A BORDERS town has featured in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

Melrose was one of eight Scottish locations chosen this year by expert judges who assessed a wide range of factors, from schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.

The judges looked to celebrate improving towns, villages or city centres; attractive, well-designed homes, and locations bursting with community spirit – which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.

An average house price for each location has been supplied by Halifax, the sponsor of the The Sunday Times Best Places to Live  guide and up-to-date information on broadband speeds has been provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband.

But after taking everything into consideration, Melrose just missed out on top billing to the Isle of Bute, Argyll.

Just 90 minutes from Glasgow, the judges decided that Bute stands head and shoulders above all the other Scottish Islands for commutability, and it’s full of adventurous locals fizzing with ideas to make their neighbourhoods shine. Average house price: £155,000.

On Melrose they said: “You don’t have to like rugby to live here (it does help) – you can also enjoy the views of the Eildon Hills, and the town’s literary reputation, which comes to the fore every summer in the Borders Book Festival.” Average house price: £311,000

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place. For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?

“Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains. How times have changed — and how welcome that change is.

“This year we have discovered new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.

“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”