Quote Originally Posted by Divine Wright View Post
I'm currently living near Bilbao. We have a flat here. But I'm probably going to have a kid soon and would like him or her to get some Welsh medium education. So, I'm looking for somewhere to live.

My partner is from here and I think living too far up the Valleys might be a bit too much of a culture shock for her. Not that there aren't good things about the Valleys, just that she's used to a cosmopolitan, lively Iberian social scene and I think Mountain Ash or Pontlottyn might be a little too gritty and grey for her tastes.

I've seen some places in Taffs Well which I like....but the budget might have to be stretched to reach that sort of level. I haven't been in Wales for a while now, but my parents tell me that Barry is becoming quite a desirable place to live. I'll be honest, I've only ever lived in Caerphilly, Hengoed and various flats in Canton and Roath. I've got a rough idea of where would be ok and I think it's generally Cardiff and to the West and a little bit north, taking in the Caerphilly area, Tongwynlais/Tref/Taff's Well/GwaelodYGarth/Llantwit Fadre/ Llantrisant/Cogan/Penarth and Barry. That sort of area.

I've checked out Treforest and some of the houses look alrighty. It has always seemed a little bit tatty though for me....too student orientated. Wouldn't disregard it completely though. Great if we ever did need to rent it out.

I saw a nice little coach house thing in Cogan, that was pretty cheap and woulv'e needed a complete overhaul, but again, I wouldn't mind doing a bit of work on something like that.

Fair few places in Barry as well, most if them around the docks area. I haven't got a clue about Barry though, so don't know if the are areas that are a bit better in terms of amenities than others.

Llantristant looks nice as well, maybe a bit too far out though and no train .

Tomorrow I will celebrate a year of living in Tynewydd (more or less at the top of the Rhondda Valley). I'm not a great fan of my new doctor's surgery and I think the road links to Cardiff are poor, but, apart from that, I have no regrets at all about upping sticks from Cardiff and the two bedroomed terraced house I bought (which I would say needed about 15 grands worth of work on it when I moved in) cost me 50 thousand pounds.

I'd say to anyone thinking of moving don't be put off by how far away from Cardiff some Valleys towns and villages are - I'm very happy with my move and, although I accept it's a bit of a cliche, my experience is that Valleys people are a bit more friendly than in Cardiff.

That said, I think the way you describe your partner does make me think that she might find it a bit of a culture shock up here - I'm 63, by myself (apart from my dog and cat!) and, although it wasn't always the case, don't need the cosmopolitan and lively social scene you talk of.

One thing I must take issue with you over though is your description of the Valleys as "grey". I've just taken my dog for her early morning walk and it's quite quite a grey and gloomy morning up here, but, even in weather like that, the views and natural surroundings are spectacular - I get the feeling that, as a newcomer not used to living in an area like this, I appreciate this more than the locals who have been here all of their lives.