The UK's cheapest seaside town where homes are on sale for as low as £22k

Seaside towns offer an opportunity for a fresh breeze, sandy evenings and the best dog walks. But they can also be home to some of the most expensive properties in the UK. Luckily, a report from Rightmove reveals a UK seaside town which offers homes for as low as £22,000 - cheaper than a deposit for properties in most coastal resorts around the country.

Saltcoats in Ayrshire has been named the cheapest seaside town in the UK with an average asking price of £114,365, less than one third of the national average house price of £373,493.

The coastal town beat County Durham's Easington and Peterlee on price, with these towns ranked as the second and third most affordable, with average asking prices of £122,520 and £124,593 respectively.

The Scottish seaside town, known primarily for its beach, also attracts visitors interested in its rich history. Some of the cheapest properties on the market include one-bedroom apartments for as low as £22,000 and £29,500, according to current Rightmove and Zoopla adverts. The £22,000 flat features one bedroom and one bathroom and is situated 0.2 miles from Saltcoats Station - which offers 39-minute trains to Glasgow.

Other offers include a three-bedroom-flat for £36,000 on Saltcoats's main street. This property consists of a living room, kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms. Larger properties include 3-bedroom-houses listed around £240,000.

One detached villa offers five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a main lounge, dining area, kitchen and garden area for £235,000. The property is also described on Rightmove as being situated 'not far from the town centres of both Saltcoats and Ardrossan'.

Jane Parks, owner of Mackenzie Way Estate & Letting Agents in Saltcoats, shared why the seaside town's properties might be such a bargain, despite being located a short direct train train from Scotland's largest city.

"It's a neglected area," she told the Daily Express. "There's not much work and people really have to travel for work."

But Jane, who lived in Saltcoats when she was younger, explains that it's a pleasure to work in the same place where she grew up. When questioned about the town's main appeal, she gave a clear and straightforward answer: "The beach."

She added: "It's a pleasure to look at. It's built on a curve, then there's the grass and then the houses."

She claims that the main downside of Saltcoats's coast is the weather. Jane explained how Saltcoats, like many seaside towns, also lacks amenities. She felt that, if this changes, Saltcoats could see great success "if you make it a destination".

Mel Connelly, from Glow Homes Estate Agency, echoed Jane's concerns about Saltcoats's downsides. While once a "thriving seaside location", she says Saltcoats now suffers a severe "economic decline" as it becomes apparent that "Saltcoats is at the lower end of the property demand in comparison to other areas across the West Coast of Scotland."

Nevertheless, the firm's director added: "Having said that Saltcoats is still a good place to stay, with a beautiful beach, many properties positioned on the sea front offering uninterrupted sea views over to the Isle of Arran."

Mel expanded on what else Saltcoats has to offer, telling the Express: "The town offers excellent transport links."

She felt that the town offers "a variety of restaurants, cafes, local shops, supermarkets, adding: "Persimmons House Builders have built hundreds of new build properties throughout the Saltcoats area creating more and more private family friendly estates for buyers."

As a local expert, Mel has noticed a growing interest in home-buying in Saltcoats. She said: "In the current living crisis with inflation we have seen more and more buyers considering Saltcoats to re-locate to and purchase homes in due to the price of them in comparison to other areas of the West Coast."

Some of the most expensive seaside homes included those in Sandbanks in Dorset with a hefty average asking price of £1,582,331 followed by Canford Cliffs at £1,242,181 and Milford on Sea in Hampshire at £751,442.