How the Brecon Becaons has become a popular place to buy a home

Rishi Sunak made headlines when he criticized the Brecon Beacons National Park for being renamed Bannau Brycheiniog.

Whether you like the name or not, one thing is certain: this vast 520 square kilometer area of ​​mountains, rivers and moors in Wales is the most dramatic wild landscape within reach of London and the South East.

This largely explains why house prices have risen sharply over the past three years.

“During Covid, people were drawn to the countryside and sales were booming,” says Anto Clay of Stacks Property Search.

‘Since then, people have gotten used to the idea of ​​working from home, coming to the office a few times a month. Abergavenny is only about two hours and 28 minutes from Paddington, so this lifestyle is doable.’

Figures from Rightmove prove the point: total sales prices in the Brecon Beacons were 34 percent higher last year than in 2020.

The most popular towns for newcomers are in the south of the region, around Abergavenny and Crickhowell, with good road links up to the M4.

Abergavenny is a busy market town that has developed a reputation for good food. It has a lively indoor market and hosts an annual food festival. The Angel Hotel is the place to meet the locals, especially on market days.

Crickhowell (Crick to his friends) with its pastel Georgian houses and pretty 18th century bridge over the River Usk, is more than two in all. Lined with traditional independent shops, the High Street looks like a page from a 1950s children’s book.

The city has a vibrant art scene. There are Open Studios events where over 300 artists exhibit their work in venues ranging from cafes to their own front rooms. Authors and celebrities hold regular talks, while the Green Man Festival attracts hipsters from every season. The comedy festival is also good for a laugh.

‘I’ve lived in Brighton for 10 years and there’s a lot more to do here,’ says Emma Corfield-Walters, owner of the Book-ish bookshop, which hosts events most weeks. ‘Crick is a real community and there is always something to look forward to.’

While 60 percent of newcomers are retirees, these cities have a fair share of young people, according to local realtors. They form part of the Cardiff commuter belt, with many parents moving for the schools – notably Christ College Brecon and Crickhowell High – which have excellent reputations.

There’s a lot to do for young people in terms of mountain adventure pursuits, and if the poor supply of night buses to Cardiff is a problem among teenagers, many parents think that’s not a bad thing.

Further north you meet the glacier-scarred hills and valleys, all overshadowed by Pen y Fan, at 907 feet. This is hardcore Beacons – where the SAS trains – and it attracts a different type of buyer.

In the words of one realtor: ‘The off-grid types who come for the solitude, nature and dark skies’. There are many properties for burnt-out lawyers and city types.

The National Park has about 1,250 farms, most of which cannot live as a sheep farm. However, they are ideal for those who want to run a retreat or keep donkeys, alpacas or chickens as pets.

Strutt & Parker’s Joe Martin says: ‘Substantial properties like this don’t stay on the market for long. It’s quite an Anglicized community, the locals are welcoming and prices are half those in the Cotswolds.’

Hay-on-Wye, famous for its literature festival and bookshops, is at the center of this region. It is worth noting that houses in the city itself are much more expensive than those in the nearby countryside.

The average price of a detached house in Hay last year was £591,000. That compares to £308,929 in Brecon, which is less pretty in a chocolate box.

While the Brecon Beacons National Park is undeniably beautiful, the area also has its drawbacks. The weather can be bad.

“My advice to newcomers is to visit several times before buying,” says Stacks’ Anto Clay.

“It can take 90 minutes to drive across the Beacons: miles mean little on the mountain roads. But do your research and the Beacons offer a great opportunity to change your lifestyle.’