'I live in Scottish seaside town where homes cost £100k - but there's a catch'

Daily Record

4 days ago

A quaint seaside town in the UK, so charming it inspired a classic number one hit, boasts average property prices around £100k. However, Campbeltown, nestled at the southern end of Scotland's Kintyre Peninsula, has one particular quirk that newcomers might need time to adjust to.
This week, Campbeltown made headlines as the most affordable coastal area for property purchases across the UK.
The peninsula gained notoriety thanks to Beatles legend Paul McCartney, who has been the owner of High Park Farm since 1966. McCartney penned the track 'Mull of Kintyre' in the 1970s, which soared to chart-topping success in 1977, becoming the first single to surpass two million sales in the country.
When Millie West, now 19, was born, Paul's iconic song had already celebrated its 30th anniversary. A lifelong resident of Campbeltown, Millie cherishes her hometown despite acknowledging a certain climatic challenge.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she commented on the frequent rainfall, noting "you get used to it" rather swiftly.
During this season, the region typically sees about 60 mm of rain monthly, which is roughly two inches. Come July, precipitation increases to approximately three inches and remains consistent throughout the summer.
Winter brings its own deluge, with residents bracing for an impressive five inches of rainfall during October, November, and December, ensuring their wellies are put to good use.
Residents are also struggling with a lack of job opportunities. Millie, who currently works in a charity shop relying on donations from locals, hopes to escape the town to further her education: "Eventually, hopefully, I'll go off to college or something because I've not done that yet," she said.
A 2018 report listed two major employers in Campbeltown; Campbeltown Creamery and CS Wind UK, who provided "a substantial portion of the Campbeltown area's high skilled jobs and are a vital part of the local economy," according to the government.
Late the following year, CS Wind UK had declared 22 jobs redundant.
On a more positive note, the whisky industry is thriving, with three distilleries - Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank - providing a welcome boost to the local economy.
In terms of amenities, the town boasts two primary schools, a high school, a police station, Post Office, health centre, leisure centre, churches, cafes, and a veterinary surgery. According to Millie, the local nightlife is "decent" for young people, with a handful of pubs and a DJ night on Saturdays.
One major advantage of living in Campbeltown is its affordability, with one-bedroom flats available for a mere £60,000. The town even has its own airport, which operates twice-daily flights to Glasgow, whisking up to 17 passengers away in just 45 minutes.