Are there any "foodie" towns in Wales?

[bran]

My parents are thinking of selling their boat as my df isn't enjoying it as much as he used to and I'm encouraging them to think about buying a holiday house instead. The tentative plan is that we would buy somewhere between us that had 2 or 3 separate properties or a large house that could be divided up so we could all have a bit of privacy.

Originally I was thinking about the West of Ireland (they live in Dublin), but it would be quite a long drive for them and a long journey for us (we are in London) and we would like to be able to go quite often so ds can see more of his grandparents. Then I thought that Wales might be quite good as my dps would find it easy to get to the ferry that goes to Holyhead, but I don't know Wales at all so I'm not sure.

Which brings me to my title question - I would like to be near somewhere quite foodie with restaurants and butchers/grocers/delis, and also near the coast/on a lake, a bit like Kinsale in Southern Ireland. The ideal would be a peaceful property with sea frontage and about 10 acres within 30 mins drive of a foodie town and within 1 hour of Holyhead. Any suggestions from Welsh MNetters?

Bran - DH is an academic economist. He has said pretty much what you say in response to my concerns about second-home buying, particularly the point about renovating properties that others wouldn't want to live in.

He's also hardline about the need for people to be more mobile and move to where work is. However, I grew up in the Merthyr valley in S.Wales, where nobody would buy a second home, but where mobility is also very limited. I think a lot of people's reluctance to move from there (at least in the 60s and 70s, when I grew up) stemmed from their reliance on kin networks for practical and emotional support. It may be different now the mines have closed, however. I'd like to know how much outward migration from the valleys has increased recently.

Oldiemum , thanks for that, I was a bit afraid that someone who really knows economics was going to come and tell me I had no idea what I was talking about and clearly hadn't paid attention in lectures.

CD, Abergavenny sounds great, but it's nearly 4 hours drive from Holyhead and I was looking for somewhere that would be an easy journey from Dublin for my parents. Although I might be possible for them to drive to Rosslare and then cross for shorter drive, but I suspect it would add up to the same total amount of driving.

I'll investigate Wilbur's suggestion as that's only about 2 hours drive from Holyhead. How much do they like/dislike outsiders there Wilbur?

Just out of interest Moondog, when Cymuned members sell their homes do they go for the open market price or do they only sell to locals/other Cymuned members and accept that they will get a much lower price?