The Times newspaper has listed what it thinks are the 'poshest' villages in the UK - and there are several places in Wales included.
The authors collated 22 villages they deemed to be the most 'posh' and one place in Wales was actually in the top five. They also included some advice on what they thought was behaviour that would allow you to blend in if living in any of the said villages (bear in mind, this advice was seemingly quite tongue in cheek).
The advice included:
- Get a personalised number plate (how else are you going to stand out among the Teslas?)
- Get at least three working-breed dogs - you can't communicate county credentials without them apparently)
- Ensure you are on first name terms with your organic butcher
Is this your experience of these places....? Let us know in the comments. Let's now take a look at which Welsh villages managed to make the "posh list".
Read more: Welsh language campaigners protest against second homes
Abersoch, Gwynedd (posh rating 3/5)
What is interesting about this inclusion is that, although it acknowledges the area has a lot of second homes, it does not mention the huge impact this is having on local people (especially young people trying to get on the property ladder). People with significantly higher disposable income buying second homes affects the local area in lots of ways including:
- Fewer children in an area reduces school funding
- Native Welsh speakers being priced out of the housing market has a detrimental affect on the survival of the Welsh language
- Loss of community cohesion and the creation of ghost towns during parts of the year
The Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru have, through the cooperation agreement, allowed councils to charge a premium on second homes as well as closing loopholes where owners could declare their home a business to pay lower rates. WalesOnline has consistently covered this issue and you can read about the impact of second homes here, here and here.
This is what the Times wrote:
"Variously called the Welsh Riviera and Cheshire by-the-sea for its golden beaches and moneyed visitors, this seaside village on the Llyn peninsula is home to Wales' most expensive street, Benar Headland, where houses are worth an average of £1.7 million. Last year a beach hut sold for £191,000, while the local caravan park, the Arren, even has a helipad. When hunger strikes Abersoch's surfers like a burger of seafood, but make it wahyu beef from Freah Bar & Grill, or a lobster thermidor from Mickey's Boatyard and Beach Café. Those without one of the many second homes stay at the friendly and foodie Porth Tocyn Hotel."
Solva, Pembrokeshire (posh rating 3/5)
The Times said:
"Popular with the posh fashion crowd who can do without the crush in Cornwall, Solva is a pretty old fishing village with a picturesque harbour and sandy beach tucked at the end of an inlet at St Brides Bay. The local spot is the Cambrian Inn, and there's fine dining at Blas at Twr y Felin Hotel in nearby St Davids. A ten-minute drive the other way is the Roch Castle hotel, on a rocky out-crop overlooking the sea with a high quality restaurant and spa."
Mumbles, Swansea (posh rating 3/5)
The Times said:
"When you see a hipster carrying a tote from an east London deli, you know Mumbles isn't your average Welsh village. It's known as the gateway to the beautiful Gower peninsula, and the artsy capital crowd come for its higgledy-piggledy streets of pastel-coloured cottages, the Victorian pier and the green and white beach huts of (blue flag) Langland Bay, a regular haunt of the cold-water swimming crowd.
"The Oyster House is the chic new place to stay with a rooftop bar overlooking the bay. Then there's the popular vegetarian café Boo's Kitchen, while Mor service evening dishes made from local ingredients."
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