The five ‘posh’ Welsh villages named in the Telegraph’s 54
Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Denbighshire Llanarmon-yn-Iâl is a village deep in the Clwydian Range. Llanarmon-yn-Iâl has a community-run shop and community-owned pub – the Raven Inn – which hosts live music and quizzes and takeaway curry nights. There’s a choir and a local panto.
The village is 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 six miles away from Mold. In the 2011 census, the population of this ward was 2,456, with the community population being 1,062.
Adding the village to the list, the Daily Telegraph said its main appeal was the community-run shop, friendly atmosphere and proximity to Offa’s Dyke Path. The average house price in the area is £290,118.
Newgale and Roch, Pembrokeshire
If a seaside village is what you’re after, then you’d struggle to find one better than Newgale Beach and nearby Roch.
Newgale Beach is a two-mile sandy stretch with caves and coves at one end. It’s popular with surfers, kitesurfers and sea anglers. There’s a smattering of buildings, including the Duke of Edinburgh Inn, but the main village is Roch, just inland.
The Puffin Shuttle coastal bus service runs to St Davids and Haverfordwest, while the village itself has a pub, a shop, a fish and chip shop and Mo’s Dressed Crab & Lobster take-out.
The most prominent feature of Roch is its castle. At the time of its construction, Roch Castle served as one of a group of border strongholds that fortified anglicised Wales from the independent Welsh to the north, guarding the Flemish settlers who inhabited the surrounding area. It also served as a lookout for the bay of St Brides to ward off invasions from the sea.
In February 1644, the castle was attacked by Cromwell’s troops under the command of Colonel Roland Laugharne. After a fierce siege, the castle was surrendered on February 17, having been badly damaged by cannon and also by fire.
Adding it to the list, the Telegraph said it’s “posh” appeal was compounded by its two-mile sandy beach and caves and great seafood. The average house price in the area is £219,555. Today the castle has been meticulously restored to provide luxury accommodation.
Oxwich, Swansea
Oxwich is a village on the Gower Peninsula, in the city and county of Swansea. Oxwich is part of the small community of Penrice which extends from the village of Horton to Oxwich Bay. Just 11 miles from Swansea, Oxwich offers the perfect balance of village life while being close to the city.
Oxwich Bay is one of Gower’s most visited beaches and forms part of Oxwich National
Nature Reserve. The reserve is made up of a bewitching mix of beach, sand dunes, lakes, woodlands, cliffs and salt and freshwater marshes. Natural Resources Wales has highlighted the rarity of having so many different habitats in such a relatively small area in the UK.
The village is also steeped in history. The medieval church of St Illtyd has sixth-century origins and is shrouded in myth, owing to a half-man, half-horse creature that was said to stride among the gravestones.
In deciding what qualifies the village to be part of the list, the Telegraph noted the “posh” appeal of it being a medieval town, its sixth-century church, the Oxwich Bay Hotel and the wildlife at Oxwich Natural Nature Reserve. The average house price in the area is £309,519.
Rowen, Conwy
Nestled between the mountains, Rowen on the western slopes of the Conwy Valley is a picturesque village just 25 minutes from Snowdonia.
The small, pretty suburb boasts all the amenities of village life while still only being five miles from larger Conwy. It is also possible to travel directly to London and Manchester, with regular trains from Llandudno Junction.
Judging its “posh” appeal, the Telegraph said its proximity to Snowdonia National Park, its local amenities and its riverbanks, farmland and hillside secured its place on the list. The average house price in the area is £363,214, well above the national average.
Shirenewton, Monmouthshire
Shirenewton is the biggest of three villages – the others being Mynydd-bach and Earlswood – in between the Usk and Wye valleys in the Monmouthshire hills, with views that stretch down to the Severn Estuary.
“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.”
It is famous for its Christingle service, to which two ladies bring real donkeys, adds Watkins. There is a primary school, pubs and yoga in the church rooms.
The village is located three miles due west of Chepstow and stands around 500ft (154 m) above sea level. It also has extensive views of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel.
The population of the village and the conjoined village of Mynydd-bach was 657 in 2011. The newspaper said its appeal was primarily down to the views of the Severn Estuary, famous Christingle service and its yoga studio in the church rooms. The average house price in the area is £474,775.