Retire to Wales

A coastal path in Wales with a lighthouse

Retirement living in Wales

Thinking of retiring to Wales – or Cymru (in Welsh)? Who can blame you! The physical features of Wales make this a uniquely gorgeous part of the world. It has 2,700km of glorious coastline, five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the first to be designated in the UK – the Gower Peninsula, and three National Parks – Bannau Brycheiniog (Formerly the Brecon Beacons), Snowdonia and the Pembrokeshire Coast – that’s 20% of the country! As well as buzzing cities like Cardiff and Swansea and a legendary history, including 600 castles. This is all on your doorstep with our retirement villages and retirement properties for sale in Wales.

A beach in Wales

Surrounding areas

If you’re searching for retirement villages in Wales, our retirement developments are located in amazing areas, with transport connections and amenities on the doorstep. With so much natural beauty, Wales is wonderful for walkers and cyclists and has an abundance of trails including the Wales Coast Path. Travelling by road is easy and with spectacular views along the way, road trips are guaranteed to be a firm favourite.

Rail networks offer a great alternative to the driving, with main lines running along the coast in North, South and West Wales — including stations in Bridgend, Cardiff and Newport serving the Valleys. You can enjoy the rolling green hills with the Heart of Wales Line running from Swansea to Llanelli. Or take in the stunning scenery of the Conwy Valley Line ranging from Llandudno via Snowdonia to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Prefer vintage rail trips? Revel in the glamour of Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Vale of Rheidol Railway lines.

A stadium in Wales

Community

Wales is famed for its powerful singers, from traditional Welsh Male Voice Choirs to Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Aled Jones, Charlotte Church and Catherine Jenkins. You can experience a celebration of Welsh culture, music and poetry at the National Eisteddfod held in August every year.

There are many other wonderful and unusual festivals too: roll with laughter at the Aberystwyth Comedy Festival; experience the eccentric at The Laugharne Weekend - a celebration of Dylan Thomas; get the literary lowdown at the famous Hay Festival or explore the unique village of Portmeirion at Festival Number 6 in September.

Then there are numerous community food festivals across the country – the biggest, Abergavenny Food festival, attracts 30,000 people.

The Welsh are also passionate about their national sport, rugby. If you’re looking for retirement properties for sale in Cardiff then you’re likely to spend some time at the Principality Stadium, which is home to the Welsh rugby team, as well as hosting major concerts and several FA Cup finals.

A wooded area in Wales with a waterfall and stream

Sights

Whether you choose a retirement village in North Wales or South Wales, you’ll always find plenty to explore. Wales has a long, proud history, from ancient castles and ruined abbeys to industrial canals and coal mines. Visit Caerphilly Castle, the second-largest in Britain; be awed by the imposing 13th century Conwy Castle, or go deep underground at the Big Pit National Coal Museum. Learn more about local history at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, and archaeology, botany and geology at the National Museum, Cardiff.

You’ll be seriously spoilt for natural beauty too. Famed for its walking routes and hidden gems, including Cathedral Cavern in Cumbria, Wales provides the perfect place to enjoy some of the top days out in the UK. Explore the great outdoors of Snowdonia National Park, with its mile upon mile of hiking routes, steam trains and scenery that varies from rugged windswept mountainsides to soft sandy coves. The Pembrokeshire Coast also offers world-class beaches, nature reserves and quaint seaside towns. Visit puffins at pretty St David’s – the UK’s smallest city.

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