Moving to North Wales

[Cheshirecatty]

Can anyone help? We’ve been looking around Cheshire for a while but are now expanding our search area to look at North Wales. Pre lockdown, we were there a lot as we’re keen walkers and have friends there. I’m due to start a job on the Wirral, DH works in Childwall, Liverpool. Children are young adults, and will fly nest soon, so schools not an issue. Which areas would you recommend? We like the look of Hawarden, Mold and the area around, Flint Mountain and Northop. We like the countryside and access to Chester when we want cinema, theatre etc. Any places to avoid? Budget about 350-400. Thank you!

Have you looked at Willaston on the Wirral? There’s a station closeby at Hooton if you want public transport to Liverpool and Chester and the drive to Liverpool is a fairly easy one on the M53 and through the tunnel.
Willaston has a nice villagey feel to it, and it’s about a 20 minute drive Chester.
I’m a Wirral resident and can’t see any real justification for living in North Wales if one of you is working in Wirral and the other in Liverpool.

Have you looked at the villages of Penymynydd/Penyffordd? Just off the A55 and

Although Ruthin and Denbigh are very lovely towns, I think the driving would wear me down-especially during the winter. We looked at Willaston, Millymae and liked it a lot. But we just couldn’t afford the sort of house we want there-our budget of 350-400 doesn’t go very far-anywhere in the villagy parts of Wirral! In Wales we can get a much nicer place and tbh, we spend a lot of our weekend time in Wales anyway (or did!). And missmarple, thank you and will look at those. We do want to stay reasonably close to the border-not only for commuting but for access to Chester. Thanks everyone for input and suggestions, it’s really helpful.

If you are sick of listening to the M56 be mindful of the proximity of Northop and Northop Hall to the A55.

There’s Broughton Park close to Hawarden with a cinema (at the moment). As well as the theatre in Mold you aren’t that far from Chester (and Storyhouse)

In terms of commute Fridays are a nightmare (outside of COVID). The whole world seems to come to N. Wales on a Friday so traffic can be a pain

That being said N. Wales it is a wonderful place to live. I love it here.
I’ve also just had dealings with the Welsh NHS and they were excellent (though it was more emergency than waiting list treatment)

I grew up in the area but now live in Manchester.
Family still there.
Of all the places suggested I would put Hawarden at the top of the list.
It’s really nice and very easy to access to Chester and much more peaceful than Northop/Northop Hall. Def avoid Flint area-
Mold is ok and you’ll probably get more house for your money than Hawarden. Ruthin is quaint but too far.

Penyfford def worth a look too though I haven’t been for years.
Hosptials situation is grim though- my dad has ongoing cancer treatment at countess of Chester only because his consultant pulled a few strings. You do have free prescriptions though, I think. And the GPs are generally ok.
I have to say traffic round there is nothing compared to what I’m now used to in Manchester

Haha, we know about Friday travel into Wales-especially summer! Good job I don’t work Friday😁. That’s reassuring to know about the traffic! I worked for years around Manchester and M60 so anything better than that would be a bonus. Hawarden is lovely with all the stuff we like, although the main road through can be congested. But the village centre is very expensive.

How about somewhere like Rossett or Dodleston?