Moving to south devon from bristol

[Saraforte123]

Hi guys, I'm pretty new to this so hope im doing this right..! I'm a full time mum to 3 children and my partner (we've been together 15 years but not married yet!) has a good job in central Bristol.
My children are happy at school and life is good... however I yearn to live in the countryside and close to beaches... and the need for a slower pace of life... I've been doing loads of research into the south hams area, particularly Ivybridge.. just wondering if their is anyone in a similar situation to me, and or lives in that area? Is the grass really greener?! Thank you for reading. Sara xx

[Kiroro]

[Partner] has a good job in central Bristol. My children are happy at school and life is good... however I yearn to live in the countryside and close to beaches...

Is the grass really greener?!

No.

I think you would be mad to give up a good job and well settled children, just because you fancy a change.

[Saraforte123]

Thanks for your reply... it's something I've wanted to do for years... and I feel would benefit my children too. My partner could potentially relocate to an office in Exeter so wouldn't give up his job... but in the mean time would work in bristol 4 days a week and travel back to us for 3 days...

[Mrsladybirdface]

Don't do it! It rains a lot in Devon! Not sure how old kids are but to be a teen in Bristol is fantastic location..to be a teen in the middle of nowhere...not so much.

Bristol is so close to beautiful countryside too

[MoneyPit2016]

We both work in Exeter and live in Torbay, also have colleagues in the Ivybridge area that commute.
It can take up to 1 1/2 hours (each way) to commute from either location in summer, so probably not dissimilar to some of the villages/suburbs around Bristol.
Schools down here can be pretty hit and miss - there are some fantastic state schools, but if you're not in their catchment area, you may be stuck with what's nearest.
The biggest issue for us was job security. When we moved down to Devon, we were made redundant 5 times in 2 years between us.
Lots of people make the mistake of coming down on their holidays and deciding to move here, only to be surprised when everything closes over winter, or it rains all the damn time.
It can be a pretty boring place for teens until they learn to drive - be prepared to become mum's taxi!
If your family aren't local, it's a pita to get here if they aren't keen on long drives.

However, I grew up here and couldn't imagine raising a family anywhere else. The people, pace of living and environment are awesome, nowhere else like it in the UK.

[Saraforte123]

Thank you for your reply :) I forgot to add that my partners mum, sister and brother-in-law and niece have just moved to Looe in Cornwall.. so it would be nice to be closer to them too. My children are 10 months, 5 and 7 years old.
I've been in bristol for 30 years and I just feel really suffocated here now, so busy and house prices are just beyond crazy... is it so bad to want to try something different?

[Kiroro]

but in the mean time would work in bristol 4 days a week and travel back to us for 3 days...

Does he want to do this? It isn;t nice living on your own in a "monday to firday" lodging whilst partner and kids are at home, incurring extra living costs, commuting time, missing out. You woudl be 100% responsible for the kids 24h a day 4 days a week without any other adult support. Not a small thing to do.

is it so bad to want to try something different?
No, but there just don't seem any benefits to this for anyone else in the family! What about looking to move to a more rural area outside of bristol?

[PurpleDaisies]

What about moving to a more rural area that's still within easy ish reach of Bristol? The Chew Valley is lovely but not far from the city for commuting in.

[MrsGotobed]

I reckon the amount of time your DP would spend on the M5/A38 would be ridiculous.

Could you not wait until a transfer to the Exeter office comes up?

[EverythingEverywhere1234]

You sound mad as a carrot. That coming from a dyed-in-the-wool Devonshire girl through and through. It's beautiful and all but you say yourself life is good where you are. You'd be uprooting your kids from their happy life and causing your DH far more stress and tiredness because you feel like a change. Don't be daft!

[scaryteacher]

I wouldn't bother with Ivybridge myself.....Kingsbridge, Totnes, or Modbury maybe.

You could look at West Devon, with Tavistock, and access into Cornwall, or Launceston in Cornwall, straight onto the A30, which is a good fast road. Saltash is across the Tamar from Plymouth with its three grammar schools; Torpoint, and the villages round there will give beach access too.

[Saraforte123]

Thank you everyone for replying... it's really nice to read people's opinions and those who have been through a similar situation.

Unfortunately bristol and the surrounding countryside is really expensive... You're looking at over £400,000 plus for a decent 3/4 bed house and although it's doable, it means having less money for the things we enjoy as a family, holidays etc.
And one main reason behind this potential move is to be closer to the coast, not just outside a city in the middle of nowhere.

