Even in lockdown, north residents are still smiling.
The Highlands and Islands continues to be the happiest place to live in Scotland, according to the latest Bank of Scotland Happiness Index.
The annual survey asked Scots to take everything about the place they live into account and to rate it -using a barometer ranging between minus 100 indicating very unhappy, to plus 100 meaning very happy.
Those living in the region are seemingly taking this year’s events in their stride, with happiness levels increasing by 4.7 over lockdown .
Mid Scotland and Fife is the second happiest region, home to the tourist hotspot of St Andrews which recorded the biggest improvement over the lockdown period from 40.7 to 52.3.
They were followed by north-east Scotland which includes Aberdeenshire and central Scotland.
Both areas’ scores improve compared to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting the restrictions of lockdown may have had a positive impact on happiness.
However, those living in the South and West of Scotland, and the Lothians’ happiness scores have fallen since March to the lowest they have been for years.
Glasgow is bottom with a score of 35.7.
The report says that homeownership, being aged 65 or over, living in a rural location, having kids or having income or savings of £100,000 or more makes you the happiest.
All age groups report an improvement in happiness levels over the lockdown period with the exception of those aged 35 to 44.
However, despite their happiness score improving the most, those aged 18 to 24 are least happy, for the third year in a row.
Before the first covid measures, on average, happiness levels across Scotland had shown an annual decrease for the first time in six years, from 44.6 in 2019 to 42.9, but then recovered to 44.2.
Ricky Diggins, Director, Bank of Scotland, said: “2020 has been a year of immense change for everyone, and we expected to see the impact of this in the results of our latest Happiness Index, which Bank of Scotland has been running for the past 6 years.
“The results show that the collective mood can be quite different, depending on where you live.
“Following the national lockdown earlier in the year, the Highlands and Islands recorded its highest happiness score to date, and other areas also showed improvements.
“However, happiness levels dropped below those we’ve seen in previous years, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, suggesting the pandemic has had a different impact on Scottish city dwellers.”