what's it like living in the valleys of South Wales?

[catbills]

Hi mums,
I'm considering a radicle house move to South Wales because it's the nearest place I might actually be able to own my own home. I have visited many times but would love to hear from anyone living in places such as Mountain Ash, Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, Abertillery, Tredegar, Aberdare, phillipstown, Trealaw, Ferndale etc or any of the rural villages around Newport and Cardiff.
I'd especially be interested to hear from anyone who has moved there from England as to how easy it is to integrate in to the community. I'm a single mum and worried I might get lonely if I can't make friends easily as I don't know anyone in Wales.

Bridgend is further west but also has cheap housing, good schools and 20 minute train into Cardiff.
We've moved now due dh job but I loved our time there. 5 minutes drive from Ogmore by Sea, 10 minutes to Porthcawl. Lovely bit of coastline within easy reach.

I've just booked an Air Bnb near Merthyr to go mountain biking in the summer. I didn't realise it was meant to be grim...

It's not grim. Check out our fancy restaurant.

www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/welsh-restaurant-boss-hits-back-14536120

Could I have your views on Tondu? We are looking to buy a house on the top of a hill on the outskirts of the town, beautiful house and very peaceful, I also appreciate the nature reserve and the beach arnt too far away - BUT the immediate area looked pretty bleak....
I have 3 children 6,4,2 and I would be there mostly alone with husband commuting so really do need honest opinions please.

I am jumping on this thread to ask about Swansea. DH is relocating to the area for work for 2 years and we are thinking of buying a house instead of paying rent/hotel bills. Also looking at Pothcawl.

Don't move up to Ferndale or that direction. Stunning location but not easy to live there for reasons mentioned by pp. Aberdare is OK. I'd stick to the east as an English person. Bit easier!

Caerphilly is nice mind you.

In general I hate small/ medium towns, having had to live in one for many, many years- I am definitely a city dweller by choice. Having said that, if I ever was going to live in a town again, Bridgend would be high on my list. I am probably biased by the fact that when I was at uni in Swansea, one of my best friends was from Bridgend and we used to go there every so often and have a really good time, but it genuinely is a good place.
My mum's family is from Abergavenny: nice but ridiculously overpriced and increasingly snobby in parts.

I was born at the top of the valley in Nantyglo, moved away for 20 years, back in Wales for the last 20.
I live near Blackwood/Newbridge/Risca and I love it.
People are friendly, good local music scene, access to excellent pubs and restaurants.
That's all close by. Further afield Newport and Cardiff for shopping, theatre, bigger gigs, independent shops, museums, castles, historic houses, culture!

And then there are the natural surroundings, mountains, rivers, trees, more trees, gardens, parks, mountain bike trails, camping, walking, running, cycling, fishing, sailing etc.

Sitting in my garden or on the allotment on a nice day is sheer bliss.

And then there's the Murenger. Fantastic pub, home in the past to John Frost of Chartist fame, and to Rob, landlord extraordinaire, with a fab pub quiz and brilliant taste in books.

And Risca now has 2, TWO cafes with proper coffee and vegan cake.
So yes, go for it!

I lived in Caerphilly for six months; quite nice and within easy travelling distance of Cardiff. There's some lovely countryside. I don't think I'd want to live there though. It's quite lonely for an English woman.

You say it's the only place you could afford to buy - where do you live at the moment? Have you looked around at house prices in northern England / Scotland? I can't speak to Wales but can say that as an English incomer to Scotland I've only ever felt welcomed - live in a beautiful part of the country, housing where I am is reasonably affordable and gets cheaper the further away you get from the nearby university town.

I grew up in Ebbw Vale. I would not want my child growing up there for many reasons.

The locals can be quite racist to the English. My husband whose English has had a few comments in the local pub when people heard his accent.

If you can stretch to it Abergavenny is a much nicer place.

Do I take it from the silence that Swansea is to be avoided?

You have to drive.

It's cliquey but not impossible.

I and another English mum are constantly asked why we moved there and are met with suspicion as though we are witness protection.

Unemployment is massive.

It rains all the time. ALL THE TIME.

Countryside is lovely and my children are having that old fashioned childhood

@Belindabelle I'm in the Swansea valley

Help
I feel I've made a mistake

@belindabelle I love Swansea; it’s got a lot going for it. I moved from the SE England to wales 15 years ago and wouldn’t go back if you paid me. I don’t know the valleys very well though, they are beautiful. I am in central Swansea - cheap houses, great schools, the Gower, swansea beach, Mumbles......yes there are rough areas but there are in every city. I love it.

There are good and bad parts if every area. We moved to Ynastawe (sp) ear swansea around 20 years ago due to DPs job. We were only there for about 8 months but it was great. Beautiful countryside and friendly people. We rented and were only there for a short time but I have good memories of it.

My partner will be studying at south wales university treforest and we have three children where would be the best place to rent in a nice area and we are from barbados we spend most of our time in liverpool and we love there but he have to study

@shamartehya it depends how far away you want to be from Treforest and how much rent you want to pay.

Merthyr has had its fair share of bad press but is actually a decent place to live and has some nice parts. Great views, 10 mins to Brecon Beacons, 30 mins to Cardiff. I love it. It seems to be one of the more ‘up and coming’ valleys! towns for shopping/regeneration so house prices are likely to be more than other valleys. Saying that, this is worth it- Blaenau Gwent is downright depressing and the Rhondda valleys are quite isolated. I wouldn’t want to live in either. Pontypridd or Caerphilly are closer to Cardiff and not bad. Llantrisant is pretty decent, good schools.

Also, to the person who’s booked the air bnb in Merthyr for mountain biking, you won’t be disappointed; Bike Park Wales is fantastic and the surrounding area is stunning for cyclists.

I need someplace that is nice but still cheap three children 6, 9, 15 that is close to town and close to the university treforest

shamartehya "cheap" is relative - one person might say £500pcm is cheap, where I am cheap would be £1000pcm; you really need to give a rough amount of what your budget is for renting for people to advise.

Sorry 500 a month is not bad my partner he will be studying and i will have to look for work while the children go to school , it is scary going to someplace new that you have never been to