Both my boys go to school in Portishead, a town just outside bristol, 20 minutes drive from where we live. The plan was to move there until house prices went crazy and we realised we couldn't get much for our money, in a town which is becoming overly populated.
Both my boys are the outdoors type, happy to just be outside playing. However I do realise they'll come an age when they may find living rurally boring, but hopefully by that time they'll have hobbies and interests to keep them occupied and happy.

My partner says it would be 'easier' if we stayed local but understands that this is something I've been wanting to do for years... But he is supportive and open to ideas and suggestions. He spends much of his youth growing up in Cornwall, spending hours on the beach after school, and can see the benefits of such a lifestyle for our children.

My partner is a director and often works long hours so I am pretty use to being with the kids alone 24/7...

A few years ago we were considering emergrating to Australia, however the reality of moving so far from family overruled that possibility. South devon would be in between bristol family and family in Cornwall...
My partner who is a director often works long hours so I am pretty use to being with the kids alone 24/7.

I understand people may think my reasonings may be selfish, but in reality what motivates me is having the choice to raise my children somewhere where I believe would improve their quality of life.

I feel that if you don't try, you'll never know. And it's always that fear of the unknown.

... Ivybridge appealed to me due to its location - close to beaches, affordable housing and outstanding ofsted report for secondary school. Launceston was somewhere we also considered however itshe around 45 minutes to the closet beach...

[Saraforte123]

*Sorry for repeating myself at one point- I wrote the above on my note pad as I didn't have wifi where I was watching my kids play football... jiggled a few bits of wording around, copied and pasted without reading through properly!

[pamplemoussed]

Commute to Bristol , countryside, beaches, cheaper housing. Have you thought about crossing the bridge to Wales?

[PurpleDaisies]

There are definitely places commutable to Bristol, rural, within reach of great schools with four bedroom houses for significantly less than £400k. I live in one.

[PlymouthMaid1]

I think you may regret it if you move as there is so much more to do in Bristol and you are also so much closer to transport links so can visit London, Birmingham etc relatively easily. I love the South Hams but perhaps save that dream for when the kids are grown.

[FruitCider]

I lived in both looe and Paignton in my early teens... don't do it to your children, they will be bored stiff! I moved to bristol at 15, found it so much better, it's a fantastic city. I only left because I couldn't afford the rent, let alone a mortgage!

[EverythingEverywhere1234]

Do not move to launceston. Don't. Of all the towns that are lovely, launceston isn't one. Take it from s local.

[EverythingEverywhere1234]

That said, it's not 45 mins to the beach, try 20 or so.

[scaryteacher]

Ivybridge is not that brilliant according to a friend who has a house there.

I like Launceston, Everything I used to work there. Tavistock still has the edge for me though.

[Saraforte123]

I've friends in Launceston and they seem pretty happy there...
Scaryteacher, we are also looking at Kingsbridge, totnes and Modbury... I suppose ivybridge is just off the A38 and makes commuting that bit easier for my partner...

[Redhound]

I moved to Devon from 'up country' and although it is beautiful, the job situaiton is dire. I have a degree and an excellent work history but am working part time as a cleaner/dogsbody for minimum wage! Employers tend to treat employees like dirt and jobs seem to be offered on a 'who you kmow' basis- not good for incomers. Also it takes forever to get anywhere as the roads arent good. For me the benefits outweight the job situation its amazing living in this stunning area near the coast but just be aware!

[Perriwinkle9991]

Hi I actually have family in ivybridge and my family and I grew up in south Brent only 10-15 mins away.

Ivybridge has good schooling both primary and secondary. Town is quaint only having one Chinese, a co-op, minimal other shops. Also has a leisure centre. Town is lovely over the summer with the river in the middle of town I remember fond memories.

People who live in south hams take it for granted believe me I live in West Midlands and boy is it a culture shock

I would move back in a heartbeat. I agree there's not a lot for your kids to do but it's safe to wander around and be out doors. If you don't mind being a taking the kids to places then it won't be an issue.

Totnes in my opinion isn't much better than ivybridge and ivybridge has the better schools!

Brixham is nice also!

[EverythingEverywhere1234]

Welllll horses for courses. I lived and worked there for years, having gone to school there etc, and personally if someone was choosing to move down, I wouldn't recommend it... at all. Given there's some other lovely places around. Tavistock for example.

[scaryteacher]

When did you go to school there Everything?

[EverythingEverywhere1234]

2005-2012, scaryteacher

wondering if you were one of my scary teachers