One of the many effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK housing market has been the increased number of people acting on their desire to move to their dream location and for many that's the coast.
The prospect of a home by the beach, a property within strolling distance to some sand, or an abode on top of a rocky coastline has lured buyers to spend now if they have the budget and they have been doing so in increasing numbers during the pandemic.
And this has increased prices as demand has very quickly outstripped supply.
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This has, of course, produced some coastal hotspots – many in Wales – with estate agents Knight Frank stating in The Telegraph that coastal sales across the country were up 19% in 2021 compared to the five-year average.
Within Wales the counties that have felt the strain of the drain of property supply and the sharp increase in average sales price are predominantly the ones with stunning coastlines.
Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and the Vale of Glamorgan have set up home in the top five monthly figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that records and publishes average house price increases. See the latest figures here.
But a home by the sea is for life, not just for the summer, for many of the buyers looking to totally relocate so where are the best places to park your bucket and spade for 12 months of wonderful coastal living even in the depths of winter?
Extensive analysis by The Telegraph and Savills has identified 20 of the best all-season seaside spots in Britain based on heightened demand, rising property prices, and a thriving scene all year round.
Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan is the only Welsh entry in the top 20 with The Telegraph stating that the town "gives families the bright lights of the big city with an outdoorsy coastal retreat" and good schools can also be a very attractive aspect of the town to lure them here.
Albert Primary School received an 'outstanding' rating in 2015 while secondary Stanwell School was rated as 'excellent' by Estyn.
There's a small and bustling high street that mixes brands with independent outlets plus numerous pretty parks offering easy access to a stroll surrounded by plants and peace.
The pebble beach and Art Deco listed pier are obvious locations to regularly enjoy here with restaurants, shops, and ice cream outlets a tempting addition to your seaside visit running alongside the road and promenade.
Continue the stroll along Penarth's esplanade and up the hill to the clifftop park and the path that hugs the coastline and the posh luxury homes that nestle next to it.
This is a popular path for walkers, offering strolls above the sea with breathtaking panoramic views across the water and over to England.
A trip to The Turner House, centre for art and culture, will take you to a beautiful and distinct building by architect Edward Seward who designed several major buildings in Cardiff including the Royal Infirmary hospital, the Old Library in The Hayes, and the Coal Exchange in the bay.
The coastal town offers a wide range of properties to call home.
The vast majority are period homes with the addition of a new build site by Crest Nicolson on the former site of an estate once named the ugliest in the UK. Find out more about that here.
But if you're looking for a bargain in Penarth it's going to be hard to find.
Savills have stated in The Telegraph that the average house price in Penarth is now £346,781 and that the town and surrounding area has seen a 19% increase.
But if you have the budget, and want to claim one of the UK's most upmarket towns as your new address, there are some very attractive homes currently for sale.
Contemporary apartment: £195,000
Within the Penarth Heights development where the Billy Banks estate used to be found is this two-bed flat.
With allocated parking and secure fob entry into the building the agent selling this home says it is in a quiet and modern development with good access to train stations, bus routes, Penarth town centre, and Cardiff Bay.
Located on the ground floor the apartment has the benefit of its own cute terrace and a strip of grass on the outside that's accessed from the open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge space via a set of French doors.
The flat has soft and pale pastel interior design that greets you complemented by wood-effect floors and worktops and a contemporary cream gloss kitchen. There are two bathrooms, one of which is an en suite off the master bedroom.
The apartment is for sale with Seabreeze Homes. Call them on 029 2070 7064 to find out more.
Two-bed end of terrace: £349,950
This period property has had a makeover that has left it as a pretty home with features to delight and tasteful decor to happily come home to.
The spacious lounge at the front is a light and peaceful space to retire to in the evening, especially when the log burner is on and the wild Welsh weather is raging outside.
Next along the hall is the dining room with space for a home office that is again a light space thanks to the good-sized window overlooking the garden and the decor.
The kitchen is a great size at the rear of the house and has room for a breakfast table too. Upstairs, as well as the two double bedrooms, is a superb bathroom that can boast a double shower and fabulous statement bath.
This lovely home is on the market with Shepherd Sharpe. Call them on 029 2070 7999 for further details.
Three-bed terrace: £365,000
This super-stylish abode is located in a popular side road and is a perfect family home offering spacious accommodation over three floors.
The renovated fully integrated contemporary kitchen is a bit of a stunner and includes Karndean flooring and a sociable breakfast bar as well as interior bi-fold doors giving the option to join the space to the adjacent living room.
This second reception room is a cosy and comfortable space with a log burner in the fireplace as the feature gem.
There's a separate living room at the front of the house too for a quieter atmosphere, plus three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.
A bonus space hides in a converted loft room at the top of the house – surely a perfect kids playroom, teenager's den, man cave, or hen den.
The terrace with interior design features is for sale for £365,000 with ACJ Sales Penarth. Call them on 029 2041 5161 to find out more.
Four-bed terrace: £850,000
Three storeys, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and one impressive family home that is just a short stroll to the town centre and down the hill to the pebble beach.
For a family home in the perfect Penarth location this house delivers – it is literally opposite Stanwell School and you could wave to your child from the front room.
The house is offered with no onward chain, a fully-enclosed rear garden, and a double garage to be found out there too.
Inside the rooms are spacious and many can impress you with period fireplaces, stained-glass windows, coving, and woodwork but the kitchen is definitely not a delightful feature from the past but a lovely new addition.
The kitchen diner flows out to the garden via bi-fold doors and is a modern mix of white Shaker-style units and pretty pattern tiles.
The ground floor has a sitting room, drawing room, and dining room plus a utility room while there are four bedrooms, a dressing room, two bathrooms, and a home office spanning the upper two floors.
This fantastic family home is on the market with Savills. all their Cardiff branch on 029 2036 8900 to find out more.
Help with your hunt for a home here:
Five-bed detached: £975,000
If you want a bit more outdoor space then wandering into the semi-rural roads on the edge of the town and away from the sea is the answer – plus having a hefty buying budget too.
But this then gets you a substantial detached five-bed house with front and back gardens and a semi-rural outlook.
This posh pad has glamorous interior design that dresses the home throughout in luxury including across a superb open-plan kitchen dining and living room that's the social hub of the home.
This house is so fancy even the entrance hall is a showstopper with the statement metal staircase and huge floor-to-ceiling windows either side of the front door setting the high-spec tone of the house that never subsides.
There's a master bedroom with en suite, dressing room, and a private roof terrace and four further generous bedrooms plus two family bathrooms, utility room, and large garage all accessed via private electric gates.
This fancy abode is for sale with Watts & Morgan. Call their Penarth branch on 029 2071 2266 to find out more.
Penthouse: £995,000
This home is a posh penthouse presented to a very high standard throughout and offering excellent accommodation with secure entry and gated parking including two allocated parking bays.
And once you're parked up and inside this special spot gives you a special seaside reward – superb views of Penarth pier, the Bristol Channel, and the Somerset coast.
The sizeable full-width terrace facing the sea is also accessed from the master bedroom as well as the lounge dining room and is ample size to create memorable moments for many – it's a very sociable space.
But it's not the only outdoor space as this penthouse can also boast a second balcony from the second bedroom with views towards Alexandra Park.
This luxury high-spec home is for sale with ACJ Sales Penarth. Call them on 029 2041 5161 to find out more.
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