I'm relocating to devon from the northwest-need help with locations and schools please

[Tillyanna76]

Hi I'm new to this site but really need help as relocating to devon with work and have 2 children aged 6 and 8! I have choices to make as to where to live in devon and wondering if anyone out there can recommend nice areas to bring children up with good schools! I am wanting a family type area with things to do with the children as well as start a new social life myself! I've no idea where to set up 'home' just wanting ideas as I go in 3 weeks!!! (Ouch)!!
I'm travelling to devon next week to look around but wondering if there are areas I need to avoid .. Many thanks

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Hi Tilly. Have you tried posting on MN local too

[Theincidental]

Devon is huge! Commuting times are very long between village and town. Where are you going to be working? That will help guide to bet places to live with ray commute and family life.

[Theincidental]

Best places with good commute - no idea who Ray is!

[Tillyanna76]

I'm going working around exeter way but really not sure on the surrounding areas/villages! I've heard so many rumours avoid here avoid there so trying to plan my visit next week accordingly !! Been looking around totnes but I'm 37 with2 young children , unsure it will be too quiet for me! I'm relocating from Manchester I know it's a massive step , don't want it too rowdy like Manchester but Also still need a life x any suggestions will be great

[Tillyanna76]

And sorry not sure what mn local is ??

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

Devon is quiet compared to Manchester! I would suggest looking at Tiverton for primary schools, uffculme area for the high school. Crediton, exemouth can be worth looking too. There are lots of villages scattered around, but may be too quiet for you. Cullompton seems to be changing as an area also

[Theincidental]

It will all be quiet in comparison to Manchester. Exeter itself is lovely: st David's, Pennsylvania, st. Leonards, the quay all nice. Just outside the villages to the south and the west are nice.

Totes is nice, but very alternative and hippy - if that's your lifestyle, you'll love it. South Devon has far more people and local to exeter: try sidmouth and exmouth.

The north of Devon is very rural and remote (no public transport to speak off). Tiverton is mostly hideous, but some nice villages to the south.

South Devon is more expensive than the north in general. Commute time around Exeter from the villages is 30-45 mins even if only a few miles out as the traffic is awful in rush hour.

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

I wouldn't listen to rumours either as there is a lot of rivalry in Devon! I would look face value at amenities, like leisure centres, schools, parks, cinema etc nd have a good look round.

[Theincidental]

Purple - as a Cornish lass, I reserve the right to be generally rude about Devon

Is Tiverton nicer now then?

[KernowKids]

If I had to commute from Exeter to Totnes everyday I'd be exhausted very quickly!! you'll presumably need childcare around school hours so a long commute will be harder? What size of school are you looking for? Do your dc have special interests or hobbies? Do you like rural or want/need good transport links? Once the M5 ends at Exeter distances take a lot longer. Do you want to be on the moor or by the sea?

Exeter itself has a lot going for it, and I would think that Manchester to Exeter will be a big cultural leap. Rental properties will be much easier to sort in Exeter too and you could look at different areas from there. Easiest places to commute to Exeter from are Exmouth and the estuary villages such as Lympstone, Topsham, Ottery St Mary (has a v good secondary), Honiton, Broadclyst, Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton. Villages between these places and Exeter tend to be very small with small primaries.

If you get more specific on areas let us know and am sure there will be mnetters with better info.

[KernowKids]

Tiverton has lots of good points - lovely library, thriving market, nice leisure centre, knightshayes, close to lovely walks etc but it still feels a bit isolated, it is a drive to the M5, drive to the out of town station etc. it's is also quite a significant commute to exeter both in miles and time.

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

theincidental I genuinely didn't see your post until I posted about the rivalry, I was thinking about how much it irked me to say Cullompton is apparently improving

Tiverton-Exeter good run is 20 mins ish.. