[Closed] Wales! Damn this place!

Spend more time with the Welsh and you'll be cured!

If I could I would live somewhere in between Afan and bike park wales and Abergavenny.

It does have a good mix of facilities, accessibility and exciting scenery, but the reason is probably because those things lead you to take holidays there during which you have a good time 🙂

The nice thing about it though is that you can move here and still get great riding. Plenty of jobs in the South!

@emsz between and around those places is more superb natural riding than you could shake a stick at. In fact you could ride between them and have an epic off-road outing. The ride from Afan back to my house is a cracking 4-odd hours.

If I could I would live somewhere in between Afan and bike park wales and Abergavenny.

Dowlais Top welcomes you...

So you haven't met any of the Welsh yet then.

What's with the anti-Welsh comments by the way?

Know what you mean. i couldn't work down a mine though.

The wife did comment in how people weren't that chatty in the town earlier but she said the lady in the cafe was lovely. And the guy running the bus at antur was defs Welsh and he was also a top fella.
Anyways back to the bath and north Wales favourite brew, a cold can of Stella 😳

I really like Wales too. Howevee dispite growing up on a working farmvand hence accustomed to rural life the bits of Wales I like are a little too far from large town facilities, and the bits near Cardiff I am not keen on. Probably are some areas that would suit me but finding them and finding jobs etc or increasing my travelling is not something I am interested in at the moment.

[i]Dowlais Top welcomes you...[/i]

apart from Merthyr Tydfell...I've been there... 😆

Always found the Welsh to be about the same as most parts of England I have been to as far as friendly and chatty.

emsz, you want Crickhowell. I grew up there and it's paradise for an outdoorsy person! I would move back there in a heartbeat if I could afford to.

What's with the anti-Welsh comments by the way?

Maybe they have met some of the locals? I'm proud to be Welsh but we do have certain parts of our brethren who do let the side down somewhat 😆

Crickhowell, that's the place I was trying to think of!! Went camping there with my dad ages ago, and went back a few years back with the gf to the Bear, was an ace weekend

I was at Crickhowell back in September, what a beautiful place. I'd definitely move there 8)

Lake Vyrnwy, with all those lovely cat 2//3/4 climbs around Bwlch y Groes? 😈

One of my missions for 2018 is visiting there and around the Dolgellau area on my road bike, ~27 years since I last visited, after briefly living there as a nipper in the early 1980s.

I'm off to St Davids as per most years for Xmas. People are always friendly and nice. However, the climate is wetter and colder than West Berks 99% of the time. Hence, it's a no from me.

what about North Wales, I want to live in Betws Y Coed, and sell stuff to tourists. 😆

We keep promising to visit the great riding that is to be had down there instead of our Scottish road trips ..but the draw of the Highlands is too strong ..maybe one day!
As for living there ..not for me

The Varteg emsz is where you want.
Straight form my front door onto the hols for biking/running, 20mins from trad or sport climbing, Aber, Crick and others withinn 20-30mins.
Sea view to England on a nice day, 3ft of snow last week.
Did I mention Cwmbran is 20mins and BPW a similar distance...
Might start renting rooms...

Better than Varteg get up the British 😆

Weird when I was 18 Crickhowell was one of the roughest places around, mix of squaddies and farmers 😆 quite volatile

Still is pigface!!
Just other than outsiders with ££ - they’re the only ones who can afford the housing as it’s either old family or free 🙄

The British is a mare to get up most of the time now though.
No such issues from the terrace

Great init - as for ‘the people’ a few miles and a silly accent don’t really change people - some are nice, some are dicks, some are chatty, some aren’t. Just like the rest of the UK.

My family is varteg/British
Only shifted to the port for the steelworks many years ago

Talybont on Usk isn't a bad option for a mountain biker - you could always come and live in one of my shepherd's huts. Quality rides right from the door. 30 mins over Blaen-y-glyn to Bike Park Wales.
We've even got a bike wash in the village and showers that are better than mine at home!

If you camped in Crickhowell you were at the bottom of my garden 😆 and the Bear probably had my dad in it at the same time you were there!

Sadly living there again is well out of my price range so I'm looking at the area round Dolgellau as a close alternative. Need to escape the city life soon, it's really getting to me...

i couldn't work down a mine though.

Neither can anyone in Wales. Update your stereotypes mate.

Dunno there is a couple of opencast molgrips 😉

What's with the anti-Welsh comments by the way?

If you camped in Crickhowell...

Still is, I used to get grief in clwb ifor Bach in Cardiff in the 90's, for not speaking Welsh however I can fight Welsh and I'm a big boyo.
And born in Pontypool and Newport has been my home since 1976

I’ve had experience in the past of walking into a Welsh pub, with people talking in English, and then switching to Welsh when they heard my accent.

It's weird how many people have experienced [url= https://whywelsh.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/welsh-speakers-are-unwelcoming/ ]this exact same thing[/url].
A whole pub full of people speaking English and who immediately switch to Welsh.
Do you have the name of the pub and the date of this?

Myself and 5 other South walians stayed in CYB and we were staying in the holiday sheds place up the road, whilst drinking in the pub on site, Simmonds one of the boy's turns to the group to our right and fires off some rapid fire Welsh. "akin to oi STFU"
Group of lads slagging us off as English speakers didn't know one of us was fluent so yes even as a Welsh man it does exist in my experience.

What's with the anti-Welsh comments by the way?

Possibly the same as the anti-English that used to be common in some parts of Wales,

You're having a laugh with that, right? Seriously? You think it's ok for people to constantly insult the Welsh in the name of humour because someone Welsh was once an arsehole to you?

It's not, by the way, in case you were wondering.

Tis funny tbat Welsh speaking thing. Lads at antur were all cool, I mentioned I'd be riding with my 12 year old who was outside and asked if he needed to come in to listen to the usual disclaimer stuff as i signed us on. It was a quick no then tbey preceded to talk in nowt but Welsh. I assumed tbey were saying "look at this dude", with his 12 year old, hes on an enduuurrooo bike whilst sticking his lad on a 120mm old xc'er, no full face, bet they'll kill themselves on the first run etc etc. We managed 7 runs on the afternoon session, I shook the driver dudes hand and wished him a merry Christmas as we rolled away smiling. I still called him a Welsh **** tho under my breath, just to reaffirm my Englishmeness and to make me feel better about the welsh words he spoke earlier....

The only vaguely* anti-English sentiment I've encountered in 7 years of being an immigrant is my very Welsh neighbour talking about another one of our neighbours:

"They're English.... [long pause]... But they're very nice."

Nearly pissed myself laughing.

The "English" neighbours are Welsh. But as the don't speak Welsh, that doesn't count. So they're English...

* not really anti at all

Group of lads slagging us off as English speakers didn't know one of us was fluent so yes even as a Welsh man it does exist in my experience.

Very sorry to hear this. It's not right that you should have had to listen to Welsh people speaking Welsh in a public area. Make no mistake, the only reason they'll have been doing it is to connive and plot against you.

It's a bigotry that us English monoglots have to endure throughout the globe. Wherever we go, we have these locals babbling away in their primitive languages, when everyone knows they can speak perfectly good English.

walking into a Welsh pub, with people talking in English, and then switching to Welsh when they heard my accent.

Cazzo

I can’t believe people still trot out that ‘switched to welsh’ bollox. It’s never happened and never will. Unless you’re a paranoid idiot.
My wife and I are both English and we’ve lived here since 1999. Never felt anything but welcome.
6 nations are the funnest times, don’t take it seriously and it’s fine.

Copa, Roedden nhw'n ffuginiau basically.

I assumed tbey were saying "look at this dude", with his 12 year old, hes on an enduuurrooo bike whilst sticking his lad on a 120mm old xc'er, no full face, bet they'll kill themselves on the first run etc etc.

They probably weren't. It's not a novelty to them - it's just normal language.

