Scottish residents have shared 10 of the 'worst' places to live in the country in their own words and they haven't pulled any punches.
No matter where you live, the grass is always greener and you will always have complaints about your neighbourhood. Website ilivehere.co.uk allows people to post reviews about their local area and many have taken the opportunity to share the worst their hometown has to offer.
From unattractive scenery to unpleasant neighbours, the satirical site is full of complaints about major cities and small villages. We don't agree with the negative depictions left by reviewers who often neglect to mention the nicer parts of their neck of the woods.
Nonetheless, according to local residents, here are 10 of the 'worst' places to live in Scotland in no particular order.
Inchinnan, Renfrewshire
Inchinnan is a small village in Renfrewshire, approximately 25 minutes from Glasgow with a population of around 2,000.
Owing to its small size, amenities are limited in comparison to larger villages and towns, which one resident was quick to share their thoughts about.
Writing on ilivehere.co.uk, they wrote: "There’s nothing to talk about, it’s a little village with two shops and three pubs."
Despite this, there are plenty of sights and landmarks in Inchinnan to check out, including a bascule bridge made by Sir William Arrol & Company, and India of Inchinnan. The latter is an art deco style A-listed building designed in 1930 that is sure to please anybody into architecture.
The reviewer also took issue with the village's residents, adding: "Full of men gossiping like sweetie wives about everyone behind their backs. The best thing about the gossips is that their own lives are a car crash."
Tongue, Highland
Even smaller than Inchinnan is the coastal village of Tongue in northwest Highland, which has a population of around just 550. Among its amenities are a youth hostel, a craft shop, a general store and garage, a bank, a post office, and two hotels.
The local resident on ilivehere.co.uk took no issue with the scenery, going so far as to call it "one of the most picturesque settings in the UK". Instead, their ire was reserved for the prevalence of livestock in the village.
They wrote: "The area is renowned for its sheep. They block the roads and generally run riot in the area.
"One trick when stuck behind them in a car is to learn a little Gaelic, such as ‘Tha thu gu math’ (“you’re pretty” in English) and see them run."
Edinburgh
It isn't just small villages that have residents venting their frustrations and the capital is not immune to locals' complaints.
While one reviewer admitted they "quite like" living in the city, they had plenty to say about the Edinburgh Fringe and International Festival.
The user posted: "People who live outwith Edinburgh have told me that 'you’re so lucky having the Festival', but many Edinburgh residents would disagree. As soon as the Festivals start up, Edinburgh is transformed into an honorary borough of London, along with the crush of people and the high prices.
"Most places are sectioned off for venues for unfunny Oxbridge student comedians to try and 'make it', and also overpriced beer stands. The beautiful architecture is adorned with posters for (mostly) s**t 'comedy', and you can’t move without being shoved out of the way by someone."
While the Christmas market is a highlight of the year for many Edinburgh residents, the reviewer wasn't so enthusiastic, writing: "This invades the beautiful Princes Street Gardens overlooking the castle, and after a November-December of selling overpriced Christmas beer and meat, then means that there’ll be a late winter to spring of the Gardens being sealed off as the council tries to disguise the yellow grass and mud the market leaves in its wake."
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
East Kilbride is the largest town in South Lanarkshire and Scotland's sixth-largest locality by population, being home to around 75,000 people.
It's popular for its close proximity to Glasgow, as well as attractions such as Calderglen Country Park and the National Museum of Rural Life.
However, that didn't stop one frustrated local from complaining about the town's "ne’er-do-wells" and "famous grey concrete skyline". The anonymous reviewer stated that they would soon be leaving the town "by the grace of all that is holy" and were very candid in their comments.
They said: "Adventure seekers will love East Kilbride for the adrenaline which comes from walking the streets after 9pm". They also called out members of the public for "bumbling through the maze of roads trying to find their flat on a Tuesday night, yelling obscenities and screaming for no apparent reason."
Cockenzie and Port Seton, East Lothian
Cockenzie and Port Seton is a unified town on the coast of the Firth of Forth with a population of just over 5,000.
Like East Kilbride, it is a popular commuter town for Edinburgh and has plenty to offer in its own right: from the picturesque harbours to the nearby holiday park at Seton Sands.
Taking to ilivehere.co.uk, however, one unhappy local was quick to complain about the town's "reckless drivers" and high amount of littering. Regarding the latter, they wrote: "The residents enjoy throwing trash on the ground, usually McDonalds or chocolate bar wrappers. Walk around one of the parks, and you will witness school kids throwing trash into the bushes."
Following a further complaint about the frequency of dog waste on the pavements, the writer concluded: "This should be rated the worst place to live in Scotland."
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a town and former cathedral city in Moray. Known for its beautiful scenery and whisky distilleries, it is a popular spot among tourists.
One ilivehere.co.uk user who stayed in the town for a short while was quick to disagree, complaining that locals were unwilling to help them after they got lost. They even went so far as to suggest other visitors "keep going until you reach Aberlour".
The writer summarised: "A quick Google search to Wikipedia will tell you that 'Elgin is a town (former cathedral city) and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray'. It will not tell you of the unimaginable bleakness that absorbs the so-called city."
Ballingry, Fife
Classed as one of Fife's 'regeneration areas' in need of regeneration economically and socially, Ballingry is a small town with a population of around 6,000. It is thought to be one of the oldest Parishes in Scotland, and its amenities include a library, childcare and catering facilities, a computer suite, a gym, a meeting room, a café, and a large primary school.
Taking to ilivehere.co.uk, one resident did not pull any punches when sharing their thoughts on the town. They singled out the "derelict" shopping square with "boarded up" shops.
They added: "A former mining village that seems immune to any form of improvement. The two main roads leading into the place have the Ballingry sign proudly displayed but it has gloomy Royston Vasey ‘you’ll never leave’ feel about it."
Wishaw, North Lanarkshire
Wishaw is a large town situated on the edge of the Clyde Valley, approximately 15 miles south-east of the centre of Glasgow. Among its highlights are a golf club, Belhaven Park, and its busy town centre that includes a number of small independent retailers.
Leaving a scathing review, one resident wrote that the "town's main attraction is probably the Tesco". They added that it is "famed for well… nothing" and that it is "almost like it's a legal requirement for every street to have at least one empty or smashed bottle of Buckfast on it."
The writer summed up: "There is nothing to do in this place, the most exciting part of a day out here is the possibility of witnessing a fight or someone getting abused in some way or another."
St Andrews, Fife
Known as the "home of golf" and considered one of the most picturesque places in Scotland, St Andrews' inclusion in this list proves that nowhere in the country is safe from the wrath of unhappy locals.
The resident who complained about the town acknowledged its reputation, writing: "So St Andrews, the home of Golf, a prestigious University – on the face of it lovely. Beautiful beaches, nice walks."
However, they commented that tourists, students, pensioners, and locals all "get pavement rage at each other". They then criticised the cost of rent, stating: "If you can afford a one bedroom flat at a nearly a grand a month overlooking the sea then it might be more idyllic for you."
Glasgow
Edinburgh isn't the only major city in Scotland that has been featured on ilivehere.co.uk as one Glasgow local who returned to the city after 10 years away was quick to share their thoughts.
Criticising the residents for wearing "casual sports wear, or occasionally, excessively distressed jeans", the reviewer called out certain members of the public for "picking fights with strangers".
They also slammed Glaswegians' "awfully dainty" hairstyles and "orange or actually terracotta" complexion.
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