View Full Version : South Wales...
gettin2dizzy
07-08-07, 12:26 PM
hello! I'm a little lost in my Welsh geography :( (the names just baffle me!) I'm moving down to Usk, so need to look for some accomodation, but not being a native I have no idea as to where is nice etc.. ( or even the region it's in!)
Pontypool and Newport look like my best bet (even cardiff isn't too far away)- are these nice places or places to avoid? If anyone could spare a minute to give a a list of yays and nays of the area then it's worth a drink when I get down there :rolleyes:
Rob.
hello! I'm a little lost in my Welsh geography :( (the names just baffle me!) .me too, but for a free pint...........
depends what your after. village town city?
usk is nice, newport is a bit rough, but i guess it must have its nice parts, cardiff is a bit of a trek,
theres abergavenny monmouth
if you are on a budget look at bargoed,tredegar,rymney
hello! I'm a little lost in my Welsh geography :( (the names just baffle me!) I'm moving down to Usk, so need to look for some accomodation, but not being a native I have no idea as to where is nice etc.. ( or even the region it's in!)
Pontypool and Newport look like my best bet (even cardiff isn't too far away)- are these nice places or places to avoid? If anyone could spare a minute to give a a list of yays and nays of the area then it's worth a drink when I get down there :rolleyes:
Rob.
like hovis said it depends on what sort of thing you are after.
also what is your budget? and are you looking to houseshare or get somewhere on your own?
gettin2dizzy
07-08-07, 12:43 PM
I'd prefer to get somewhere by myself. Not living there at the moment I can't really trapse in to 10 houses meeting people to see what I like! Budget wise I'm sure I could stretch to £400 month.
Location doesn't **** me, although somewhere in the country would be biketastic :) (and maybe less likely to go for a ride without me ;) ) Yet there seems to be so many new empty apartments which can go for next nothing in places like cardiff.
I'd prefer to get somewhere by myself. Not living there at the moment I can't really trapse in to 10 houses meeting people to see what I like! Budget wise I'm sure I could stretch to £400 month.
Location doesn't **** me, although somewhere in the country would be biketastic :) (and maybe less likely to go for a ride without me ;) ) Yet there seems to be so many new empty apartments which can go for next nothing in places like cardiff.
In Cardiff for £400/month you'd either have to house/flat share or live somewhere really nasty.
How about Usk? Though I can imagine it could be a bit pricey.
No idea about Pontypool.
Newport is hit and miss. You'd need to choose carefully as there are some rather manky areas that you'd want to avoid. It is fairly cheap compared to Cardiff though and I'd imagine you could get somewhere reasonable for £400.
Pretty much wherever you are in South Wales you are going to be fairly close to some nice roads.
Abergavenny and Monmouth seem nice, both have a Waitroses and pricetags to match!
Caerleon and Chepstow are worth considering too.
caerphilly is ok too
i would have thought that it would be a rubbish commute to usk though
depends ?
could go the senic route.
gettin2dizzy
07-08-07, 01:24 PM
Thats brilliant thanks :)
I was pretty sure Newport crops up fairly often on 'streetcrimeuk' ;)
Thats brilliant thanks :)
I was pretty sure Newport crops up fairly often on 'streetcrimeuk' ;)
there are some nice areas in newport as well as the scummy ones.
i've lived in cardiff for about six and a half years now and worked in newport all that time. i could have saved loads by living in newport but i prefer cardiff- much more going on etc.
what are you after though?
the city life or a nice village/town?
if i was you i would be looking as close to usk as possible, so you dont have to commute too far (in the winter) and abergaveeny is only 15 mins away, why not pop down for the weekend & have a look about?
the white rabbit
07-08-07, 01:45 PM
Usk, Abergavenny, Raglan, Monmouth or just about anywhere in that area or nortwards of Newport is nice. Bit of a quiet life some of those places tho, but some lovely villages between Monmouth and Usk.
You will enjoy the biking.
gettin2dizzy
07-08-07, 02:22 PM
what are you after though?
the city life or a nice village/town?
if i was you i would be looking as close to usk as possible, so you dont have to commute too far (in the winter) and abergaveeny is only 15 mins away, why not pop down for the weekend & have a look about?
I may just do that :) Pop down for a weekend when I get a chance :) The bright lights does have its appeal - but welsh roads look fantastic! I ride around more than I go to bars! It's a pity the property market isn't as saturated as manchester. Anywhere there you can barter the monthly rent down so much it's unbelievable!
I may just do that :) Pop down for a weekend when I get a chance :) The bright lights does have its appeal - but welsh roads look fantastic! I ride around more than I go to bars! It's a pity the property market isn't as saturated as manchester. Anywhere there you can barter the monthly rent down so much it's unbelievable!
if you aren't too fussed about nightlife and are focussing on nearby nice roads then you'll have plenty of places to choose from :thumbsup:
probably worth having a look at a map and rightmove to get an idea on property prices in different towns/villages.
