Best place to live in Wales?

[Giraffey1]

Where are the best places to live in Wales? I need to decide where my next home should be and I’m at a bit of a loss.

I’d like somewhere semi rural, with space, views and a small garden. Good places for dog walking, but within reach of civilisation. No need to be near an office, I work from home. No children or partner to factor in.

Budget up to £300k.

Where would you tell me to look, and where would you tell me to avoid?

Pembrokeshire

Healthcare isn’t an issue (as already stated, I’m not ill or in need of particular support, thankfully), but it is a factor, if you see what I mean 😂

@Tywysoges where did you eventually end up?

@Giraffey1 in the western end of the Vale of Glamorgan, between Bridgend and Cowbridge. We love it here.

If you don't speak Welsh, I'd recommend Abergavenny, Monmouth or Crickhowell. They all have the facilities you'd need for everyday life, such as doctors, dentists, shops and you are not too far from Cardiff or Bristol. Cowbridge is beautiful but I think very expensive, although Aber, Monmouth and Crickhowell aren't cheap. They do all have a good sense of community.

South Pembs below the Landsker line Welsh isn't an issue at all.

North Pembs up into Ceredigion obviously is much more Welsh speaking but it's not a big deal. I don't speak Welsh though I understand reasonably well (I would love to improve - I'll get there one day!). I've got friends who are first language Welsh, others who speak Welsh but not at home/with family and others who either have a bit like me or none. If you're looking for jobs here then Welsh is important but doesn't sound like that's relevant to you. (One thing in Pembs is not to assume that just because someone doesn't have a classic Welsh accent when speaking English that they're not a first language Welsh speaker!)

In the western end of the Vale of Glamorgan, between Bridgend and Cowbridge. We love it here.

Glad you found somewhere good to settles!

Or even ... settle .....

[quote tywysoges]@Giraffey1 in the western end of the Vale of Glamorgan, between Bridgend and Cowbridge. We love it here.[/quote]
Treoes?

That would be a good suggestion for the OP too actually! I love Treoes 😍, especially The Star. Not sure £300k would get you much though...

Aberystwyth! I'd move back there in an instant.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-83744509.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-94048373.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84128657.html

Not Treoes but I agree it’s not a bad shout. Very pretty village and very close to Starbucks amenities.

What I have found when looking in a slightly more expensive area with a limited budget is that cheaper things get snapped up very quickly. My advice is, once you have decided on a few areas you’d like to live, set up an alert on Rightmove and Zoopla (and maybe onthemarket - some estate agents are not in all of them) with your preferences and be ready to go for viewings as soon as you can when a house pops up.

We are also looking to move to Wales/borders in the next few months and agree with you re healthcare OP. We live close to a major teaching hospital in the Home Counties yet two of my family members have recently had dreadful experiences involving delays in diagnosis of life limiting health conditions. Things are far from perfect across the board unfortunately.

Love the links to houses, by the way, I love looking at them!

I’ve lived all over South Wales in my time. Cardiff is an amazing city - small and friendly - so being close to Cardiff is good. The valleys to the North offer great value for money and the Vale of Glamorgan is lovely but less for your money.

Pembs beautiful but mad busy in summer, very windy in winter anywhere near the west coast and healthcare provision hasn’t been properly invested in. Narberth is nice though. Carmarthen and Aberystwyth too. Monmouth and Abergavenny are really nice of you are not bothered about being by the coast. Mid wales too.

Don’t know North Wales to live in but gorgeous coast and mountains.

I'd move to Mumbles in a heartbeat, close to the facilities of Swansea, Langland and Caswell bay right on your doorstep and the rest of the Gower a short drive away.

@Mapletreelane I love Mumbles too and have friends who've retired there. That said, the traffic on a sunny day (even Winter sun) is hideous. There is only one road in and out towards the city.

Wales a small place, but regional variations still huge. Vale of Glam very different to (say) Tregaron both culturally and climatically.

Weather in South/South-West Wales warmer and in particular drier than in North. Google rainfall maps of the UK. Culturally quite different also. Not all Welsh-speaking areas same. Teifi valley and North Pembs very Welsh, but not in-your-face about it. Mid/North by reputation a bit strident. Have never lived in North, can't say if justified or not, but have heard so many stories. Would guess depends a lot on attitude of incomers. If respectful of local culture, unlikely to be a problem.

Property near coast, especially in beautiful areas like most of Pembrokeshire, attracts premium. Compare (say) Newcastle Emlyn with St Dogmaels, both mentioned earlier. Both nice, both smarter and trendier than they were 30 years ago. Former is five minutes from beach, latter is 25 minutes inland = St Dogs more expensive. Further inland you go, cheaper it gets.

St Dogs & larger Cardigan - separated by 20-minute walk - kind of place you describe in OP. Good community, lots going on (pre-Covid anyway), choirs, cinema, shops, farmers market, etc. But still small, and 50-minute drive from Carmarthen and dual-carriageway to M4.

Narberth up and coming, chic-ish, probably due to good access to A40/M4. Don't know anybody who lives there. Towns of Haverfordwest, Milford, Pembroke Dock themselves gritty by reputation, but surrounding villages should be OK.

If living in village or larger, should be able get mains gas, but if outside a settlement then likely will need bulk (Calor) gas or oil. Rural areas may still have major problems with internet access. Get 2Mbit/s here, no sign it will improve. 4G might work.

In Welsh areas like Teifi valley, Preseli, Ceredigion, probably large chunks Carmarthenshire, children taught in Welsh in schools, and very seldom negotiable. Some people surprised by this, so good to keep in mind if you have/want children at some point. It is different country, after all. Obviously becoming aware of and learning new language (5-6) at early age has its positives.

Couple listings in Llandudoch (St Dogmaels):
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84079430.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-87679463.html

just to edit for clarity

Newcastle Emlyn with St Dogmaels, both mentioned earlier. Both nice, both smarter and trendier than they were 30 years ago. Former is five minutes from beach, latter is 25 minutes inland = St Dogs more expensive.

It's St Dogmaels that is near the beach (Poppit Sands)

Haverfordwest has some nice good value town houses with surprising gardens sometimes and has had some improvement grants to restore properties but is much less gentrified than Narberth. Traffic around Haverfordwest can snarl up too.

Good post from @Outwest and others on this thread.

It's St Dogmaels that is near the beach (Poppit Sands)

Correct, thanks to snowspider for clarifying that.

I visit a friend in Cardiff fairly regularly and it strikes me as a small, friendly city. It’s not cheap where she is though (Lisvane& Thornhill is nearest railway station). She loves the city and has made lots of friends.

We’ve had lunch in Cowbridge a few times - lovely place, but expensive again from what I could see in estate agent windows. It also seemed a bit “stuffy” to me but that may be unfair.