Moving from Brighton to Wales

[YaWeeGobshite]

We are planning to move this summer to a smallholding in a rural part of Swansea. Just wondering if anyone had any advice, dos/don’T’s. And reassurance that it will be ok?!

I'm on the app so I can't see how long ago you posted. Have you moved yet and is it all you imagined?

Only posted recently, so still wondering if it will work out. Are you thinking of doing something similar?

I'd love to but not sure how I'd ever afford it.

We used to holiday near Machynlleth as kids and there were always lots of people living like this nearby.

Not to a smallholding but we are planning to move from near Brighton to near Swansea, village rural rather than deep rural though. Id love a smallholding but think I'll save that for retirement. I've got a pony to take with me though, bit worried about finding suitable accommodation for her. What are your doubts about moving?

Even the rural parts of Swansea are pretty close to the city, so it shouldn't be too much of a shock.

How much experience do you have of running a smallholding? What do you intend to keep?

@InpatientGardener ooh that’s interesting - do you know when you’ll be making the move? We may have some spare stables 😉
@JemimaMuddledUp thanks - yes I think the city will still be very accessible so hopefully I’ll manage! Zero experience. It will be a hobby rather than a living though. We will start with chickens and a veg plot and take it from there. We might have diy liveries as there are 7 (indoor) stables; I’d love to see horses on the fields…

@yaweegobshite going to put our house on the market in the next month or so but think it'll take a while to find a house to buy. A field would be amazing, she's a native pony and lives out all year. Retired too so just want somewhere nice for her to see out the rest of her days..might come back to you on that one! Have you found your next property yet?

@InpatientGardener yes, we are in the early stages of the process of buying/selling. Obviously anything could happen so fingers crossed it goes smoothly. The people we are buying from have horses too. Although I used to have a horse here (at a livery yard) I’m not ready for the commitment at the moment myself but I’d love to see horses in the fields. Keep in touch!

@yaweegobshite I certainly will. Hope it goes smoothly for you and here's to never sitting on the A27 in rush hour again!

I'm just outside Swansea. Moved here from Glasgow 13 years ago and don't regret a second of it. Stunning beaches on our doorstep. But I'm in Mumbles so can't really comment on the rural bit. Public transport not great so lot of taxiing kids around when they're older. Whereabouts exactly are you moving to? Feel free to ask any Swansea questions!

I'm in Swansea too if you want to ask anything.
Are you towards Gower or the other side?

@massistar that’s reassuring, thank you. It’s the area around Pontarddulais, as it seems reasonably accessible to Swansea, Llanelli, Gower and the Brecon Beacons. One child left to ferry around, and she is 16 so hopefully will be able to drive herself in the next year or so. Have you found the people friendly?
@championthewonderhorse70 thank you, we’re planning to be North of Gorseinon towards Pontarddulais, so kind of Gower side. Whereabouts are you? We do love our coffee shop culture here and we’re hoping we won’t feel too far away - Llanelli seems to have lots of new shops etc and that’s about 20mins drive, as is Swansea. Do you go into Swansea much? Or even Cardiff? Any other areas we might explore (shops/coffee trips)?

I'd say it took a while for me to make friends. Everybody seems to know everybody which was a bit of a shock after Glasgow. But I got there in the end.

Mumbles is fab for a day trip, lots of little shops and independent coffee shops. I don't tend to go into Swansea much. Like a lot of other small cities the high street is struggling and it's all a bit depressing, especially since Debenhams closed.

The Marina is lovely for nice bars and restaurants though. I like Cardiff for shopping but there are a lot of big chain restaurants, not much independent.

For me, the pull is the active lifestyle and the beaches.

When we visited I found people really friendly, we made 4 new 'friends ' in a multi storey car park when we couldn't work out the paying system then helped some other people with it. Seemed more relaxed than the South East, a bit like going up north where people seem generally more open and chatty (generalisation I know but I have found it to be largely true!)

[quote YaWeeGobshite]@massistar that’s reassuring, thank you. It’s the area around Pontarddulais, as it seems reasonably accessible to Swansea, Llanelli, Gower and the Brecon Beacons. One child left to ferry around, and she is 16 so hopefully will be able to drive herself in the next year or so. Have you found the people friendly?
@championthewonderhorse70 thank you, we’re planning to be North of Gorseinon towards Pontarddulais, so kind of Gower side. Whereabouts are you? We do love our coffee shop culture here and we’re hoping we won’t feel too far away - Llanelli seems to have lots of new shops etc and that’s about 20mins drive, as is Swansea. Do you go into Swansea much? Or even Cardiff? Any other areas we might explore (shops/coffee trips)?[/quote]
I live in the next village to Bont. How mad is that. Small works eh!
It's a lovely area.

I don't go into Swansea CC must as Trostre is more accessible.

I never go to Cardiff unless it's got a gig. Can't stand loads of people and traffic. I'm a miserable git.

You'll love it here

Looking at moving to Anglesey from North Manchester, ideally semi-rural. Seen two great properties, one near Amlwch and the other near Red Wharfe Bay. Anyone live in or know these areas? Thanks.

Apologies for my above message! I meant for this to be posted as a new message... sorry.