Sometimes people do it as a bit of a joke. As we were sat in the pub one night as students the next table were having a great laugh in Welsh, whilst we were chatting away in English. However the lad on our table sat with his back to them was listening to them with an increasingly shocked expression.. he leaned forward and told us that they were talking in extremely lewd and very explicit terms about sexual acts involving us. When he turned round and spoke to them they were utterly mortified. I think they then left, sadly without doing any of the things they said they wanted to...

I bet they were form Swansea. 😀

Yeah we had the same result in CYB as soon as Simmonds piped up they legged it.

They probably weren't. It's not a novelty to them - it's just normal language

Good stuff.

yboy - Member 

Still is, I used to get grief in clwb ifor Bach in Cardiff in the 90's, for not speaking Welsh 

Only about 10% of Cardiffians can actually speak Welsh with any fluency. As an English speaking Welshman I can honestly say no ones ever remotely made it a problem. Just because you hear people speaking Welsh it doesn't mean their talking about you !!

I was flat out abused in the queue for clwb, and another Welsh speaker stood up for me, so I fully understand it's not all encompassing, but it has happened to me.

I've had people have a go at me for being English in Scotland and Wales (and Australia). I've also had some ****s have a go at me in Cornwall for being an outsider.
Maybe I'm just a **** and deserve it.
But I've also met loads of great Welsh and Scottish people and have several very good Irish mates so they can't be all bad.
Aussies on the other hand.... 😉

I can’t believe people still trot out that ‘switched to welsh’ bollox. It’s never happened and never will.

Sadly two of my Welsh speaking friends (one teaches Welsh!) have been known to do this to slag people off. Not against the English more against non-Welsh speaking friends of theirs. It's the only time I've come across it though.

Only time I've had a problem with being a non-Welsh speaking native is when the Eisteddfod (Welsh language festival) is around as it brings out the Welsh-only mob. Been called a 'fake Weshman' once as I don't speak the language. Got my own back though as I was there to deliver their parcel they'd been waiting for all morning but as they wouldn't speak to me in English I couldn't understand where to go to drop it off to them. Got an apology for that one.

You can't really blame the non-Welsh speakers since it was the English who tried to stamp it out for hundreds of years. My great grandparents were native speakers but in the 20s they had to bring up their daughter in their second language.

Lake Vyrnwy, with all those lovely cat 2//3/4 climbs around Bwlch y Groes?

~27 years since I last visited, after briefly living there as a nipper in the early 1980s

It’s not quite the same in these days of compact chain sets and wide range cassettes. Make sure you fit a compact and an 11-23 some nostalgic low cadence grinding 🙂

FWIW lived in North wales for a few years in my teens. It’s nice to go back for short visits (holiday homes, riding, walking) but I’d not want to go back and live there.

As one of the dark, pugnacious trolls from the land of song, I’m a bit beffuddled by claims of unfriendliness to outsiders. I’ve lived in or near to Cardiff for a very long time and consistently hear visitors say how friendly it is as a city and the surrounding valley people are famously warm and kind hearted. OK, North Walians and Mid Walians (who are a small % of population because most live on M4 corridor), in common with many country folk, can exude an air of suspicion but I wouldn’t say that they’re hostile. My grandfather was beaten for speaking Welsh, by a person in a position of authority, in a practice that was not uncommon and generally accepted. But those days have gone and the perpetrators long dead and you can’t blame people for misdemeanours of the past any more. I love to hear English accents at trail centres. It’s great to share this beautiful countryside - which belongs to ALL of us - Welsh, English, European, African, whatever....and it also brings much needed revenue to areas that are often quite deprived

Cardiff isn’t really proper Wales though 😉

Live near North Wales, pretty much what Stoner said.

Cardiff isn’t really proper Wales though

Are you talking about Caerdydd or Frank Hennessey’s “Kairdiff”?
Caerdydd is the capital of Wales, whereas Kairdiff is in a parallel universe 😉

(Only locals who’ve heard “Toy mic Trevor” singing on Queen St will get my comment above 😉 )

Ma na lwyth o benna defaid yn dweud petha igon cas am yn Cymry famma. Pam? Ella sa nwn trio parchu y iaith ryw chydig a ella dysgu gair ne ddau, a mond bod yn neis efo'r bobol lleol, sa nwn gweld bod y Cymry igon annwyl a lot fawr o hwyl.

