Considering a move to The Valleys...

happilymarried2013

Hiya all,


I live in the Valleys and commute to the big smoke every day. There are some really lovely areas up there (but yeh some dives too).


Congratulations OP on your new job, if you're working Nantgarw there's always Caerphilly, Merthyr, Ponty that are commutable distances and means that you can put some space between you and the office. 60-70k is quite a small budget mind. Hubby and I have just bought (hopefully if mortgage comes through - whole other story) a semi detached in Merthyr for 58k but that's a 2 bed.


If I was in your shoes I think I'd rent your house in Reading and rent down here for a while - it'll give you chance to check out the areas that you'd like to settle in.


Welcome to Wales hun You'll like it here.

kayfaz

Ok, so I've accepted the offer and been going to the Office in Nantgarw a few times a month and also surveying different areas/villages.

I have found two beautiful houses in Treharis/Quakers yard. Although stretching the initial budget a little, but still affordable, while also changing my mortgage in Reading to a BTL mortgage.

Now...anyone know the area at all that can give me some local insight?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Personally I would have chosen to live in Cardiff and commute to Nantgarw - Treharris/QY are a little out of the way for me. But then I suppose it all depends on what your interests and requirements are.

kayfaz

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Personally I would have chosen to live in Cardiff and commute to Nantgarw - Treharris/QY are a little out of the way for me. But then I suppose it all depends on what your interests and requirements are.

We did consider Cardiff, however it didn't appeal to us at all, too crowded.

Few reasons why Quakers Yard/Treharis:

• Quite (that's how we saw it at least)
• Only about 15minutes commute
• Property price much cheaper than Cardiff
• Amazing scenery!

What we want to know from someone local is how safe is the area or any factors that could play a role in our decision, that we may not be aware of as an outsider.

vjm63

I used to work in the Quakers Yard / Treharris area - so know it reasonably, but not to live in. The people there are generally friendly, and do like to get to know you - so expect a lot of questions about who you are, where you are working etc... .

Fir Tree Drive in Quakers Yard does have slightly higher crime levels /antisocial behaviour I think than somewhere like up by The Oaks and The Hollies - but then both can have travel issues in the bad weather, which is another matter. In Treharris itself the 'top streets' around Twynygarreg and Cilhaul are mostly ex-council housing (like Fir Tree Drive) but not really aware of any major issues there.

Not many shops or facilities there really, and even fewer in next door Trelewis, so expect to be going through Ponty for things en route to/from work, or use the big Tescos and shops nearby in Upper Boat.

Scenery - good, and the snowline in winter is in Dowlais so they get the four inches or more when Cardiff has a bit of slush! Ts/QY will have maybe an inch but be passable on the main roads.

You say 15 minutes commute - there are a LOT of people going down valley for work in the morning and back up in the evening! If there is an accident on the A470 it can all grind to a halt for half an hour. Allow perhaps 30 minutes until you are sure of your timings, longer than that, and certainly try to leave for work before 8am!

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

kayfaz wrote: »

We did consider Cardiff, however it didn't appeal to us at all, too crowded.

Few reasons why Quakers Yard/Treharis:

• Quite (that's how we saw it at least)
• Only about 15minutes commute
• Property price much cheaper than Cardiff
• Amazing scenery!

What we want to know from someone local is how safe is the area or any factors that could play a role in our decision, that we may not be aware of as an outsider.

You're right about the scenery - it's just stunning. The Brecon Beacons are 20 minutes away, they're fantastic.

I grew up in a valleys ex-mining community (Beddau) - the positives far outweigh the negatives. That's not to say there aren't issues with deprivation and crime - I would just say trust your instinct, you'll soon be able to tell the difference between a problem estate and a quiet street.

kayfaz

vjm63 wrote: »

I used to work in the Quakers Yard / Treharris area - so know it reasonably, but not to live in. The people there are generally friendly, and do like to get to know you - so expect a lot of questions about who you are, where you are working etc... .

This is definitely a very good thing for me, do love a sense of community

vjm63 wrote: »

Fir Tree Drive in Quakers Yard does have slightly higher crime levels /antisocial behaviour I think than somewhere like up by The Oaks and The Hollies - but then both can have travel issues in the bad weather, which is another matter. In Treharris itself the 'top streets' around Twynygarreg and Cilhaul are mostly ex-council housing (like Fir Tree Drive) but not really aware of any major issues there.

Aah you have answered my next question here!
one of the properties is on Westwood Drive (top of Fir Tree Drive) and the other near the Oaks. During bad weather conditions, I can easily get away with working from home

vjm63 wrote: »

Not many shops or facilities there really, and even fewer in next door Trelewis, so expect to be going through Ponty for things en route to/from work, or use the big Tescos and shops nearby in Upper Boat.

Point noted.

vjm63 wrote: »

Scenery - good, and the snowline in winter is in Dowlais so they get the four inches or more when Cardiff has a bit of slush! Ts/QY will have maybe an inch but be passable on the main roads.

You say 15 minutes commute - there are a LOT of people going down valley for work in the morning and back up in the evening! If there is an accident on the A470 it can all grind to a halt for half an hour. Allow perhaps 30 minutes until you are sure of your timings, longer than that, and certainly try to leave for work before 8am!

Yepp 15minutes was during lunch hour, I would be starting work at 8, but still would give it at least half hour commute.

Another question for you...this is only from rumours I've heard and not noticed/seen anything myself. I was told people around the valleys in general can be quite nationalists and hate outsiders, specially coming from England. Is this purely rumours?

Lord_Baltimore

kayfaz wrote: »

Another question for you...this is only from rumours I've heard and not noticed/seen anything myself. I was told people around the valleys in general can be quite nationalists and hate outsiders, specially coming from England. Is this purely rumours?

It's nonsense. You have moved to God's Own Country and you will never look back. The air is clean, the people are real and all that 'hate the English' stuff is tripe.

Top tip: support England but when beaten accept it with dignity.

Croeso i Gymru (welcome to Wales)

moneyistooshorttomention

I think the one thing that doesn't occur to many English people (my self included) is that we just "take it for granted" might be one way to put it that we are, as in "Oh yeah...I do so-and-so for a living, family circumstances are such, eye colour is x - and, oh yeah, I'm English".

I've been asked by one puzzled Welsh person I am friendly with "why aren't the English proud of being English?" and it completely threw me, as I've literally never thought of it like that and tried that out on a couple of English friends and nor had they either and we all racked our brains with puzzlement about why we would feel proud of being English. It literally doesn't occur to many of us to think that way.

A lot of Welsh people are proud of being Welsh though.

Each to their own on that one. They are often proud of their nationality. We are puzzled about why we would be proud of being ours. As I said, each to their own on that.

Lord_Baltimore

Well, you're not proud of being English because you're German .