Ceri JC
07-08-07, 03:37 PM
Cardiff is a good night on the sauce, as well as culturally (gigs, theatre, comedy, etc) if that's what floats your boat. Unless you really like those things, or are flush I'd look at living elsewhere though. I was looking at Cardiff myself a year back, but when I saw what I could afford in Barry (10 miles from Cardiff, which I can get to in 12 minutes by bike) for the same money, it was a 'no-brainer'. Plus, I live by the sea and can go swimming for free 8 months of the year, cost of living generally is cheaper, nearer the countryside, etc. I honestly go to the same number of shows in Cardiff as if I lived there.
tiggers1963
09-08-07, 06:51 PM
to be honest I would avoid Newport city centre like the plague, especially places like Pill, Maindee, Ringland, St Julians. If you looking at Newport, try somewhere like High cross, Bassaleg, Rogerstone. I'd also look at somewhere like Risca (but NOT Ty Sign), ponyt-mister. Pontypool is getting a pretty poor reputation at the moment so maybe one place to avoid. If your fairly local to South Wales try buying the South Wales Argus on a Thursday, The property pages usually has a lot of rental properties in it, and that should also give you some idea of the prices.
to be honest I would avoid Newport city centre like the plague, especially places like Pill, Maindee, Ringland, St Julians. If you looking at Newport, try somewhere like High cross, Bassaleg, Rogerstone.
good advice.
gettin2dizzy
10-08-07, 02:33 PM
Brilliant! I may time a visit down there with the a taffia day out :)
thefallenangel
16-08-07, 06:56 PM
Tried Cwmbran, it's about a 20 minute drive to usk along some nice roads and not too far away from newport and cardiff
to be honest I would avoid clichés like the plague
Good advice :thumbsup:
Ollie_07
17-08-07, 06:51 AM
Tried Cwmbran, it's about a 20 minute drive to usk along some nice roads and not too far away from newport and cardiff
Good call, thats where im from!:king:
Need and help, gimme a shout!:)
thefallenangel
17-08-07, 09:08 AM
Good call, thats where im from!:king:
Need and help, gimme a shout!:)
I'm down in Malpas :) just bought my SV yesterday from thunderroad.
Good call, thats where im from!:king:
Need and help, gimme a shout!:)
I'm down in Malpas :) just bought my SV yesterday from thunderroad.
come along to the next Taffia meet it's on 13th Sep 7.00 pm (ish) at Tredegar Arms, Bassaleg
thefallenangel
17-08-07, 09:25 AM
come along to the next Taffia meet it's on 13th Sep 7.00 pm (ish) at Tredegar Arms, Bassaleg
Will do. Just can't wait to get it now next friday. But i'll have the dreaded 33bhp restrictor :(
Will do. Just can't wait to get it now next friday. But i'll have the dreaded 33bhp restrictor :(
More than enough to keep up with hovis :thumbsup:
More than enough to keep up with hovis :thumbsup:
coming from a hair-net owner:smt036
i thought us honda riders should be sticking together, the blade is not amused
i thought us honda riders should be sticking together
Fair point, my apologies :)
the blade is not amused
Try telling it a joke or two? :clown:
Ollie_07
18-08-07, 09:16 AM
I'm down in Malpas :) just bought my SV yesterday from thunderroad.
Nice one! what colour model is it etc?:D
come along to the next Taffia meet it's on 13th Sep 7.00 pm (ish) at Tredegar Arms, Bassaleg
Ive been trying to get along to the last 2, but on a thurs i usually dont get home till around 8pm, so it would be gone half past by the time i change, and ride down to meet you guys!:(
Nice one! what colour model is it etc?:D
Ive been trying to get along to the last 2, but on a thurs i usually dont get home till around 8pm, so it would be gone half past by the time i change, and ride down to meet you guys!:(
take the bike to work & come straight from there?
its back to the Tredegar Arms, Bassaleg
now just outside newport, so its not too far
thefallenangel
18-08-07, 12:23 PM
Nice one! what colour model is it etc?:D
K6 light blue 07 Plate. You'll mostly see me flying up and down the A4042 Bypass either to work, for a blast, to my dads or on a rideout.
And the Tredegar arms is a good place becuase you can get there easily and you don't have to deal with the crappy bit of the M4 with the Roadworks on or Newport Town Center.
Ollie_07
18-08-07, 01:28 PM
ill keep an eye out!! :D
wheres the A4042 Bypass ?
thefallenangel
18-08-07, 01:32 PM
from newport to pontypool
oh...... i know
Malpas Road, Newport, all the way to Abergavenny. Nice road once you get past Pontpool :thumbsup:
thefallenangel
19-08-07, 02:44 PM
Malpas Road, Newport, all the way to Abergavenny. Nice road once you get past Pontpool :thumbsup:
Also there's the 2nd bit which runs into Newport Town Center by the speed camera and onto M4 Eastbound by St. Julians.
Do you hang out by the cafe in Abergavenny bus stop with everyone else?
Do you hang out by the cafe in Abergavenny bus stop with everyone else?
YUP............. i was there today 12-1pm & 6pm
Do you hang out by the cafe in Abergavenny bus stop with everyone else?
Anyone who is anyone in these parts visits at least once a month :thumbsup:
I am therefore a nobody :lol:
gettin2dizzy
26-09-07, 01:25 AM
I finally visited south wales. I spent a while around Cardiff, Usk and Abergavenny. I have to admit, Cardiff wasn't the haven I had heard it was! But that may have been 400 miles of riding there without rest, followed by the worlds heaviest rain! (or possibly the worlds shortest visit....)
As for Usk and Aberganvenny ( and the stunning road in between them!), what a beautiful place! every turn displays completely new countryside.
I start work in Usk on Monday - my employers told me on Friday :( I'm still no where near accommodation sorted even after a few days down there. Anyone know of anything going at the mo?
Diolch yn fawr!
The centre of Cardiff is a complete building site at the moment, I'm not surprised you weren't impressed!
tinpants
28-09-07, 09:37 PM
The centre of Cardiff is always a bomb site, I'm not surprised you weren't impressed!
Aaah. How true. :D
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.