Greer absolutely nails it....

[clv101]

The area is around 50% Welsh speaking, our children go to Welsh medium school.

[Catweazle]

What about Newcastle Emlyn?

I like NE too. It's not as busy as Cardigan, and the countryside is lovely.

[BritDownUnder]

I am interested to know why West Wales has been, until recently anyway, relatively cheap compared with the rest of the UK. Is is the relative isolation? The lack of fast rail there? Internet slow? Or lack of facilities and services compared with the rest of the country.

[adam2]

Possibly due to being a bit wet and therefore not ideal for holiday homes ?
The major cities have fast rail links to London, a few commute from nearer bitsof Wales to London.

[UndercoverElephant]

I am interested to know why West Wales has been, until recently anyway, relatively cheap compared with the rest of the UK. Is is the relative isolation? The lack of fast rail there? Internet slow? Or lack of facilities and services compared with the rest of the country.

It is the most isolated part of the British Isles apart from the Scottish Highlands. The smallholdings are mostly concentrated in the areas that are also outside of the main tourist destinations.

[clv101]

I am interested to know why West Wales has been, until recently anyway, relatively cheap compared with the rest of the UK. Is is the relative isolation? The lack of fast rail there? Internet slow? Or lack of facilities and services compared with the rest of the country.

It's interesting to compare south west Wales with Cornwall - functionally (employment prospects, isolation, distance to London, even the weather) is very similar, so why is property in Cornwall twice that in SW Wales? Is it just a marketing/image issue?

[Stumuz2]

I am interested to know why West Wales has been, until recently anyway, relatively cheap compared with the rest of the UK. Is is the relative isolation? The lack of fast rail there? Internet slow? Or lack of facilities and services compared with the rest of the country.

Language.

[Stumuz2]

Is it just a marketing/image issue?

Language.

[clv101]

Is it just a marketing/image issue?

Language.

Not convinced, I think incomers underestimate (or simply ignore) cymraeg rather than overestimate it in their decisions.

[Stumuz2]

There is a term in Welsh speaking culture called 'crachach'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crachach
The nearest English translation is 'taffia' (Welsh mafia). It is both an objective slur, and a source of some pride amongst those who benefit from it.

It is the single most effective cultural wall that most English migrants to Welsh speaking communities face. The better paid jobs in local gov, gov' agencies, the arts, sciences (gov money) will be mostly held by Welsh speakers. The families of the crachach are rarely unemployed, tend to dominate certain professions, and see themselves as representing the vanguard of true Combrogi (Cymraeg, ancient Britains,) Remember Wales is an old English word, meaning foreigners/strangers.

How can you identify the Crachach? You won't. It's invisible, cannot be fought or litigated against. You will get poorer welsh speakers from poor families that dislike them just as much as the English migrants. The Crachach is very upper middle class.

Crachach does not apply to the private sector.

[Catweazle]

Although there is no easily visible evidence that this "crachach" exists in general, an Englishman might often find himself asking "Why didn't I hear about that....." just after a choice piece of property or equipment has been sold.

Looking at the stats, Pembrokeshire as a whole - 80% of people cannot speak Welsh, mostly from the South. Ceredigion - 52% cannot speak it. The "line" is creeping north, there are efforts to halt it by making schools Welsh-medium, not sure if that will work - it's quite possible that kids will switch straight back to English when they get out of school. Many fluent Welsh speakers prefer to speak English already.

[Stumuz2]

Although there is no easily visible evidence that this "crachach" exists in general, an Englishman might often find himself asking "Why didn't I hear about that....." just after a choice piece of property or equipment has been sold.

Yes, good example and very germane for me.

I have first refusal on some acreage next to my fields. The first refusal has been 'live' these last twenty odd years. I will not get the fields any cheaper, but will eventually 'get them'.

I started coveting them when i was 30. Might get them when i'm 60+

[Potemkin Villager]

What about Newcastle Emlyn?

I like NE too. It's not as busy as Cardigan, and the countryside is lovely.

It reminds me of the north Wales my sister in law moved to in the 80s.
It would appear to have a shortage of young single hippie chicks.

https://www.hippiepersonals.co.uk/brows ... ating.html

[UndercoverElephant]

Not convinced, I think incomers underestimate (or simply ignore) cymraeg rather than overestimate it in their decisions.

I don't think that is the reason either. Especially given Pembrokeshire is English-speaking, but still isn't as popular as Cornwall even for holidaymakers.

It''s just less well known, and more cut off.

[clv101]

Pembs it's really two counties in terms of culture, North Pembs being a very different place to 'little England' in the south. I very rarely venture into South Pembs.