Scotland votes
Scotland votesReuters

Scotland's bid for independence in a national referendum has ended with a resounding "No" vote on Friday, with 30 of the country's 32 council areas counted and an insurmountable lead given to opponents of independence from the UK.

BBC reports that 1,852,828 votes were needed by either side to win; the "No" campaign already reached 1,877,252 votes with two council areas still to go. The vote ends with approximately a 55% to 45% margin of victory.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has admitted to defeat, but said the strong turnout of 1,512,688 voting "Yes" leaves the road open to a future successful bid at independence.

Salmond has been campaigning for independence for two years; now the nation will turn its attention to demanding more powers given to the Scottish Parliament by the UK.

The "Yes" campaign took Glasgow, Scotland's largest council area and the third largest UK city, by a solid 53.49% majority. Dundee, West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire also voted for independence.

However the nation's capital city of Edinburgh resoundingly voted "No" by 194,638 to 123,927, as did Aberdeen City.

There was a "real sense of disappointment that we have fallen narrowly short of securing a 'Yes' vote," Salmond's deputy Nicola Sturgeon said Friday.

She added that the result was "a deep personal and political disappointment," but comforted herself by noting "the country has been changed forever."

UK Prime Minister David Cameron also reacted to the vote, saying "I've spoken to Alistair Darling (head of the Better Together "No" campaign) and congratulated him on a well-fought campaign."