Cardiff Local Guide A guide to all Things Cardiff
We’ve all fantasised about living by the sea. But in the past two years an ‘if not now, then when?’ mentality has meant that increasing numbers of people are making fantasy into reality and demand to live by the ocean has soared. Coastal sales across the country were up 19 per cent in 2021 compared to the five-year average and up 217 per cent in the south east, according to new data from Knight Frank.
The pandemic made people reassess their lifestyles to focus on their health and wellbeing, and sparked an urban exodus by householders not just to be close to green space, but blue space too. Whereas before Covid, most people felt they could not earn big money living full time by the sea, explains Christopher Bailey, Head of Waterfront at Knight Frank, the eradication of the stigma of working from home, and improved internet, has opened the flood gates.
“Rather than demand being concentrated on a few sailing hotspots, buyers have spread out in all directions. They can now do a hard day’s work and sail or surf in an evening every week of the year,” he says.
As a result, coastal prices have hit new heights. The cost of a luxury home by the beach rose by 15 per cent in 2021 (Savills) and that’s just the average. The cost of a home in St Mawes, Cornwall, has leapt 62 per cent in the last two years to £1,121,676, compared to 90 per cent over the last decade. And new numbers from Hamptons show that 41 per cent of homes on the coast sold for above the asking price in 2021, compared to 16 per cent in 2010 and 28 per cent in 2019.
Extensive analysis by The Telegraph and Savills has identified 20 of the best all-season seaside spots in Britain, based on heightened demand, rising property prices and a thriving scene all year round; to suit sporty families, high-end buyers looking for the next Chelsea-on-Sea, and bleak geeks hunting for melancholy solace on a blustery beach.
Stand on the edge of Sidmouthrsquor;s promenade and watch the storm blow and the waves crash against the dramatic red cliffs that flank the townperiod; Itrsquor;s quite a sightperiod; The Sidmouth strip is dominated by well-maintained Regency architecturecomma; which gives it a timeless charmcomma; and is framed by rolling green countrysideperiod; The Marine is a welcomingcomma; rustic joint serving cocktails and seafoodcomma; while the trendycomma; minimalist Pea Green Boat next door is more Mykonos meets Shoreditchperiod; Sidmouth Church of England Primary School and Sidmouth College lpar;11–18rpar; are both rated “goodrdquor; by Ofstedcomma; and Exeter is a 30-minute drive awayperiod;
Between Eastbourne and Bexhill lies Pevensey Baycomma; with the village set back from the coastlineperiod; This breach in the south coast cliffs was spotted by William the Conqueror in 1066 and itrsquor;s where he invadedperiod; Therersquor;s a Roman Castle lpar;circa AD 290rpar;comma; which is where Henry V imprisoned his stepmother Joan of Navarre for witchcraftperiod; It has a lonely shingle beachcomma; marshland and a dark historycomma; but therersquor;s plenty of fun to be hadcomma; tooperiod; There are battlements and dungeons to explore and star-gazing at the Observatory Science Centreperiod; The pubs and cafés are clustered around the seafront and the castlecomma; such as the 16th-century Castle Inn pubperiod; There are two primary schools and two train stations with services that run into Eastbourne and Brightonperiod;
Whitburn Beach is sometimes referred to as “The Walrus and the Carpenterrdquor; beach as it is supposedly where Lewis Carroll wrote his famous poemperiod; Local estate agent Peter Heron describes the sought-after coastal spot as a “quintessential seaside village but minus any tackinessrdquor;period; Just south of South Shieldscomma; itrsquor;s a 30-minute drive into Newcastle or a short train journey from neighbouring Sunderlandperiod; Latimerrsquor;s Delirsquor;s takeaway hatch delivers fresh platters of local seafood all year round and serves breakfastcomma; lunch and afternoon teacomma; tooperiod; Bluersquor;s Micro Pubcomma; which opened in 2020comma; serves craft alesperiod; Whitburn Academy has an Ofsted rating of “goodrdquor;period;
