Following on from Bank of Scotland’s annual Rural Housing review, which reveals country house buyers in Scotland can expect to pay an average 11 per cent more than their urban counterparts, comes a new Waterside Index from Strutt & Parker, which says buying a home close to water in the UK is 30 per cent more expensive than one without the added attraction.

Interestingly, it also adds that despite the extraordinary forces that challenged the Scottish market 2016 – Brexit vote and LBTT to name but two – best in class waterfront properties have consistently outperformed the rest of the market owing to the unsurpassed quality of life these properties offer and the financial boost for overseas buyers due to the weaker pound, which has resulted in increased competition marked by closing dates and premium prices.