Stockbridge is named the best place to live in Scotland

The area was voted the best Scottish place to settle down in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live in Britain guide.

It has won the accolade for its village feel, friendly locals and top-rated primary school.

Dundee is ranked second in the guide as a centre of culture, with the new V&A Museum of Design due to open in 2018.

Long celebrated as the city of “jam, jute and journalism”, the spiritual home of the scotch pie also boasts the lowest house prices of Scotland’s seven cities.

The guide notes that Dundee used to be one of Scotland’s more “challenging” cities, but the well-planned waterfront redevelopment and a burgeoning tech sector are drawing people back into the area.

The birthplace of Andy Murray, Dunblane, is also named as one of the top spots to live.

The town, long-synonymous with the school shootings of 20 years ago, now has a “real feel-good factor” created by the tennis star.

The former royal burgh is praised for its famous high school, which came third in a league table based on exam results last year, and an excellent choice of places to eat out.

Murray’s marriage to Kim Sears - hailed as “Scotland’s royal wedding” - took place in the town’s 13th century cathedral last year, attracting well-wishers and media from around the world.

South of the border, places such as Kingham in Oxfordshire, Orford in Suffolk and Harrogate topped the list.

In Kingham, even dogs can get gourmet snacks in the pub - in the form of pig’s ears.

And in Orford, local lobster is sold on Saturday’s in the village hall - highlighting its transformation into a foodie haven.