John O'Groats has been given this year's Carbuncle Award for the most dismal place in Scotland.

Denny, East Kilbride, Inverness and Lochgelly were also nominated for the Plook on the Plinth trophy handed out by architecture magazine Urban Realm.

Its editorial team said John O'Groats was "notorious for being so desolate" and described it as a "bleak outpost".

Inverness was short-listed because of its "sprawl" of retail parks, business parks and housing developments.

Carbuncles judge Drew Mackie said: "Having cycled 800 miles from Land's End to get here I would wonder why I bothered.

"This is the most anti-climactic tourist attraction that I know - and the UK is not lacking in these.

"An air of dereliction hangs over the place. Not surprising as the main hotel building is derelict and the most striking feature is a large car park