The small seaside development in Carmarthenshire is known as ‘Sunset Village’ and offers stunning and tranquil views that residents say are like a year-round holiday
In a charming seaside town, there’s a row of houses that leave locals gasping ‘wow’ every morning.
Living here feels like a permanent holiday, regardless of the British weather. Who needs a coastal getaway when you can see the sea as soon as you open your curtains? Welcome to Pentre Nicklaus Village on the fringes of Llanelli in south-west Wales.
Although it’s just a stone’s throw from the town centre, the peaceful views and tranquillity make it feel miles away. Two decades have passed since the first of approximately 170 homes were built here, offering vistas found in few other parts of the UK.
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The properties in this development were designed in a ‘New England style’, giving you the feeling of being in a Welsh mini-version of The Hamptons – an area in Long Island, New York, known for its grand homes with spacious terraces and balconies overlooking breathtaking sea views, reports the Express.
In fact, it bears a striking resemblance to Seahaven, the fictional small, privately-owned beachside town from the Truman Show, made famous by Jim Carrey in the 1998 hit comedy drama. From your balcony, on a clear day, you can enjoy stunning views of Gower on one side and Tenby on the other.
“I’m always in awe – in the summer in particular it’s just breathtaking,” said Janice Gallacher, a local resident who enjoys a stunning view of the Millennium Coastal Path, a picturesque trail along the Loughor Estuary that leads into the bounteous Carmarthen Bay.
“But whatever the season, it’s beautiful. Every day is different, every day you get to see the sunset. Even when the tide is rough it’s brilliant to watch.”
In 2004, Janice relocated to Pentre Nicklaus alongside her husband Stuart, a Llanelli icon celebrated for his rugby accomplishments in both union and league, before assuming senior positions as chief executive of Llanelli RFC and the Scarlets.
Stuart died in 2014, but Janice has remained deeply devoted to the area they selected together. Now a great-grandmother, the location continues to provide plenty for her to enjoy.
Showcasing her spacious open-plan upper-floor home, Janice enthuses about the local wildlife and the sweeping coastal views on her doorstep.
She also highlights the proximity to Llanelli’s town centre, saying: “I can walk to the nursery in 10 minutes, we’ve got the golf club around the corner – it’s a wonderful place to live. I can see the coast for miles around. We knew when we bought the place almost 20 years ago that it was a home for life.”
Carwyn and Susan Richards, who reside next door to Janice, are equally fortunate with their seaside outlook and recall how the view of the property convinced them to relocate immediately. The pair hail from Llanelli and returned here in 2014 following a period in neighbouring Gower.
“We had to travel into and through Swansea to get anywhere, but here we’re close to shops, we’re close to family and we’re close to the M4, it’s perfect. Summer time is the best time to live here but it’s beautiful all year round,” they gushed.
A photograph captured by Carwyn, which adorns their wall, perfectly captures the stunning panorama from their home. “We’ve moved around a lot over the years with my job,” Carwyn recalled.
“We had a lovely place to live in Gower, right by the beach. When we decided to come back to this area, we looked at several places. But as soon as we stepped through the door here, it was June and straight away we saw that view. That was it. We knew within 30 seconds that this was where we wanted to be.
“We’re not moving again!” Susan declared emphatically. “This is home.” Further along Pentre Nicklaus, Garry is busy with his refurbishment.
Unlike most properties of comparable design that boast a wall separating the kitchen and lounge on the second floor, Garry has opted to knock it down, forming a vast open-plan area that makes the most of the spectacular seaside vistas through the enormous glass windows.
Garry and his family were attracted to their property in Pentre Nicklaus six years ago, chiefly for its breathtaking outlook: “We wanted this place because of the view. We originally came here because it’s near the sea and the coastal path and I love cycling – all that is literally right in front of us, so it was a lifestyle choice.”
Situated in Llanelli, a town with a proud rugby tradition, Garry’s home boasts a remarkable sporting connection, having previously belonged to Gareth Jenkins, the former player and head coach of the Wales national team – a detail Garry enthusiastically mentions from his balcony.
“We wanted this place because of the view. We originally came here because it’s near the sea and the coastal path and I love cycling – all that is literally right in front of us, so it was a lifestyle choice.”
“Some people might look at the land down there (between his home and the estuary) and think it’s just wasteland but we don’t see it like that. We have wild foxes here, we have birds of prey – for us it’s a nature reserve on our doorstep.
“The best part about the view is that it changes every hour. It’s expensive to buy a property here but it’s free for everyone to enjoy the path and the surroundings. We used to commute a lot, which is bad for the environment and it’s bad for our health. Thankfully I’m able to work from home. People might think you take it for granted after a while but you don’t. It’s just stunning.”
Living in Pentre Nicklaus delivers the perfect balance. Whilst the town centre’s energy and activity lies just a brief stroll away, your property serves as a peaceful sanctuary.
Peering through your generous lounge window during the evening hours, you’re surrounded by wildlife and the ocean, creating the sensation of being countless miles from civilisation.
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