomes best in UK for rural quality of life
The Orkney Islands has taken the accolade for having the best quality of life of any rural area in the whole of Great Britain.
According to the latest Bank of Scotland Rural Quality of Life Survey, the islands moved up from last year’s 46th place to first place.
Some methodological changes in the ONS Personal Well-Being Survey – a component of the Index - and the inclusion of two new categories – number of pubs and the availability of health clubs and leisure centres - have resulted in some significant changes in the Quality of Life Survey rankings compared to 2016, with Orkney being one.
The survey found Orkney benefited from low crime rates, quiet roads, low anxiety levels, good health and a high employment rate.
People in Orkney were also said to be most satisfied with life.
Although there is an abundance of space, Orkneys has some of the smallest houses in Britain with an average of 4.5 habitable rooms per home.
'Stunning'
Graham Blair, Mortgage Director at Bank of Scotland, said: “The Orkney Islands is a stunning part of Scotland with some beautiful scenery.
“Pair this with one of the lowest population densities and traffic levels in Scotland, as well as the lowest levels of anxiety and highest life satisfaction ratings, and it’s not surprising that the Orkneys offer a quality of life that is unmatched elsewhere in rural Britain.
“The Shetland Islands and Western Isles continue to dominate the Scottish rural quality of life top three for another year, ranking well in a lot of similar categories to Orkney. If it’s a rural life you are after, then nothing beats being up north on one of Scotland’s many islands.”
Top rural areas with the best quality of life
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Wychavon, West Midlands
Derbyshire Dales, East Midlands
Hambleton, Yorkshire and the Humber
Purbeck, South West
South Cambridgeshire, East of England
Chiltern, South East
West Oxfordshire, South East
South Hams, South West
South Oxfordshire, South East
