Properties in Edinburgh were most expensive on average

The research from the Registers of Scotland also indicates that �3.8bn worth of property changes hands in Scotland every three months.

Edinburgh homes were found to be most expensive with the average price paid �139,026.

The average property price in the Highlands and Islands was �83,110.

The official figures for Scotland came as the latest survey from Halifax Bank of Scotland indicated that house price inflation across the UK is still surging at an annual rate of 14%.

Prices north of the border have now risen for 11 consecutive quarters.

The latest rises cover the period from July to September 2003.