Living within one hour of Cardiff

[Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear]

We currently live in Newport but plan to move within the next 18mo to 2 years. DH needs to be within an hour of Cardiff for work and needs to be able to get to London fairly easily on occasion.

We have a 5yo DS so don't want to be too remote.

Where if you could live anywhere within an hour of Cardiff would you live? We love Monmouthshire but I worry it wouldn't be great for a teen. I feel that there are probably some areas around Cardiff which are lovely but which I know nothing about as didn't grow up in South Wales.

Yes, Abergavenny is really lovely. Beautiful scenery, lovely area, great for teens and some wonderful bars and restaurants. Not sure there's a Welsh medium school there, though. I might be wrong.

Thank you so much for all the responses, good to know that Monmouth and Abergavenny are good for teens. Will keep them on our shortlist as we do love them but will need to look at welsh medium schools.

Will also visit the Cardiff areas and Llantwit Major etc when lockdown is over. Thanks for the tips on the best areas of the city Pookie :)

Dare I say Porthcawl?

You are very welcome! Any excuse to browse Rightmove
If you decide on this neck of the woods and have any questions about schools etc further down the line, feel free to message me.
It must be scary but very exciting have such a wide open choice of where to go!

Rhiwbina, Lisvane, Llanishen definitely.

Thornhill if you’re ok with 1980s/1990s properties - it’s still an expensive-ish, desirable area but a bit cheaper than Lisvane. You have the mountain just above you so it feels more rural although it isn’t.

Cowbridge is lovely but poor public transport iirc.

I liked llantwit Major. Nice coast and pubs!

@tinytemper66

Dare I say Porthcawl?

What is Porthcawl like?

@Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear

If I can persuade DH to go for the outskirts of Cardiff itself are there any areas to avoid?

Avoid Ely/Caerau. Pontprennau, Llanederyn, Rumney wouldn’t be on my list. Not a huge fan of Thornhill or Llanishen.

Magor is great for commuting but there's not a lot there, especially for a teenager. It's basically a huge housing estate with hardly any shops or anything.

Langstone is nice but even less there although it's only a stone's throw into Newport

Chepstow is nice and really handy for Bristol but the only Welsh medium schools in Monmouthshire are in Caldicot (which is a yuk town IMO) or Abergavenny

ooo just while I think of it, this is being planned for North Cardiff corporate.dwrcymru.com/en/community/explore-our-sites/lisvane-and-llanishen which will be fab and provide lots of fun stuff to keep the kids/teenagers busy. I'm hoping my daughter will get a job helping with the watersports, or in the cafe, anything will do!

That's so kind Pookie thank you :) The choice does make it hard to actually make a decision

Thanks green, Lisvane seems to be highly recommended :)

Have you considered Chepstow? It's a large enough town to have stuff going on and close enough to Cardiff and Bristol to enjoy both

My parents moved to Porthcawl and live there now. Lovely for them as retired folk. Not so great for my sister. It’s a very sleepy seaside town. Very little to do for teens apart from the funfair/surfing. Public transport not great.

During lockdown one of the formerly fabulous seafront hotels has been used as a hostel for ex-offenders and there has been a mini crime wave around the area.

I live in this village (Brynna) and it’s really lovely. Semi rural, lots of lovely walks, woods etc. 10 minutes to the shops at Talbot Green and 20 minutes to Cardiff on the train from Llanharan.

What about these houses, right on the edge of a beautiful woods yet you are on the M4 in 3 minutes. You’d never know we were so close.

Best of both worlds

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/93740168#/

[quote Alwaysraining2]I live in this village (Brynna) and it’s really lovely. Semi rural, lots of lovely walks, woods etc. 10 minutes to the shops at Talbot Green and 20 minutes to Cardiff on the train from Llanharan.

What about these houses, right on the edge of a beautiful woods yet you are on the M4 in 3 minutes. You’d never know we were so close.

Best of both worlds

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/93740168#/[/quote]
You’re not far from me then.

Miskin is lovely - walking distance to Pontyclun. Again, not much for kids. (Was meant to be a big development with cinema and bowling alley but least said about that the better really.)

3 mins to M4?! How? Helicopter?!

@TitsOot4Xmas

Yes! The dual carriageway to nowhere!

In a car yes, only takes a few minutes down through Pencoed and you are on the motorway!

Maybe during lockdown. Must try it next time I’m that way. 🚗 💨

The chain restaurants at Talbot Green have closed as well - only Nando’s left now I think. Maybe Harvester. Think lockdown 3 may have scuppered a Wagamama’s moving in.

Chepstow and Monmouth are ok, but Chepstow better for teens as you can get the train to Gloucester, Bristol, Cardiff etc. Chepstow and Monmouth sized towns are better than a village when you're a teen but they are full of the same people and can have drug problems. Access to the cities (so they can go bowling, to cinema, shops, ice rink with friends etc) and the countryside under their own steam is best for teens.

Looks like Magor and Porthcawl are out then as I do want stuff for DS to do and which he can largely get to under his own steam.

Chepstow definitely one we would consider as a lovely town and easy to get to Bristol and Cardiff.

Ha raining that house was already on my rightmove saved properties! Good to know a bit more about the area it is in :)

It’s very safe, peaceful and has a lovely community spirit. Essential shops in the village you can walk to with quite a few more shops in Pencoed. Have to admit there’s no loads for teenagers apart from a skate park and a youth club which is very popular.
MacArthur glen is around 10 minutes away by car though for cinema and shopping etc.

is exactly what I am thinking banks, the lack of train station in Monmouth is definitely a downside. I have no idea what sort of teen DS will be so living somewhere where he has a range of activities to choose from is definitely a good thing.

I grew up in a good sized Welsh town and drugs were a definite problem. Was still a lovely place to grow up but 14-16 was a bit boring. From 16 we found we could get into the pubs and clubs and things looked up a bit

For Cardiff Rhiwbina/Lisvane/Llanishen/Thornhill has an amazing Welsh primary. You’ll struggle to get 4 beds in Rhiwbina or Lisvane for under 400k though.

Thornhill is a bit bland imo. Llanishen has an ex-council estate which has nicer bits and not so nice and then a posher part, you’d easily get 4 beds well under budget in the estate bit, 400k probably wouldn’t do 4 beds in the posher part.

I’m in Rhiwbina, it has a villagey feel and is a lovely place to live, although it has got a bit hipster in recent years. Lisvane doesn’t have the same variety of amenities but is still nice.