• RURAL HOTSPOT
THE WELSH IDYLL WITH A HIGH STREET THAT’S BEEN NAMED BRITAIN’S BEST
With its award-winning high street, Crickhowell is the place to visit
Atmospheric castle remains lie on the edge of the quiet Welsh market town of Crickhowell in Powys. Further out lies Table Mountain, once home to an Iron Age fort from which the town takes its name, pronounced ‘Crick-owl’. The castle may be past its glory days, but the town is thriving. Set in the beautiful Usk Valley, just inside the Brecon Beacons National Park, its independent high street is characterised by painted frontages and old-fashioned awnings. When a national supermarket tried to get a foot in the door, locals sent them packing, then crowdfunded to buy the site for community-spirited shops. No wonder they scooped both the UK’S Best High Street award in 2018, and the Best Place to Live in Wales, 2019, in the Sunday Times.
IN THE ESTATE AGENT’S WINDOW The Brecon Beacons has many perks, but a bustling property market isn’t one of them. ‘There are never enough houses to go round,’ says Steve Morgan of estate agent Clee Tompkinson Francis. ‘There are restrictions on new builds within the national park, and recent publicity has only made things harder.’ His advice is that cash buyers are best placed. Houses are commonly mid-victorian, with small terraced cottages being typical in town. BUTCHERS, BAKERS AND COFFEE MAKERS Everything you need is on your doorstep, and each shop is a true gem. Webbs department store has been selling ‘anything and everything’, as one local puts it, since 1936, while Cashells Butchers and Delicatessen has been run by the same family for generations. Newer on the scene, Natural Weigh is the go-to place for packaging-free pantry staples. Book-ish is a bibliophile’s dream, and the
brownies at vegetarian eatery Odonnell Bakehouse are not to be missed. It’s dog-friendly, as is old coaching inn, The Bear. Black Mountains Smokery is just a small detour from the high street and sells smoked salmon, meat and cheese. COUNTRY LIFE AND CULTURE The Green Man Festival, a folk music extravaganza, takes place every August just a short walk from town. Lesser known is this month’s literary festival, now in its fifth year, where children’s laureate Chris Riddell is among the highlights. Book groups run year round above Book-ish, and the Cosy Cinema Club screens films at the town hall.
SCHOOLS The three main primaries are all rated ‘Good’ under Estyn
(the Welsh equivalent to Ofsted). Plus, Crickhowell High has been awarded ‘Good’ for Teaching and ‘Excellent’ for Wellbeing.
GET AROUND Sitting on the A40, Crickhowell is well connected to the road network. The nearest train station is Abergavenny.
IN THE AREA Michelin-starred The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny is a great treat, and locals love alfresco afternoon tea at Gliffaes Country House Hotel in the summer.