Mrs Shin_Print has just been offered a job there and we're thinking of going.
It's not a bad town - probably the most outward looking town in northwest Wales – but the best bit about Bangor is its location. Anglesey, Snowdonia, Lleyn Peninsula etc are all really close, so great rides, beaches etc... You could do a lot worse.
Yeah, she was told not to apply for jobs where there aren't any hills!
It will be a wrench to leave Edinburgh but a beautiful location will help.
I lived in Bangor for a wonderful 5 years - loved it
As said before, great location for anything outdoorsey. Marin and Penmachno pretty close, snowdon, tons of natural stuff - sigh...
It's a university town, so slightly more going on than might be expected.
It is a bit shabby in parts and there are nowhere near the amenities of Edinburgh, but it is wayyyyyy cheaper.
Out of interest, what is Mrs V8 going to be doing? and what are you going to do? Bear in mind that the north of wales is the very welsh speaking bit and jobs, particulalry in public sector, will often require bilingualism.
Mrs V8 is a vet and hopefully I can keep my current job and work remotely. Neither of us are welsh but we're very easy going although the language is a concern.
The last time I was in Wales was 15 years ago for my duke of edinburgh expedition and just reading maps was hard enough!
Great place, beautiful, slow pace of life
I'm just a few mile up the road from Bangor in Bethesda having moved here in September. As a town Bangor is a little rundown but it has a good bike shop and all necessary amenities. Without doubt it is not a patch on Edinburgh. But, North Wales has a lot of riding and I'm only beginning to scratch the surface of what's here. I love it here and count myself lucky to have ended up here. My next move, if there is one, will be international.
With regard to language, I tend to think of myself as constantly being on holiday! Feel free to drop me a line if you want any detailed info.
Thanks guys, lots of positive stuff here, I'm glad to hear it isn't pitchforks and axe handles at the slightest sniff of an englishman!
"slow pace of life" and "cheap" sound right up my street 🙂
Bangor A&E is great we recently went there after Mr MC ruptured his tricep tendon and broke his elbow at Betwys-y-Coed, Consultant was fantastic.
Lovely place close to awesome MTBing, Snowdon, if you like your outdoor pursuits/activities it is awesome. I would love to go somewhere like that in a shot. I wouldn't worry about the Welsh thing...most of them also speak English nowadasy too 😉
You don't have to live "in" Bangor, loads of amazing places nearby too. Just remember if you want to go out (bigger gigs, city shopping, airports etc) Manchester (nearly two hours) and Liverpool (say an hour and a half) are your nearest options.
You can get some really good bargains on outdoor gear in the charity shops in Llandudno. As well as a lot of tat. Lots of old people there, who die and keep the charity shops constantly supplied. I don't know if the outdoor gear is because lots of outdoors types keep dying but it might be.
North Wales rocks. One of the loveliest parts of England....
Bangor is a bit rubbish but North Wales has everything you could ever want! Mountains, forests and beaches within a tiny distance! I can't think of a better place to be really.
Bangor is good, lived there for 3 years. Great outdoors, easily get 4 seasons in a day, problem of living close to mountains/sea. Chester is only an hour down the road outside summer time, during the summer the roads are clogged up with scousers in shell suits towing jet ski's behind transit vans! I'd happily go back there.
Really? I must be very unobservant! The point about the beaches is a good one having only recently found Newborough beach: it's stunning and enormous!during the summer the roads are clogged up with scousers in shell suits towing jet ski's behind transit vans!
Bangor itself is a bit of a pit TBH. There are some nice bits - down by the strait (yes there is only one!). If you can hack the drive (and the bridges), I'd be looking to live in Beaumaris (as I did for 3 years), or Menai Bridge at a push.
Good for beaches and outdoor stuff and not too far from Englandshire (Chester) for a bit of civilisation. A lot fewer snobs and tourists than Edinburgh.
A55 dual carrige way out from there,
ireland a short ferry journey,
2 fantastic bridges to cross over to anglesey,
freindly people,us welsh,
mainline railway station with direct trains to London,
Run down shopping centre, llandudno is better,
Singletrack contributor works in ASda LLandudno, down the road, A55,
Great beaches on Anglsey,
Oh and its quite a long way from wet scotlandshire.
I applied for a job in Bangor last year, and was gutted that I didn't get it. I spent two days up there for the interview, and absolutely loved it. Even from the middle of town, you can see the surrounding hills, and frankly, I can only imagine that it is an MTB mecca.
Mrs V8 is a vet and hopefully I can keep my current job and work remotely. Neither of us are welsh but we're very easy going although the language is a concern.
I'd at least make an effort with pronunciation if you want to integrate, clearly speaking the lingo will be a great help. Think of it like any other country, would you go to Spain and expect to get away with speaking only English? I'm not sure I'd choose to live in Bangor itself over finding somewhere else, it's always struck me as a university city where the student population, and its poverty, is in the majority. I'd be looking at Caernarfon or Beaumaris or better still Lanfairpwll.......................... 😉
After a bit of discussion and some booze the decision is we're going! (just thought you lot might like to know)
To answer a few points:
We will probably look to be a bit outside the town, after 14 years in edinburgh it's the idea of S P A C E which appeals.
Mrs V8 had her mind put at rest on the language front, the advice was "learn Welsh? No you don't need to do that, just learn a few swear words". And before that starts a fight, it was said in jest and by a local!
Thanks again for your thoughts, see you on the trails!
Don't get hung up on the language. Unless you want a serious public sector job. I think it is important to be interested though, even if it is just to be able to decipher what that mountain was called! You sound like you guys are in an ideal position to come down here to the North Wales coast to work, enjoy and relax! If you have the means, then what is the prob! I have lived all over NW Coast in bits and bobs, and cities also. If you can be bothered commuting a few miles, I'd suggest settling in Conwy/Deganwy/Llandudno area for better access to trails and what have you and it's a bit less parochial. Have a good scope around!
Bangor is very student orientated, only 1 none student/cheapo bar in town (yep, I run it, and its sister bar in Llandudno.) It took me a while to get used to the way of life up here, but with all the riding up this way I'll never consider moving back home (Birmingham.)
Revolution bikes in Bangor is fantastic aswell. Good prices and very personable.
Make sure you check out mbnw.co.uk when you move up here, great bunch of guys/girls who will show you the the best the area has to offer, as I'm sure saxabar and kevevs will agree...
ste_t
(otherwise known as eyeball on mbnw)
I'm in a hotel in Bangor thisl morning and it looks good from my window if that's any help.