Relocating to Welsh-speaking Wales

WolfSong2000

I have relatives in North Wales (in the Gwynedd area). Beautiful countryside, but it's true - many locals are not fond of outsiders. Like anywhere, some will be friendlier than others but they do tend to view outsiders with a degree of suspicion. I don't speak a word of Welsh and don't really have much to do with that side of the family...my mother was schooled in Wales as a child and wasn't allowed to speak English (she's still bitter about that).

I'd be tempted to maybe take a holiday in the area....get chatting to a few locals, mention you're thinking of moving and see what they say. Maybe things are more liberal these days? (It's been a few years since I was last there).

AnotherJoe

Eliza wrote: »

Oh dear, I obviously haven't expressed what I mean very well have I!

Oh I think you did, some people, even though apparently speaking the same language, like to deliberately misunderstand.

conqueror01

If you are renting first... there's not much to lose, you just have to figure out at what point you stop renting and stay (assuming you can buy) or whether you move on again

LuckyG

I live in West Wales now right near the beach and have done for the past 5 years. (I'm originally from South Wales where Welsh speaking isn't so common).

I've found West Wales to be very welcoming, I'm working with people who speak Welsh as their first language, none of them deliberately speak Welsh to be rude.

I'm a nurse, so in my job, colleagues have to speak Welsh at times to certain patients, especially those with cognitive impairments.
For this reason I am trying to learn what I can.

I have a few Welsh speaking friends and when we are in a group they do speak English, to be fair, there's quite a few people around who can't actually speak Welsh.

What part are you thinking of moving to?

I love West Wales so much I've recently purchased a house in Pembrey

Tiners

I moved to rural very Welsh speaking North Wales and find the locals to be very friendly, almost too much so, you can't get away once they start chatting to you!

My friends and work colleagues occasionally speak Welsh in my presence and there's absolutely no offence intended (or taken) it's just natural to them and they'll repeat it to me when they realise they're speaking Welsh.

The only 'incomers' that might not be so popular in my experience are the holiday home/holiday let buyers and some of the more obnoxious tourists, but even then there's no open hostility towards them.

Davesnave

In West Wales you'll find that there's a good number of incomers wherever you go, but certain more rural locations hold a higher % of 'natives,' because they're less attractive to those who want convenience and nearby employment.

We viewed dozens of properties there in the noughties. The majority of those were owned by non-Welsh speaking people who'd been attracted by the number of relatively cheap smallholdings + the lovely scenery and slower pace of life. Some of them hadn't fitted-in, but most were very happy with the area, if not with the economics of small-scale farming. Nearly all praised their neighbours.

In very rural Devon, where we live now, our community is similar to many Welsh ones. Few are concerned about your nationality, but everyone wants to know what you're like. If you do your bit to support the community, pay your bills on time and behave sociably, you'll be welcomed....even if you speak Estuary English, which quite a few do! :rotfl:

datostar

I remember a small caravan park in the wilds of Ceredigion we found some years ago. We drove in, parked up and I went to the little office to book in. The Proprietor did the necessary and I paid his site fee. He then asked if I would like to join the Social Club so we could use the little Bar adjoining the office. I agreed, gave him the pound or so required and he gave me a little membership card. Having parked up the van and got sorted out I decided to check out the Social Club. I was the only customer and the gentleman darted out from the adjoining office to serve me. He asked me if I was a member. I said, 'Course I am, it's barely half an hour since I paid you. Don't you remember?' He said, 'Oh, you English all look alike'. Welsh sense of humour, I suppose. Nice one!

harrys_dad

pob lwc, efallai y bydd angen i chi

(I hope google translate speaks good Welsh)

benjus

Mojisola wrote: »

If you move to Spain, learn Spanish; if you move to Wales, learn Welsh!

If you move to Barcelona, is it enough to learn Spanish or should you learn Catalan instead/as well? Or Basque if you move to Bilbao? Those are more appropriate analogies.

bob_bank_spanker

benjus wrote: »

If you move to Barcelona, is it enough to learn Spanish or should you learn Catalan instead/as well? Or Basque if you move to Bilbao? Those are more appropriate analogies.

Indeed it is, however as the OP has clarified they are moving to rural Gwynedd, it is appropriate that they learn at least some Welsh.