Savills Portugal

I am lucky to call two places home, both close to the fantastic Welsh coast. I spend my working week in Cardiff, our vibrant capital which boasts Europe’s largest waterfront development, and my weekends in New Quay, the picturesque seaside town in Ceredigion, West Wales, where I grew up.

I have always lived by the sea and spent my childhood either on the beach or playing around with boats. In fact, boating led me into my early career as a Royal Navy Officer, during which time I had the thrill of playing with some rather large boats and submarines. Eventually I returned to land to settle down with my family, and I am now more content with taking the boat out for a quiet spot of fishing or a day exploring the local rivers with my young children.

The coast of Wales offers some of the best water-based activities in the UK, whether you are looking for an adrenaline-filled adventure or a relaxing sail along the coast to replenish your soul. Of course, you don’t need to get wet to enjoy living on the waterfront; the scenic coastal walks are exhilarating to say the least, and we are spoilt by the choice of waterside bars and restaurants.

Wales boasts far more than its fair share of natural splendour, from the Gower Peninsula, the UK's first ever Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to the famous Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only National Park to have been designated on the basis of its spectacular coastline. In North Wales, the stunning Snowdonia and Lleyn Peninsula are havens of unspoilt beauty.

I have been selling waterfront and coastal property in Wales and the West for 13 years now and have seen an increasing number of buyers drawn to our coastline. Here, not only does your money stretch that bit further than many other popular coastal areas, it can be easier to get to, so rather than sitting in holiday traffic, you can be soaking up the scenery.

Whether you grew up near the coast or are new to waterfront living, once you have fallen in love with the lifestyle, the pull to return is always there.