THREE New Forest spots are among the top 10 most expensive places in the country to buy a coastal property.
Research conducted by Rightmove found Milford has the third highest average property asking price of £751,442.
In fifth place is Lymington, where the average is £603,312. In sixth place is Barton, where properties cost £562,609 on average.
At the top of the list is Sandbanks in Poole where the average property is valued at £1,582,331.
By contrast, Saltcoats in Ayrshire, Scotland, is the cheapest coastal area, with an average asking price of £114,365. Easington in County Durham is second at £122,520, and Peterlee in County Durham is third at £124,593.
The company’s analysis looked at the property prices of more than 200 coastal areas, using data from the Office for National Statistics and its own research.
Rightmove’s Tim Bannister said: “Whilst the pandemic-driven surge for seaside areas has calmed down and reversed back to more normal levels, areas around Great Britain’s coast continue to be popular with many people.
“Particularly at this time of year, many people consider what a home by the sea and away from the hustle and bustle of a city could look like, or perhaps explore estate agents’ windows while on holiday.”
He added: “This year, the cities of Glasgow, Bristol and Edinburgh are now more searched for than the coastal county of Devon, which was previously in third place this time last year. London and Cornwall remain in first and second place respectively.”
Most expensive areas and their average asking price:
1. Sandbanks, Dorset, £1,582,331
2. Canford Cliffs, Dorset, £1,242,181
3. Milford On Sea, Hampshire, £751,442
4. Padstow, Cornwall, £678,058
5. Lymington, Hampshire, £603,312
6. Barton On Sea, Hampshire, £562,609
7. Budleigh Salterton, Devon, £542,005
8. Lyme Regis, Dorset, £521,932
9. Sidmouth, Devon, £501,099
10. Sandgate, Kent, £495,009
Cheapest areas
1. Saltcoats, Ayrshire, £114,365
2. Easington, County Durham, £122,520
3. Peterlee, County Durham, £124,593
4. Ashington, Northumberland, £132,660
5. Bootle, Merseyside, £133,197
6. Grimsby, Lincolnshire, £135,951
7. Girvan, Ayrshire, £139,547
8. Maryport, Cumbria, £140,437
9. Workington, Cumbria, £141,765
10. Hartlepool, £146,674