Did a little 10 day road trip to North Wales in the summer - LLangollen,Anglesey,Abersoch,Caernarfon area and every single person we encountered was courteous,polite and friendly.
Love North Wales i do,i just don't think i could live there.

Iolo writes with a North Wales accent (and is correct in what he says 😉 )

Iolo writes with a North Wales accent

Rhwy ti ddim yn anghywir 🙂 Gwaith caled i ddarllen (and I lived in Bangor for a couple of years!)

clwb ifor Bach is a special case...

Another English speaking Welshman here, there is a tiny minority of Welsh Speaker who have a bit of a chip on their shoulder - but don't worry English Men and Women, they're chippy with us too.

There are certain parts of the Arts and Media you cannot work in unless you speak Welsh, even sub contractors are treated with disdain unless you can trot out the odd Welsh word at the right time.

iolo - Member

If the load of sheepbirds say it's not a fall for Welsh mammals. Why? She tries to respect the language sex and she learns a word, and it's nice to be with the local people, and I can not see that the Welsh are a dearly beloved and very fun.

Google Translate on point again today 😉

To be fair, there are people with chips on their shoulders all over the UK and indeed the world. My uncle has plenty of chips on his and he doesn't even speak Welsh.

To be fair, there are people with chips on their shoulders all over the UK

Hmm Brexit.

I was a Cardiff City season ticket holder for a number of years. LOADS of anti-English chants in every game. Bit depressing now I think back- loads of should know better men and impressionable teenagers chanting "**** off England, **** off England" "Same old English, always cheating" etc etc

Plymouth Argyle fans gave a fantastic retort once: "You're always speaking English, you're always speaking English"!

Spend more time with the Welsh and you'll be cured!

I struggle to see how comments like this are acceptable

Replace "Welsh" with "Muslims" in these posts and re read.

Another English speaking Welshman here, there is a tiny minority of Welsh Speaker who have a bit of a chip on their shoulder - but don't worry English Men and Women, they're chippy with us too.

I find these kinds of comment depressing. I'm not a Welsh speaker either and I understand how complex things can be in Wales in terms of language and culture.

But it seems virtually impossible for Welsh speakers to use their/our language in public areas without sparking accusations of being 'chippy' or as a way to secretly abuse non Welsh speakers.

I find these kinds of comment depressing. I'm not a Welsh speaker either and I understand how complex things can be in Wales in terms of language and culture.

But it seems virtually impossible for Welsh speakers to use their/our language in public areas without sparking accusations of being 'chippy' or as a way to secretly abuse non Welsh speakers.

Nah, it's not that, I have two issues.

1) Welsh 'The Media and Arts' - their are certain areas in which you CANNOT work unless you speak Welsh. I was offered a Job, which involved picking up and moving things in a bi-lingual office and the offer was subject to me taking Welsh lessons in my own time and becoming fluent within a year. Any job above the menial requires you to be fluent, no ifs no buts, to be Finance Officer you need to be able to speak Welsh. Having worked with this industry it's nothing more than a 'closed shop' agency workers and subbies seem to manage working there despite being English only speakers.

2) Road Signs, this has been a bit of a hot potato on Twitter and it's caused me to fall out with an old work mate. Static signs giving names, distances directions etc fine. I'm not sure I'd consider it 'important' but it's certainly a nice to have thing - but we've got these huge road side electronic billboards on the Motorways (like most places I guess) occasionally you'll be driving along and there will be this huge warning on it - and underneath a word in Welsh, the next one - a mile or so later down the road will be in English, but you would assume if it's important enough to light up a massive video wall, it's worth making it readable for 100% of drivers, not 5%. Yes most of them are common sense, you don't see a 40Ft sign to tell you it's foggy, or wet, or icy - but then we've got the signs, someone must have worked out they were worth having, so why make every other one useless for 95% of people who see them.

It's not the above that really annoys me, it's the bile and abuse you get if you dare to question it. Twitter mostly.

