Moving to North Wales - does our dream place exist?

[Sandg91]

Hiya! Looking for some recommendations for where to move in North Wales. We live in London, but both my boyfriend and I grew up in the countryside and want that for our future children. I'm planning a roadtrip for this summer to visit some spots so any recommendations would be amazing!

Here's an idea of what we are looking for, although it's worth noting all of these factors are negotiable (well, other than nurseries / schools), just putting them here so we can get an idea of where's the best fit:

• close to nice beach OR area of outstanding natural beauty
• walking distance to a pub
• a community vibe
• good nurseries & primary schools
• within a 30 minute drive of a town with good restaurants, ideally an artsy / creative vibe and independent shops

We are dreaming of a beautiful seaside town/village with a cool young(ish) surfer vibe, great food and stunning walks. But realise this might be just that - a dream! Feel like I've seen this kind of community in Devon & Cornwall, but North Wales just makes so much more sense for us as it's close to friends and family (and is stunning!)

Thanks in advance for any recommendations 💜

I agree Pembrokeshire would fit the bill better.

Is that cheap for a reason though? I'd rather choose Marford - how about:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138474521#/?channel=RES_BUY

the pull of Wales was the coast and the fact we could get more space (land for a workshop) for our money.
If you have been on holiday there, you will probably been to scenic or picturesque places, and probably not in the winter months.

Living there is quite different to living in London. Things you take for granted in a big city may not be available. Things like the availability of broadband, wireless, public transport may not be guaranteed.
It's not that they don't have these things, it's that it can be patchy.
Road links aren't great.

The weather is less mild and dry than London, but that's also true of Cheshire and the Peak District.

I see more posters suggested Pembrokeshire or Cheshire, I'd really look into these areas, OP.

FWIW, maternity units in Betsi Cadwaladwr and also in Shrewsbury (if you think of Shropshire) have been in special measures for years. A quick Google will tell you some very sad recent stories, unfortunately. That is not to say it always happens at all, but if this is one of your primary considerations then keep this in mind.

Cheshire hospitals have some good or extremely bad maternity stories, as we all know, I think. Arrowe Park is considered a good hospital generally, as is Liverpool Women's Clinic not too far away. Countess of Chester has been on the front pages sadly for all the wrong reasons.

In Pembrokeshire, Glangwili isn't too bad and you're approx. 1.5hrs away from UHW (University Hospital of Wales) in Cardiff which is your safest bet in case something was to go wrong.

Glangwili hospital is in Carmarthen
Pembrokeshire is lovely , but a long way from everywhere and the transport connections are pretty rubbish

Just moved to North Wales from London. Menai Bridge is fits a lot of your criteria. Friendly to non-Welsh speakers, beaches everywhere and English medium schools only 10 mins drive away in Bangor.

I think Deganwy, Conwy, Llandudno areas might suit you. Maybe Rhos on Sea?
I'm from the Colwyn Bay area, have English parents and that was really really common growing up, so its not hostile to the English as much.
Parents live near Mold now, pretty area but I don't think its what you are after.
I now live in a totally different part of the UK which does have the type of chilled surfer type vibe, and despite a lot of nice beaches in N Wales I can't think of any with quite the same feel.
Friends that live there now with small children etc live in the Rhos on Sea area and have nice lifestyles.
Agree with others about Gwynedd.

I would look at Swansea and surrounding areas if I was you. Great beaches, mountains, surfing, get a reasonable amount for your money and I've found most people to be friendly towards us as English incomers. My daughter goes to a Welsh medium school but things are sent home in Welsh and English. It does take some getting used to. Welsh is quite a difficult language to learn and although I have the will to do so even pronouncing a lot of place names is difficult. I've found healthcare to be fine and easily accessible here too.

Even though Betsi is in special measures, I’ve had no issues with my health care. Same day dr appts for my children and same week ones for me. No issues maternity care wise - in fact they saved my life during the birth of my first.

