Where are the best places in Scotland to retire?

Mid Dunbartonshire has been ranked the best place to retire in Scotland, according to a new nationwide index published by Legal & General.

The constituency topped the Scottish list in the financial services firm’s UK-wide Retirement Readiness Index.

It scored areas across a range of factors that contribute to a happier later life, including access to healthcare, opportunities to build social connections, access to nature, local amenities and financial security.

The index was compiled by scoring areas against six “pillars” – housing, health, social and community, financial, nature, and amenities.

Mid Dunbartonshire scored highest in Scotland due to strong performance in health, access to green space, and overall wellbeing among its over-65 population.

Stirling and Strathallan, East Renfrewshire, and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine also ranked highly, with the Western Isles (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) rounding out the top five. Other high-scoring areas included Perth and Kinross, Caithness, and Dumfries and Galloway.

Across the UK, Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire was named the overall best place to retire. Areas in Surrey, West Sussex, and Oxfordshire also featured prominently in the top 20.

In Scotland, urban and rural areas performed well across different measures. Edinburgh North and Leith and Edinburgh West were noted for their high level of access to healthcare and local services, while areas like Argyll and Bute scored strongly on environmental and community factors.

Lorna Shah, managing director of Retail Retirement at L&G, said the findings show retirement wellbeing is shaped by a combination of factors.

“Financial security is a key enabler, but it’s the combination of health, social connection, the surrounding environment and access to local services that makes the biggest difference.

The data suggests growing regional variation in retirement readiness, with Scotland, Wales, and parts of the South West of England offering strong overall conditions for older residents.

The study comes amid ongoing national debates about retirement planning, housing provision for older adults, and the importance of community services in an ageing population.