The Telegraph has released a list of the poshest villages in the UK, with five villages in Wales making it on to the list. The list of 54 is based on a combination of factors including house prices, lifestyle amenities, connectivity, and "chocolate-box appeal", and has been compiled from exclusive data from Savills Estate Agents.
The data revealed that high numbers are spending thousands on rent in countryside locations - for possibly years - until a suitable home in their desired village location become available. This week, real estate consultants Knight Frank reported the highest number of sales in the country market for 15 years, with the number of wannabe buyers registering up 35% last year.
Around 60% of Savills estate agents reported a rise in demand for rental homes in the most desirable countryside locations during the pandemic. Additionally, 57% said that the demand came from those who could not buy where they wanted.
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But why are these villages so in demand? Frances Clacy, an analyst at Savills, says: "People want villages that have a bit of everything, from schools to stunning countryside, with accessibility to cities and transport infrastructure.” She adds: "Less well-trumpeted factors count too, such as the main road through the village should only lead to other villages."
The list, which covers counties from all across the UK, includes five villages from the south and north of Wales. The villages range from coastal areas to those nestled between valleys. Here are the five Welsh villages that made the list:
Oxwich, Swansea
Located on the picturesque Gower Peninsula, Oxwich is part of the small community of Penrice which extends from the village of Horton to Oxwich Bay. The village is steeped in history - part of its 'posh appeal' according to the Telegraph - with its medieval church of St Illtyd having sixth-century origins.
The church is shrouded in myth, owing to a half-man, half-horse creature that was said to stride among the gravestones. Just 11 miles from Swansea, Oxwich has traditional village cottages (some of which are thatched), a post office, the Oxwich Bay Hotel and the Oxwich Natural Nature Reserve. The average house price in the area is £309,519.
Oxwich Bay is one of the areas most popular beaches, forming part of the nature reserve. The reserve is made up of beach, sand dunes, lakes, woodlands, cliffs, and salt and freshwater marshes. Natural Resources Wales have highlighted the rarity of having so many different habitats in such a relatively small area in the UK.
Shirenewton, Monmouthshire
This Monmouthshire village has views over the Severn Estuary, a famous Christingle service - to which two ladies bring real donkey - as well as a local primary school, pubs, and yoga classes - all of which have contributed to it landing a spot on the Telegraph's list.
Shirenewton is the biggest of three villages in between the Usk and Wye valleys in the Monmouthshire hills, the others being Mynyddbach and Earlswood.
“It has a sense of community that rivals other villages,” Mike Watkins, partner at Mr and Mrs Clarke estate agents told The Telegraph. “You make friends mainly through the dog-walkers of the village, and at the crossroads of the three villages.”
The village is located three miles due west of Chepstow, and stands around 500 feet (154 m) above sea level. The population of the village and the conjoined village of Mynydd-bach was 657 in 2011. The average house price in the area is £474,775.
Newgale and Roch, Pembrokeshire
Offering up a two-mile stretch of beach and good seafood, Newgale Beach and nearby Roch is perfect for those looking for an idyllic seaside village. Newgale Beach, popular with surfers, kitesurfers, and sea anglers, has caves and coves at one end, with the main village of Roch located just inland.
The Puffin Shuttle coastal bus service runs to St David’s and Haverfordwest, while the village itself has a pub, a shop, a fish and chip shop, and Mo’s Dressed Crab & Lobster take-out. Roch's most prominent feature is its castle which, at the time of its construction, served as one of a group of border strongholds that fortified anglicised Wales from the independent Welsh to the North.
The castle also served as a lookout for the bay of St Brides to ward off invasions from the sea. In February 1644 it was attacked by Cromwell’s troops under the command of Colonel Roland Laugharne. After a fierce siege, the castle was surrendered on February 17th, having been badly damaged by cannon and also by fire.
However, the castle has now been meticulously restored to provide luxury accommodation. The average house price in the area is £219,555.
Rowen, Conwy
Just 25 minutes from Snowdonia, the pretty village of Rowen on the Western slopes of the Conwy valley is nestled between the mountains. While still only being five miles away from the larger Conwy, Rowen has all the amenities of village life, with a pub, shop, church, and post office.
The Telegraph calls it "one of the prettiest [villages] in Wales", listing Rowen's riverbanks, farmland, and hillsides among the 'posh appeal' criteria that secured the village's place on the list. The average house price in the area is £363,214.
Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Denbighshire
Llanarmon- yn-Iâl's friendly atmosphere, community-run shop and pub, and proximity to Offa's Dyke Path has landed it a place on the Telegraph's list. The Raven Inn - the village's community-owned pub - hosts live music, quizzes, and takeaway curry nights. There's also a choir and a panto.
The village is just a mile off the Offa’s Dyke Path, which brings visitors to the village. For those who don't want to abandon the hustle and bustle of larger towns, the village is just six miles away from Mold. The average house price in the area is £290,118.
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