The dream might be a far cry fom reality. The further into Wales you go the greater the emphasis on being able to speak Welsh. This may not bother you and you may be keen to learn the language but if you work in the public sector or civil service you will be working with predominantly Welsh speakers
You also need to know that health care and education in Wales is much worse than in England and council tax is staggeringly expensive. The Welsh gvt also now has tax setting powers, public money is starting to run out here so I wouldn't be surprised if income tax goes up.
The last thing you will find any where in Wales is a cool surfing vibe. Generally you will find insularity a mistrust of outsiders and a general air of being miserable.
Sorry to burst your bubble

Wow, as a Welsh person (with an English mum) who has lived in Gwynedd all her life and absolutely loves it, I’m very glad some of you don’t live here considering the misconceptions you’re spreading on this thread.

I 100% disagree. As I stated before I have never been made to feel unwelcome in north Wales despite my failings to adequately learn the language. Like in all things I suppose you get what you give. If you give off miserable vibes you'll get them back I suppose.

My experience of Wales is lots of outdoorsy types who have moved here for the mountains and beaches, and are happily raising a new generation of Welsh speakers. It's not London. Presumably if you're looking to move from London to North Wales you're okay with that

Most people don’t speak Welsh , I’ve lived in rural Carmarthenshire for over 20 years I’m English , DH Welsh , neither of us speak Welsh
We've loads of local friends , The DC went to bilingual school and took Welsh up to gcse level ( its compulsory) but have never spoken it since

IMHO , there’s no need to worry about that , a lot of scaremongering going on here ( just don’t mention rugby )

If you’re willing to go further down the coast, Harlech is nice.

It depends where in Wales you are @LilianaVikavanovich . The thread is about Moving to North Wales not Carmarthenshire.

A rural village in Snowdonia will almost certainly have Welsh spoken by many. A village in Flintshire probably not.

I lived in North Wales for 7 years as an adult. I was thinking that the sea isn't rough enough to have enough surf really but then remembered that Rhyl now has some kind of surf school. But that is so not the area you're looking for. Rhos was full of retirement flats but Llandudno and Deganwy were quite nice. I love Beaumaris though but it's been a while since I've been. Not really North Wales but for an artsy feel, Machynlleth was nice but I only visited once.

Don't be put off by a few posters with an axe to grind re health / education. Admittedly not in North Wales, but having made a lot of use of the NHS over the past few years (elderly parents!) I'd say the experience is massively better than what my dad hears from his friends in England. Sure you have to travel, but that's always going to be the case in a sparsely populated rural area.

Ditto schools seem much less stressful than what I hear from English friends & read on here, we had the choice of Welsh or English medium & basically certain to get a place at whichever we chose. Uni also a much better deal at the moment as DC get loans that cover living expenses properly, & grants for those from lower income homes.
In terms of location, what about Aberystwyth - not North, but good community, arts centre, beach, plenty of pubs etc etc & great countryside all around

Or indeed a village near Aber. Lots of nice options within 30 mins drive.

Llangollen - Wikipedia

Beaumaris probably, although I'd look in NW England too - Wirral or Liverpool is close to NWales and also offers what you're after

The point was, it is the largest hospital nearby.

It's funny how some posters will always kick up a fuss over "oh this wasn't my experience, you're spreading misconceptions" without knowing other posters' background and without realising people's experiences always vary. That's why it's useful to have a thread and exchange views, we're here to contribute, not agree on everything.

Carmarthenshire is a completely different pair of boots to Gwynedd.

I know you say North Wales, but please consider putting the Gower and Mumbles on your road trip itinerary. When I read your list it immediately sprang to mind! Your future teenage children will thank me for it 😉

@ToothofaPig is right. A plus is that you have better road and rail links. The weather should be better too. Despite a pp Swansea isn't the wettest place in Wales.

Rhos on Sea, Deganwy, close to the sea and the A55 or further along there's Menai Bridge, Rhosneigr?