Shaldon is an unspoilt village on the South Devon coastcomma; across the Teign Estuary and opposite the town of Teignmouthperiod; Many of the families are linked to the fishing or food tradeperiod; There are three pubs lpar;including the London Innrpar; and four cafes lpar;including the sustainablecomma; organic eatery ODE Cafe which is famous for its sticky ginger cakerpar;period; The children sailcomma; rowcomma; paddleboard and scour the rock pools every day after school all year roundcomma; joined by day trippers in the tourist seasonperiod; Visitors come from far and wide for the Shaldon Regattacomma; which is more than 200 years old and takes place in the August bank holidaycomma; while locals pile into the fancy dress Boxing Day raceperiod;
Tim Bouget and his wife Claire have travelled extensively togetherperiod; Chef Timcomma; who has worked at the Grosvenor House hotel and the Roux brothersrsquor; Waterside Inncomma; opened a restaurant in Barbados at the Sandy Lane hotelcomma; and also at Saxon in Johannesburgperiod; But after living in some of the worldrsquor;s most glamorous locationscomma; Devon called and they returned to his family hub of Shaldonperiod;
In 2006 Tim and Claire opened the now multi-award-winning restaurant ODE in a Georgian townhousecomma; based on the principles of using local and sustainable produceperiod; They gutted the three-storey building and refurbished it using local slate for the floor and organic products such as water- based paintperiod; Five years later he moved into converted stablescomma; overlooking Ness Cove Beach in Shaldoncomma; where he serves wood- fired pizza and hosts fine dining pop-ups using Shaldon seafoodperiod;
Cafe ODE and the Bougets are at the centre of the bustling communitycomma; which has grown over the past 15 yearsperiod; “I used to think we could only survive due to the second-home ownerscomma; but thatrsquor;s not the caseperiod; Local trade keeps us going all year roundcomma;rdquor; says Timperiod;
This small village is on the north Corn- wall coastcomma; 10 miles south of Newquayperiod; The South West Coastal Path runs through Chapel Porthcomma; a cove at the bottom of an old mining valleycomma; and around St Agnes Headperiod; The area is popular with tourists but St Agnes is thriving all year roundperiod; The community is based around its primary schoolcomma; St Agnes Academy lpar;rated “goodrdquor;rpar; before children head off to Truro for secondary schools lpar;itrsquor;s 20 minutes by busrpar;period; The rugby club is another cornerstone of the local social lifecomma; as is St Agnes Bakery and the Peterville Innperiod; “The infrastructure of the villagecomma; with shopscomma; cafés and brilliant internet connection supports an all-year-round communitycomma;rdquor; says Christopher Bailey from Knight Frankperiod;
St Andrews was a pilgrimage destinationcomma; has Scotlandrsquor;s oldest university and seven golf coursesperiod; Students cycle through the streetscomma; which are an architectural treasure trove of fine town-houses interspersed with medieval ruinsperiod; Runnerscomma; walkers and swimmers head to the two-mile sandy stretch of West Sands Beachcomma; famous for the opening scenes of the film Chariots of Fireperiod; It is also the home of expensive propertiescomma; with average price growth expected to outpace London over the next five years lpar;according to Savillsrpar;period; The nearest train station is Leucharscomma; which is six miles awaycomma; with a service into Edinburgh in an hour and 15 minutesperiod;NewLine;NewLine;Restaurants include the Tailend and the Adamsonperiod; St Leonards secondary school was named “Scottish Independent School of the Yearrdquor; in 2019period;
With its own microclimatecomma; a botanical garden and a view across the Channel to Francecomma; this Victorian haven feels a world awayperiod; And the journey to mainline UK consists of a 15-minute drive to Shanklin for the Island Line to Ryde lpar;30 minutesrpar; to then catch the ferry to Portsmouthperiod; Pubs such as the Spyglass Inn and the Boathouse are open all year roundcomma; and both schoolscomma; St Francis Catholic and Church of England lpar;primaryrpar; and the Island Free School lpar;secondaryrpar; are rated as “goodrdquor;period; The town is also great for a spot of vintage shoppingperiod;
