What is Lampeter like to live at?
Discussion
As per the title. Asking as S's Mum and Dad are considering moving there, from a little hamlet near Marlow. They have asked us to undertake a bit of research on the area, so part of this is the reason for posting.
The current plan is that they are going to have a look round the area in person at some point soon, but want to satisfy themselves that the area is a viable contender for them to move to before making said trip.
Any pointers will be kindly appreciated
- From my own research I've noted it has a uni campus. It has a population of circa 3000 residents, and this swells by a third in term time. Does the town feel too 'studenty' (yes, I know that's not a word.....)
- The town centre looks nice pretty (quite historic /pretty) and well catered for, is that impression accurate?
- One requirement is that S's dad is a builder, so needs DIY stores. My research suggests that there is not a particularly local B&Q or Wickes, but the town has a few independent DIY stores which cover most items. Am I missing anything?
- Home deliveries, is it just Sainsburys who can cover this?
- Are there any local villages or hamlets which are either complete avoids or must have to purchase property at?
The current plan is that they are going to have a look round the area in person at some point soon, but want to satisfy themselves that the area is a viable contender for them to move to before making said trip.
Any pointers will be kindly appreciated
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Wednesday 9th September 12:07
I’m Welsh but speaking it was lost a generation or two ago. My parents who were English speaking moved to near Newcastle Emlyn which I think has something like 22 pubs. Social life seems to be very much in pubs or sport so if that’s not their thing It could be isolating. If there’s a willingness to try to learn welsh the locals will embrace you and try to help. My mum tried for a while but was lucky to have a near neighbour she became friends with. My father was an ex professional footballer that became manager of the local club and took them to the brink of the Welsh league by going up a few seasons on the trot. This made him hugely popular but then unrealistic ambitions took hold and he walked away. They moved back to near Bridgend a few years later. My mum didn’t drive and for her it was socially isolating.
In short you need to get involved be open to the language. Don’t think that folk start speaking Welsh when you walk in the pub. The fact is it’s their first language and that is what they speak at home. You may find some will switch to English to include you in conversation.
If today’s technology such a FaceTime had existed back then I wonder whether they would have returned. Keeping in touch with family and friends is so much easier now. Back then it was a 180 mile round trip to visit them. I couldn’t afford a home phone so it was sneaky phone calls from work when I could.
In short you need to get involved be open to the language. Don’t think that folk start speaking Welsh when you walk in the pub. The fact is it’s their first language and that is what they speak at home. You may find some will switch to English to include you in conversation.
If today’s technology such a FaceTime had existed back then I wonder whether they would have returned. Keeping in touch with family and friends is so much easier now. Back then it was a 180 mile round trip to visit them. I couldn’t afford a home phone so it was sneaky phone calls from work when I could.
I live 4 miles outside Lampeter so I'll try to help. The town centre, like many, has seen better days and is a bit rundown. Several empty shops and no sign of that changing for the better any time soon. There is a university, but to walk around Lampeter you wouldn't know it as most students stay on campus these days and the number of students is really down.
Travis Perkins is two minutes from the centre and you're right about the lack of DIY places - Carmarthen will be the nearest and that's 45-60 minutes away. There are a couple of shops where you can buy paint and DIY bits and bobs. Food deliveries can be from Sainsbury's and the local Co-op was doing them but they are both a bit limited on choice of food. Tesco in Aberystwyth will deliver, but not sure about Morrisons. I've been seeing Asda home deliveries recently, but no idea where they are coming from.
Wouldn't say there are any no go areas and there are plenty of little villages/hamlets around, as well as a few small towns. Depends what you folks are after - decent pubs and restraunts are few and far between and cinemas are an hour or so away. The coast at Aberaeron is half an hour away and Aberystwyth is 45 minutes away.
Anything else, let me know.
Travis Perkins is two minutes from the centre and you're right about the lack of DIY places - Carmarthen will be the nearest and that's 45-60 minutes away. There are a couple of shops where you can buy paint and DIY bits and bobs. Food deliveries can be from Sainsbury's and the local Co-op was doing them but they are both a bit limited on choice of food. Tesco in Aberystwyth will deliver, but not sure about Morrisons. I've been seeing Asda home deliveries recently, but no idea where they are coming from.
Wouldn't say there are any no go areas and there are plenty of little villages/hamlets around, as well as a few small towns. Depends what you folks are after - decent pubs and restraunts are few and far between and cinemas are an hour or so away. The coast at Aberaeron is half an hour away and Aberystwyth is 45 minutes away.
Anything else, let me know.
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