to consider moving to Wales?

[cheminotte]

Specifically Abergavenny?
We have 2 dc age 4 and 7, going into Reception and Y3 in September. We live in a small city in the West Midlands and commute to Bristol and Birmingham respectively.
Pros - much closer to beautiful countryside, less pollution, slightly shorter commute for dp, cheaper house prices
Cons - I would need to find a new job, but am contracting anyway so no security, massive upheaval for dc, esp ds1 who has taken a while to settle into school, further from pils.
Smaller location so possibly less available to do in evenings?
Neutral - similar commuting distance to Cardiff as Birmingham,

Ds1 suffers from some sort of allergy which we suspect may be caused by living near motorways and a railway line (diesel).
We are an outdoorsy family and love walking and cycling but currently have to drive a bit first

I have lived in the Forest of Dean and we found it such a faff as there was no cinema and no big decent supermarkets and you need a car to go anywhere at all. I actually found it pretty but inconvenient and a bit dull!

Great for day trips though.

I don't want to be specific but dp's job is on the edge of Bristol and he has colleagues who commute in from Abergavenny so I think its feasible.

St. Briavel is lovely and other bits around or near the Forest of Dean, we go down there for walks quite a lot. But a train station is an absolute minimum for me, I may end up driving to work but I don't want to HAVE to.

I grew up on the train line to a big city and it made it quick and easy to go out if I wanted. I didn't get my driving license until my 20s which probably explains my current attitude.

I do like the idea of the kids having more freedom and that's another reason I don't want to be somewhere too small as they will need mum and dad's taxi to see their friends rather than just walking there.

Will need to look at Chepstow a bit more closely. DP says its too expensive but I haven't looked myself really.

We moved from the West Midlands to Abergavenny just over 3 years ago. We love it!!

Most of our friends are people with young families who have moved to the area in recent years.

There is plenty going on (food festival, Green man festival not too far away, festival of cycling this weekend). The train station means that Cardiff is 35 mins away. My OH commutes daily to Cardiff and to London least once a week.

When we moved down we looked at Monmouth, Chepstow and Abergavenny. The housing stock in Monmouth is limited, so you pay more for an equivalent period house from Abergavenny. There are a few new housing estates built/planned, so lots of newer housing at reasonable price. Chepstow seemed quite 'tired' when we were looking. We settled on Abergavenny as you can get more house for your money vs Monmouth and the train station means that we only need one car.

Regarding schools, there are plenty of good primary schools here, although I'd agree with a previous poster about King Henry's. I would probably opt for Crickhowell School rather than KH.

Nothing against Abergavenny, but there's no way in the world I'd set myself up for a commute to Bristol from there . There have to be more sensible choices. Slightly different if you are already living there and then get a job in Bristol, but to deliberately move there when you have no ties to the place would be bonkers, IMO

Testing - I think pollen count is related to pollution levels to some extent? He's been suffering for over a year and at first we thought it was hayfever but its oyjnever gone away. It is often far better in the countryside than at home, he was at a Beaver camp recently and had no problems all weekend. On a holiday to Cornwall he was fine except fir one beach where he suddenly started sneezing. So it may come with us but three would be other benefits.

Russell - Thanks. Did you move with dc or without?

Backforgood - We moved to our current town for a while and are still here many years later. It would be a shorter commute than Dp has currently . Although will consider other suggestions that have been made, eg Chepstow.

We moved when I was expecting my first and have had a second since moving, and have also moved to a different house in Abergavenny.

You can easily drive to Bristol in 40 odd minutes from here. I know a few people who do that commute. The only issue is the Severn Bridge toll you'd have to pay.

Abergavenny is beautiful. The countryside is amazing, you're close enough to big cities/rail links and it's ideal for family life.
Look carefully at schools though - I would opt for Crickhowell over King Henry, so make sure you'd be in catchment.

I think the biggest difference in welsh schools is that they do 'learning though play' until the end of year 2. That's not a bad thing and suits some kids really well, but it's far less formal than English school in the infants.

Monmouth

Monmouth

Monmouth is lovely!! Slightly alternative, reasonable house prices compared to the Cotswolds, good schools, drive away from beaches (gower might be just over an hour?).

Also consider Wotton under edge. Nice small town, community feel, cinema, out door pool, nice countryside (on edge of Cotswolds), half an hour or so from Bristol so easy commute for DH.

You could also both stay in your jobs and look at Chalford. My SIL lives in Chalford near stroud and that's stunning! No where near a beach bit my green eyed monster always appears. Amazing schools, community, very hilly, lots of woodland, good bus route to train station. Train from stroud to Bristol.

hippo - a more relaxed infants sounds great tbh. I really don't feel ds2 (so not my pfb) is ready for school.

Sid - Yes I do like Monmouth too, but no railway station. For Chalford - a bus to a train is no good, I've done it before. If one is late you miss your connection and one will rarely wait for the other.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. Now wondering how it would work viewing houses etc. Renting first is a possibility but would mean 2 moves. Any thoughts / experience?

Look online and try and book back to back viewings all in one day then do a day trip?

That's what we did for my MIL when she moved to our area from London.

Having relocated recently I would def rent first. It takes the stress off to an extent, no chain is a big advantage in the housing market and you can really get a feel for the new place. We will be moving from our rented house soon and it's an arseache moving again but I wouldn't do it another way. I am much more confident about the house we're buying and we always knew there was a relatively easy way out if it turned out it wasn't for us.

Wales is wonderful! Well, my part is, northish :) its so safe and pretty and nice neighbours etc. I wouldnt leave! Good luck!

I would definately rent first, for at least a year, so you can experience all seasons in a new town. (All will be wet though, you can tell when its summer in Wales as rain is warmer... :) )

Washing - yes that is what I was thinking but would want to do that without dc I think. Or dp does a first viewing on way home from Bristol.

Renting probably best I know as will get to know different areas of town. How will that work with schools? I probably need to phone up council and ask if any places or enough to choose from or we will just get what available?

Washing - yes that is what I was thinking but would want to do that without dc I think. Or dp does a first viewing on way home from Bristol.

Renting probably best I know as will get to know different areas of town. How will that work with schools? I probably need to phone up council and ask if any places or enough to choose from or we will just get what available?

If you go on www.monmouthshire.gov.uk there is a section called My Monmouthshire, where you can input a post code and it will tell you all sorts about that area, including doctors surgeries, schools in catchment etc.

Thanks for that Pusty - will take a look.

My parents moved near to Abergavenny when I was 11. King Henry VIII school has quite a good reputation these days (as far as I'm aware anyway). I've known a few people commute to Bristol so it is definitely do-able but you will need to consider the bridge toll.

A few people have said don't go for Newport and whilst it is a bit of a shit hole at the moment it might improve with the new shopping centre in the town. Currently the city centre is pretty shocking and most of the decent shops are in the retail park a few miles out. There are some lovely areas of Newport like Stow Hill.

Look at Caerleon too- it's quite lovely there and close to the M4. There are Roman remains there and some lovely little shops. It's quite small and has a villagey feel about it.

We're near Caerphilly at the moment which is also nice but far cheaper than Monmouthshire!

Okay - so does anyone currently commute to the outskirts of Bristol from Abergavenny leaving at about 7am? Feel free to PM me if that would be giving too much info online.