Looking for Scottish villages to semi-retire to - any suggestions with any links would be appreciated?

I would try the north east or the highlands in around aviemore/morary firth nice around there. If you want beaches goto the north east in around peterhead. My sister lives near there. But warned it can get quite cold in the winter compared to england.

We often went on holiday to the North East of Scotland and found lovely little villages all over. Up on the Moray firth are places like Cullen, Portknockie and Portsoy, all of them beside the sea. Cullen has a golf course that takes in part of the beach there so walkers have to watch out.

Most areas of Scotland have lovely villages so if I were you I would pick an area and then look on the website called 'Undiscoveredscotland' where you can learn all about each and everyone of them.

If living by the sea is a pre requisite then the East Neuk of the Kingdom of Fife is superb . It is attractive and yet accessible to the main centres of population . St Monance , Pittenwheem , Crail and Anstruther ( pronounced locally " Ainster " ! ) are charming and of great character . The Town if St Andrews is close by and again , something special !

Check out http://www.eastneukwide.co.uk/

Oban is always popular, as is North Berwick, Peebles, or Pittenweem. (OK , not really villages)

You know where the work is so here is a way to find the pretty villages.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/