Wrightyson- I moved from Belper to mid-Wales a little over three years ago. It's ace.

Been adopted by the locals, including some top ride buddies. Local pubs, bars and restaurants are on first name terms.

Fantastic road and mtb riding from the door. Within an hour to Machynlleth, Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Nant yr Arian etc.

Good roads and infrastructure.

Not in a big Welsh language area, but there is some about.

Mrs is first language Welsh speaker, from Machynlleth area, and the welcome we get there is always friendly. Including from some of the old "activists" types.

Love it here. No plans to move away.

1) Welsh 'The Media and Arts' - their are certain areas in which you CANNOT work unless you speak Welsh. I was offered a Job, which involved picking up and moving things in a bi-lingual office and the offer was subject to me taking Welsh lessons in my own time and becoming fluent within a year.

I understand about the first point as I've worked in the Welsh media and there were lots of jobs that I couldn't do. But that's not the fault of the language or Welsh speakers.

In my opinion, that's the fault of a country which only teaches a minority of its people how to communicate in the national language. I was taught Welsh as if it was a foreign language - how to ask directions to the post office etc.

As a hybrid Wenglish person who lives and works in Wales, my experience is that it is not so much "English" as some elements of "Englishness".

When I see people strut into the pub with their collar turned up and start loudly mocking the assumed lack of WIFI, running water etc, and yells for drinks in TV-American (can I get...) before they've greeted anyone and then hog the fire with their backs to the regulars they get a different response to someone who is polite and pleasant and interested in where they are.

One of my local pubs was being dissed on here for being unfriendly, based only on the fact that people look up at the door when the sneck goes. Far from being unfriendly, this happens because in some months you are 90% likely to know the person coming in, and if you don't, you'll be fascinated who has found their way there and what they are up to, but really in a good way.

You think North wales is bad, try Anglesey!! 😆
{Former Cemaes Bay resident] Even the Welsh think we are weird
Imagine a Welsh Craggy Island....

All nationalities do it though.
Had so many occasions with Spaniards. The look or surprise is priceless when you comment on their conversation subjects...
Growing up as a “halfblood” the “real Rom’s“ loved to talk behind your back.
I was lucky bein good with languages and a grandad who hated bullies so it did t take long to tear the chavs apart

The OH’s daughter is in a welsh school.- the only time they use English is when parents are in or if one of the kids doesn’t know the word for something. Then is said along imwith the welsh one and they carry on.
In Welsh!
Only time I’ve been insulted up here is being called a cripple - but then I am and he was fat and ginger 😆

Replace "Welsh" with "Muslims" in these posts and re read.

You are welsh because you are born in Wales - so you have no choice over the matter.

If you are muslim then you have a choice and it is your choice to follow that religion (even if your parents did their best to indoctrinate you into their cult, it is still your choice to remain in it).

Therefore in my book an anti-welsh sentiment is a much higher level of wrong than an anti-muslim sentiment.

If you are muslim then you have a choice

That wasn't my point at all.

Isn't one a race and the other a religion?
Or am i missing something?

That wasn't my point at all.

what was your point then?

Best anthem in 6N to especially when "we" are visiting Cardiff. One of my dreams to do - be at Cardiff for Wales v Eng just to hear that added passion to the anthem.

Best anthem in 6N to especially when "we" are visiting Cardiff. One of my dreams to do - be at Cardiff for Wales v Eng just to hear that added passion to the anthem.

Words can't describe the pride when that beautiful song is [i]your own[/i] national anthem.

As others have said, there are dickheads everywhere. To the people who didn't get a very nice welcome: sorry but, while it was definitely the case in some areas in the 80s (but so was bad hair in pop videos), that's not my lifelong experience as a Welsh boyo who sounds English or the many immigrants I know in North and Mid Wales. My advice is not to bother with the place - any of it - leave it for the locals to [s]enjoy[/s] fester in their own resentment. This will coincidentally help keep the trails in better condition for those who don't seem to have the same issues as you.

I'd avoid Scotland for the same reason, it's populated mostly by Scottish people who f..king hate the English too. 😉