St Mawes has always been popular with the sailing fraternity and second homeowners but a dramatic rise in house prices lpar;an indicator of demandrpar; shows an influx of permanent relocators as wellperiod; The fishing trade is still important and there is now a wet fish stall on the harbour quayperiod; There are lots of businessescomma; from estate agents to solicitorscomma; catering firms and St Mawes Hens – the fowl roam freely across the coastal countryside producing free-range eggsperiod; Waterside Gallery exhibits and sells paintings and glasswarecomma; while pottery and watercolours are on display at the Spindrift Galleryperiod; The St Mawes Hotel and Bar is on the waterfrontcomma; and the Rising Sun pub is open all year roundperiod; The primary school was rated “goodrdquor; in 2019period; The nearest train station with a service from London is into Truro lpar;a 40-minute drive awayrpar;period;
Traditionally a coastal hotspot for holidaymakers with its golden sandy beach and shallow waterscomma; the villages of Brancaster and Brancaster Staithe have plenty of life 12 months of the yearcomma; explains Savillsrsquor; Ben Rivettperiod; Brancaster has a delicomma; post office and gastro pub – the Ship Hotelcomma; which serves its own ginperiod; The refurbished village hall provides a space for community activities such as bowlscomma; bridge and art classesperiod; Therersquor;s the Royal West Norfolk Golf Clubperiod; The schoolcomma; St Mary Federationcomma; is rated “goodrdquor;period; The neighbouring village of Brancaster Staithe has more choice of shops at Dalegate Marketcomma; with a café and boutiques as well as two more pubs lpar;the White Horse and the Jolly Sailorsrpar;period; There is superfast broadband in the villagescomma; tooperiod;
Nestled between Aldeburgh and Lowestoftcomma; this coastal market town has a Grade II-listed working lighthouse and two beachescomma; Pier Beach and Denes Beachperiod; Therersquor;s plenty to do herecomma; with the Electric Picture Palace and boutique stores such as Collen Clare – plus itrsquor;s the home of Adnams Breweryperiod; The farmersrsquor; market is twice a week and good places to eat include the Harbour Inn and the Sail Loftperiod; The nearest train stations are at Darsham or Halesworth lpar;two and a half hours from London Liverpool Streetrpar;period;
Bracklesham Bay is the up-and-coming end of the sought-after Witteringscomma; with a seemingly constant stream of new ventures opening such as The Goat coffee bar and the much-loved restaurant Billy’s of the Beachcomma; which now has food trucks parked up on the sandperiod; From first thing in the morning when coffee is needed to accompany a morning swimcomma; to socialising in the eveningcomma; it’s the place to gatherperiod; The Lamb is a popular pubperiod; The next two beachy enclaves alongcomma; East and West Witteringcomma; are more established and have long been popular with second home buyersperiod; Howevercomma; since the pandemic house prices rose 36 per cent in comparison with the 38 per cent average over the last five years indicating a spike in demand from Londoners completely relocating their lives lpar;according to Savillsrpar;period; East Wittering Primary School is rated good by Ofsted and people commute into Chichester lpar;by carrpar; and Portsmouth lpar;by carrpar; and get the train from Chichester into Londonperiod;
Laura Pauley grew up in south-east Londoncomma; occasionally holidaying in her grandmarsquor;s caravan in East Witteringperiod; After working in the US and then Manchestercomma; she returned to the Witterings when pregnant with her first child and hasnrsquor;t looked backperiod;
Laura now lives on a farm just outside East Wittering with her partner Chris Aylingcomma; who is the estate managercomma; but most days after school she takes her three children – aged 12comma; three and five – to the beachcomma; whatever the seasoncomma; to have an ice creamcomma; look for fossils and watch the boats and kite surfersperiod;
“I used to commute to the office but I will never go back to thatcomma;rdquor; she saysperiod; “Every week we make memories on the beach that are usually reserved for holidayscomma;rdquor; says Pauleycomma; who runs the PR agency Love Saves The Dayperiod;
Her latest venture is a holiday let done up as a Mexican contemporary beach housecomma; a road back from Bracklesham Bayperiod; The house is decked out in bold colours with unusual artwork from local makers lpar;commat;themusewitteringssemi; themusewitteringsperiod;comrpar;period;
“Bracklesham Bay is so up and comingcomma; with new businesses opening all the timecomma;rdquor; says Pauleyperiod; The latest is a coffee shop called the Goat and restaurant Billyrsquor;s on the Beach now has food trucks on the shingleperiod; “People gather outside Billyrsquor;s – itrsquor;s the place to becomma; especially at sunsetcomma;rdquor; she addsperiod; Her favourite pub is the Lambcomma; with live music and a beer gardenperiod;
