If you hear about a location from other people who have been there, or maybe you have visited only virtually via google maps, you can form an opinion that does not necessarily stack up in reality. Packing a small suitcase for a work trip to the pretty Ceredigion coastal town of Aberaeron I thought I knew what I was likely to find, but I was nowhere near.
Being a city girl who dashes about (within the 20 mph limit, of course) in an old mini cooper and frequently uses the M4 and other motorways, I was rather nervous about the two and a half hour journey and especially coming off the M4/A48 at Cross Hands and heading off into unknown territory on a winding, single lane A- road with darkness falling.
But I needn't have worried because this leg of the journey did not take as long as I expected, just over an hour, and included an absorbing trip through Lampeter, which instantly grabbed my attention as a charming town, and is next on the list to explore. To get all the latest dream homes and property news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
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It was a wet and windy, dark Monday evening in November when we arrived at Aberaeron, so the best we could surely have hoped for was a fish and chips shop to be open, and driving down a dark side street looking for parking, we were relieved to see one, so at least we weren't going to go hungry.
The car park at the end of the street was dark and deserted and I was thinking my preconceived idea of Aberaeron out of season was going to be proven correct - it was a ghost town dying of second home ownership with very little open and draped in an atmosphere of unnerving quietness.
The sea breeze was bracing but so refreshing and, accompanied by the crash waves on the pebble shore, replaced the sound of sirens, traffic noise and car fumes - nature, at least, gave us a very memorable welcome. We walked along the deserted harbour wall and turned the corner; and everything changed.
There were lights strewn from pillars that twinkled on the harbour water and most of the pretty painted houses had warm glowing lights at the windows - there was life in the town. A few steps further on and we peered through the window of the Harbourmasters restaurant and were shocked to see it about two-thirds full - on a wet and windy Monday night in November. The welcome inside was warm, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food was exceptionally tasty, easily matching any fine dining I have experienced in the Welsh capital.
In fact, exploring the quaint town the next day in the winter sunshine it looked like it has actually become a bit of a foodie hot spot, from artisan bakeries such as Watson & Pratts to award-winning restaurants that include The Harbourmasters and The Stubborn Duckling.
Plus there was a range of cafes with The Hive and Bwyty McCowans both highlights, a number of welcoming pubs including The Black Lion and the Castle Hotel, plus the centre of town duo of y Seler and next door the New Celtic restaurant. The town can also offer a Chinese takeaway and, of course, the classic chippie, although sadly, there was not enough time to sample the yummy food on offer at every establishment.
Travelling up to The Moo-tel accommodation at The Moody Cow farm complex on the Monday night only took 10 minutes and after a comfortable night's sleep, a filling full English breakfast, and a pre-arranged meeting at The Moody Cow restaurant at the site, we drove back down into Aberaeron.
This time, in the sunshine, it looked so pretty as we drove down the hillside and into the centre accompanied by flashes of colour from every angle from every street as each painted house loudly sang their chosen colourful façade colour; pink, blue, navy, yellow, green - each house added to the overall visual spectacle.
Maybe what makes this town so visually absorbing is the uniformity of the mainly Georgian and Victorian design of the roads of terraces that were born from the town's unique history, planned by the Reverend Alban Thomas Jones around 1805 and designed by architect Edward Haycock, as an ambitious project to improve the harbour to create a more usable port. Back then the cottages were all grey stone properties, with the colourful facades only starting to become popular during the 1950s when local landlady Phyllis Sewell painted her three houses in bright pink.
After a very quick but very tasty cake and tea at the harbourside restaurant called The Hive, the afternoon was all about making contact with some of the lovely local people to create content for WalesOnline including a Facebook Live wandering through the streets of gorgeous properties. After the broadcast a few local people who were watching the broadcast even found me to thank me for visiting and putting a spotlight on their town, and that really made my day. Watch the Facebook Live broadcast here.
And this is when it became clear that the local residents are very friendly and welcoming but, in many cases, painfully shy. Of course, it's not everyone's dream day experience to bump into me and be asked questions that will appear in the media, but it was a struggle to find willing volunteers. However, there were three brave souls who agreed to chat about what it's like living in Aberaeron, find out all about that here.
A walk along the beach or harbour walkway is something I could become very used to as a daily routine, offering the full range of the sights, sounds and smells of the coast, but the town is well-placed to visit some of the most beautiful beaches and cosy coves in Wales, in fact, Chris Thomas at The Moo-tel told me that there are six beaches within six miles to explore. Find out what it was like to eat at The Moody Cow here.
Are there any down sides to Aberaeron? Well, if I return in the summer I think parking will be more of a headache and if you do visit make sure you glance down occasionally as there was definitely more dog mess on the pavement than the city I'd just left.
I might have only spent two days in and around Aberaeron but from what I could see it is currently a thriving town, busy enough with local residents when the summer fades and the tourists have gone. There's a calendar of events on offer at the Memorial Hall including local clubs, craft fayers and the occasional film, as well as providing a home for Memorama, the local drama society and the snooker club, plus a local indoor swimming pool for the 1,274 residents to utilise too.
There were a few empty shop units that I hope isn't the start of a downward high street slide. If you want a national brand coffee shop on your doorstep or don't want to travel to catch the latest movie, then Aberaeron is not for you, but it's all the better for offering its own, unique and independent vibe.
But looking at the properties in the estate agent windows, (you know that I wouldn't be able to stop myself!), if the property prices are an indication of the state of the local area, then the town is still a hot spot to live, as well as visit.
So maybe a downside to wanting to move to this lovely town is the lack of supply and the high demand - a combination that makes you property budget buy you less bricks and mortar than elsewhere. According to Rightmove, properties in Aberaeron had an overall average price of £318,438 over the last year compared to the current national average of £215,000 revealed by the latest ONS data.
Overall, sold prices in Aberaeron over the last year were 2% up on the previous year and 32% up on the 2020 peak of £241,264. If you are desperate to move to the town, there's a rare renovation project by the harbour is currently on the market, see inside here.
Of course, the town has a percentage of holiday lets to facilitate the tourists and guests whose visits support the local economy but they are hard to spot amongst the well-loved and well-kept homes that line each cute residential road and hug the wonderful harbour area. Maybe it's because the beach is more of a pebble and rock slice of the coast than a sandy shore that has 'saved' the town from being overwhelmed by second homes and holiday lets.
There are a range of shops that can offer local Welsh gifts and unique and tasteful home accessories, including Sled where the friendly shop assistant and a customer from Cardiff were chatting and realised they knew some of the same people, yes, it seems Wales is still a village.
Parsley and Thyme is another highlight on the high street offering clothes as well as home accessories and gifts, and keeping warm while looking stylish is easy if you pop into Anne's shop called Glanmor, selling scarves, hats and a range of accessories.
These establishments are just a few that I had time to pop into and explore, with a surprising number of independent stores to explore next time I visit, and there will be a next time because the town fully embraced me and captivated me and I can't wait to go back, any month, any season.
The town embraced me. The combination of properties, the friendly people and the unique atmosphere creates somewhere very special, a gem on the Welsh coast. It's an ambience that wafts through its streets and wraps you up in a welcoming hug and I can't wait to go back.
Check out the winter edition of the Amazing Welsh Homes magazine, packed with renovation stories, interior design ideas, competitions, and discounts – plus a peek inside some celebrities' homes too. You can purchase your hard copy of the magazine via our online shop here.
