AYR and Troon have been named in the top four most in-demand coastal areas to buy a home, according to recent data.

Rightmove, which carried out the analysis, defined the most popular areas as those which received the highest numbers of buyer enquiries made via its website in 2021.

The towns were named as the second and fourth best coastal location where homes are typically snapped up the most quickly across the whole of the UK – with properties finding a buyer in 22 days on average in Troon, 28 days quicker than the national average of 44 days.

In Ayr they were bought after 25 days.

Nearby Saltcoats was first in the list, selling a home after 19 days on average.

Rightmove compared activity on its website between January 1 and November 24, 2021 with the same time period in 2020 to make the findings.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s director of property data, said: “After a year where coastal locations really captured the imagination of British buyers, it’s interesting to reflect on how the overall picture looks at the end of the year.

“In terms of average asking price growth, homeowners in Cornwall and Devon are the real winners this year, with properties in some areas outpacing the national average, though this does mean that it is increasingly difficult for some locals to get onto the ladder.

“The speed of this year’s market really is astounding, seen in the time to find a buyer in some areas, particularly in Scotland.

“Overall, this has been the year that either through changed lifestyle priorities, or the ability to work remotely, living in coastal areas has become possible for more buyers, which is reflected in the data we’re seeing in this study.”

Here are the quickest coastal markets 2021 with the average asking price and the average time it takes to sell a home in days:

1. Saltcoats, Ayrshire, £111,419, 19

2. Troon, Ayrshire, £178,666, 22

3. Westward Ho, Bideford, Devon, £297,138, 24

=4. Ayr, Ayrshire, £161,301, 25

=4. Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk, £219,538, 25

=6. Littlehampton, West Sussex, £364,180, 26

=6. Goring-By-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, £396,078, 26

=8. Marske-By-The-Sea, Redcar, Cleveland, £181,882, 28

=8. Canvey Island, Essex, £308,261, 28

10. Weymouth, Dorset, £283,585, 29