The combination of the Solent and the New Forest make Lymington popular with those making the move out of Londonperiod; Itrsquor;s no longer dominated by second homers who love sailing but families who want to live by blue and green spacecomma; horse-ride and cycleperiod; “Lymington is a classic market town with its historic Saturday Charter Market along the pretty high street and two marinascomma;rdquor; says Kevin Allen of John D Wood Coperiod; “Itrsquor;s buzzing in the summer months as a renowned tourist hotspot yet utterly charming out of season when we get the place back to ourselves and there is a real sense of community about itperiod;rdquor; Allen recommends the Elderflower restaurantcomma; Rivaazcomma; and the Kingrsquor;s Head pubperiod; Schools include the independent Walhampton Prep and Durlston Courtperiod;
On the outskirts of Cardiffcomma; this Victorian seaside town gives families the bright lights of the big city with an outdoorsy coastal retreatperiod; At the heart of the town is a 19th-century arcadecomma; an art-deco pavilion and the old pierperiod; “The place to live is Marine Parade with some of the most coveted addresses in all of Walescomma;rdquor; says Mike Watkins of Mr Mrs Clarkeperiod; He recommends Turner House for art exhibitions and Lavernock Point for walks along the coastal pathsperiod; Pubs include the Pilotcomma; with views over Cardiff Baycomma; and the Humble Onionperiod; Albert Primary School received an “outstandingrdquor; Ofsted rating in 2015comma; while secondary school Stanwell School was rated as “excellentrdquor; by Estyn lpar;the inspection body of education and training in Walesrpar;period;
Bexhill-on-Sea is a fine example of an historic town where coast and culture meetperiod; Quieter and less well-known than Camber Sandscomma; the arts and community centre De La Warr Pavillion hosts comedy nightcomma; exhibitionscomma; live bands and the Bexhill Choral Society perform there tooperiod; There’s a restaurant on the first floor terrace overlooking the seaperiod; The farmers market sells locally-shot gamecomma; cheeses and breads and you can buy fish straight off the boatperiod; Join sea swimming groups or take up Pilates at the Body Junctionperiod; Glyne Gap School lpar;2 years to 19rpar; has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofstedperiod; The train from Bexhill-on-Sea runs into Brighton in 58 minutesperiod; In the old part of towncomma; overlooking the churchcomma; is a six-bedroom house on the market with Strutt Parker for £1comma;200comma;000period;
When the youngest of their two girls went to universitycomma; writer Helen Chislett and her husband John Enock moved from rural Herstmonceuxcomma; near Eastbournecomma; to nearby Bexhill after Helen fell in love with a historic doer-upperperiod;
The Grade II-listed house is in the heart of the old towncomma; with views of the 8th-century
St Peterrsquor;s Churchperiod; Over the past 14 years the house has hosted many a family gatheringcomma; with three grandchildren who love to explore the walled garden which has limecomma; walnutcomma; bay and magnolia treesperiod; “It will be such a wrench moving but life is about chapterscomma;rdquor; says Helencomma; who is currently writing a book on the UK craft cultureperiod; They are relocating closer to their eldest daughter in Tunbridge Wellsperiod;
The train from Bexhill-on-Sea runs into Brighton in 58 minutes and they are five minutes from the station and eight minutes from the seasideperiod; “Bexhill is unspoilt and rather unknown as Londoners tend to head to Camber Sandsperiod; We donrsquor;t get that sardine feeling here in the summercomma;rdquor; she saysperiod;
Helen loves the De La Warr Pavilioncomma; which hosts exhibitionscomma; music gigs and stand-upperiod; “On a sunny daycomma; with the sea sparklingcomma; you can kid yourself that you are by the Medcomma;rdquor; she saysperiod;
