“JUST look outside,” Mel Jones states, proudly, when I popped into Crickhowell Post Office and asked her why she thinks it is that the town has been named one of the best places to live in Wales, and the UK.
The Powys town lies south of Brecon, on the River Usk, and is sandwiched between the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog.
It was named by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in Wales this month – alongside Usk (Monmouthshire), Aberystwyth (Ceredigion), Anglesey, Pontcanna (Cardiff), Cowbridge (Glamorgan) and Llandeilo (Carmarthenshire).
The Sunday Times article described the town, affectionately known to locals as ‘Crick’, as boasting picture-perfect scenery, a thriving independent high street and a place where “community isn’t just a word – it’s a volunteer-run machine”.
I took a stroll through its sunny streets this week, where it was clear to see that there is far more than one thing that makes it such a desirable place to live.
“Scenery, fresh air, community spirit and old-fashioned values with a modern twist,” is why Mel, 60, who has worked at the town’s post office for 36 years, believes Crickhowell is in the list.
“I’ve lived here all my life, where else would you want to live?,” she asked me.
“You can find everything you want within a certain radius. My children have grown up here, gone away, think they never want to come back, but then where do they want to bring their children up? They come back to Crickhowell.
“The community spirit is outstanding here.”
Kerry Crosfield, of Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau, agrees. “I live in Abergavenny but have worked here for 23 years,” said the 48-year-old.
“Here, everyone cares about each other and it’s a massive community because of that.
“Everybody knows everybody. We have so many community services and that’s not the case everywhere.
“If you need a bowl of sugar you go to the next door neighbour. In Abergavenny, I don’t know half my neighbours, but here I know everyone.
“When I first went into the post office, it was like I was an alien, people asked ‘What are you doing here?’, but I’ve been welcomed.”
Emma Corfield-Walters, 47, is the proprietor of Book-ish, an award-winning book shop she has run on the High Street for 16 years.
Originally from the Swansea area, she and her family ended up in Crick when they wanted to move back home.
“We were worried about it being a bit too quiet, but I’ve never been so busy,” she said.
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“It’s just a brilliant community. We had one or two open shops last year but now we’ve got the bakery back and everywhere’s full again.”
Emma was named the town’s ‘High Street Hero’ when Crickhowell itself was named the UK’s ‘Best High Street’ in 2018, while Book-ish has also won best book shop in the UK twice.
She added: “People know each other and stick up for things closing, we’re rebellious and don’t take things lying down, that’s the great thing about Crick.”
Vern Harris, 42, is one of the town’s newest arrivals, having opened Wildbarc – an outdoor lifestyle and dog gear shop – in June last year, alongside wife, Emily.
“We had always come here with the dog, it’s such a beautiful area,” he said.
“The community is amazing. Independent shops seem to flourish here. When we’ve visited, we’ve always thought we’d love to live here.
“It pulls you in, it’s the gateway to the Brecon Beacons. Since we’ve opened we’ve felt so welcome.”
85-year-old retiree Terry has lived here nearly 40 years, having moved initially for work.
“I think a lot of it is to do with the surrounding area; the hill walking, rivers and canals,” he said.
“It’s co close to the Brecon Beacons. The climate is unique. Independent shops. It’s busy all year round.”
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