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The UK is home to many amazing seaside towns, but living by the coast often comes at a hefty price, especially when it comes to buying property. However, there are still places where a seaside home won't break the bank. One of them is Oban in Scotland, which has been named the most affordable seaside town in the UK by The Co-operative Bank.

According to recent data, demand for seaside properties has surged by 115% compared to pre-pandemic levels, making the search for a coastal home increasingly competitive. But Oban stands out thanks to relatively low prices. The average house price in the town is £220,458 - 7.97 times the average yearly income for the area.

The average rent is £800 a month, which is just 34.7% of the average local monthly income - the lowest percentage of all locations in the bank's study.

For buyers, there are properties on the market for much less than the town's average.

A spacious three-bedroom top-floor flat on Combie Street is listed for £135,000. Fully renovated and currently run as a successful holiday let, it includes a large kitchen/lounge, a shared garden, and the option to transfer its short-term lets licence.

Another three-bedroom flat on Angus Terrace is priced at £199,950. It features a modern kitchen, off-street parking, a large garden with decking, and the potential to convert the loft.

Houses are also available at similar prices. A well-presented two-bedroom terraced house on McCaig Road is on the market for £170,000.

It has a south-facing garden, a patio area, and is within walking distance of the local school and town centre.

Known as the "Gateway to the Isles", Oban is a busy fishing port and a launchpad for trips to the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

Visitors can take short ferry rides to Mull, Kerrera or Iona, or enjoy local attractions such as McCaig's Tower, Dunollie Castle, and Ganavan Sands.

The town is famous for its seafood, with many restaurants, pubs and food shacks serving freshly caught produce.

Locals describe it as friendly, scenic and full of character. "Always worth a visit, so friendly and has boats for all the island hopping you like," resident Dorean Dorothy Jean Mackie told This is Oban.

Others praised its charm year-round. Bee Baily said: "Beautiful people, stunning views, serene yet fun, independent shops, great food, great humour, warmth and friendliness, a sense of magic. My happy place."