When ‘Tales from Northumberlandrsquor; with actor Robson Green aired in 2013comma; Jan Claridge of youngsRPS estate agent noticed an uptick in tourism and homebuyersperiod; Howevercomma; since the pandemic struck relocators have come from the south of England as well as the northcomma; she explainscomma; using the East Coast Mainline to commute to Londonperiod; Born and bred in the towncomma; she says there was a foodie revolution when the harbour was redevelopedcomma; with plenty of seafood restaurants such as the Old Boat House and the Fish Shackperiod; “It feels like film crews are here every week for programmes such as Saturday Kitchen or the Hairy Bikerscomma;rdquor; she saysperiod; Claridgecomma; who has a toddlercomma; says the piercomma; with its dog legcomma; creates a safe shallow pool for the kids to play incomma; and there are boat tours to see the sealsperiod; Every May is the Puffin Festivalperiod; Sailingcomma; surfing and sea swimming are also popularperiod; Amble First School has a “goodrdquor; ratingcomma; while the nearby Morpeth lpar;secondaryrpar; is classified as “outstandingrdquor;period;
“The beautiful coastline changing with every season is something special to beholdcomma;rdquor; says David MacDuff of William H Brownperiod; Amenities include the local shop and the two AA-rosette and four-star White Horse Inncomma; a post office and Belfry primary school which continues to be “goodrdquor; according to an inspection in Novemberperiod; “We have a mix of agescomma; from city workers relocating to retireescomma; and there is a strong local bondcomma;rdquor; says MacDuffperiod; “They come looking for a more family-orientated way of life and because Overstrand offers better value for money than Burnham Market or Wellscomma;rdquor; he addsperiod;
Harriet Robson of Entwistle Green has seen a sharp rise in demand to buy in Formby over the pandemiccomma; particularly from buyers in the southperiod; “Formby has a stunning coastline along with excellent transport links into Liverpool city centre and outstanding Ofsted- rated schools such as Freshfield Primary Schoolcomma;rdquor; Robson explainsperiod; The National Trust nature reserve is home to natterjack toads and red squirrelscomma; and therersquor;s an Asparagus Trail in the sand dunesperiod; Restaurants include Suay Pan Asian and the Sparrowhawkperiod; Therersquor;s a Waitrosecomma; Formby Hall Golf Resort Spa and boutique stores such as RoDayoperiod; A four-bedroom detached home can cost around £500comma;000period;
Whitley Bay has something for everyoneperiod; From the arcadescomma; skate park and mini golf to the winding clifftop walk to St Maryrsquor;s Lighthouse lpar;built in 1898rpar; past nature reserves and sunbathing seals lpar;when itrsquor;s sunnyrpar;period; The lighthouse is also the finish line for the North Tyneside 10k Road Raceperiod; Therersquor;s a playhouse for theatre lovers and Spanish City – the restored art-deco palace that is now home to Trenchers Restaurant and Takeaway lpar;the winner of the “Best Fish and Chip Restaurant in the UK 2020rdquor;rpar;comma; 1910 Steak Seafood joint and a champagne barperiod; “Goodrdquor; primary schools include Marine Park Firstcomma; while secondary school Whitley Bay High is “outstandingrdquor;period; The Tyne Metro runs into Newcastle city centre in 30 minutesperiod;
Deal is one of the Cinque Ports – a medieval confederation of ports formed to furnish shipsperiod; Itrsquor;s a bustling town with a pebble beach and shallow sea for paddlingperiod; At the end of the pier is Deal Pier Kitchen which does steak and lobster night on a Friday and Saturdayperiod; Therersquor;s pizza and beer at the Taphouse and the French bistro the Frog and Scotperiod; For primary schoolcomma; therersquor;s the “outstandingrdquor; Warden Housecomma; and Sir Roger Manwoodrsquor;s is an “outstandingrdquor; grammar based in nearby Sandwichperiod; The train takes one hour and 23 minutes to London St Pancras with one change at Doverperiod;
Bristol is just 13 miles from Clevedoncomma; with Bristol airport less than eight miles awayperiod; The nearest train station is in the village of Yatton lpar;four milesrpar;period; Developed by the Victorians into a busy seaside resortcomma; visitors still turn up for sea anglingcomma; sailingcomma; sketching and walkingperiod; The secluded cove of Ladye Bay can be accessed via a path beyond the pierperiod; Clevedon Pier is the only Grade I-listed pier still open in Englandcomma; built in 1869comma; and hosts a jazz concert every Augustperiod; Golf is also a big drawperiod; For coffeecomma; head to Butterfliescomma; followed by lunch at Five the Beach then dinner at the Moon and Sixpenceperiod; There are several leisure centres with plenty of activies and Clevedon School lpar;ages 11–18rpar; is rated “outstandingrdquor;period;
