The research, led by Which?, had 9,000 members rate inland towns and villages they'd visited across the UK.
Each town and village was then measured on its food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery, attractiveness, shopping and peace and quiet.
Top spots went to Wells in Somerset and Avebury in Wiltshire. Meanwhile, they were followed by other highly rated towns in every corner of the UK – from Scotland to Dorset – and North Wales to the Lake District.
15 Scottish locations which are, according to members, “worth a visit any time of the year” made it to the list.
Leading the list for Scotland is Melrose in the Scottish Borders.
A Which? spokesperson said: “The three peaks of the Eildon Hills provide the backdrop to this most Scottish of towns. Small, ancient, and built of red sandstone, it grew up around the abbey, now ruined, which was established in 1136 and still houses the heart of national hero Robert the Bruce, buried in a casket in the grounds.
“The St Cuthbert’s Way, a 62-mile walk to Holy Island, also starts at the abbey, but there are more leisurely options.
“These include two National Trust for Scotland gardens: Priorwood, with beautiful views across the abbey, and Harmony Garden, with its flowering bulbs and Georgian manor house.
“Otherwise, Melrose is a place to potter, stopping for refreshment at one of countless tea rooms or enjoying a wee dram at one of the charming old inns.”
Here are the 15 Scottish towns and villages featured on the list.

13. Callander (62%)
Callander is a small town in the Stirling area situated on the River Teith. It's a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands. It received four stars for its scenery but only one star for tourist attractions. | PA

14. Fort William (60%)
Fort William, in the western Scottish Highlands,is on the shores of Loch Linnhe. It’s known as a gateway to Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis valley. The nearby Nevis Range Mountain Resort has ski runs and forest trails. The town received two stars for food and drink, tourist attractions, attractiveness, shopping and peace and quiet. It was given five stars for its stunning scenery. | Google

15. Gretna (49%)
Gretna, in Dumfries and Galloway, is located on the border near the mouth of the River Esk. It received two stars for its scenery as well as peace and quiet, while the town was given one star for attractiveness. It's also nearby to Gretna Green which is known as the "marriage capital of the UK". | Google


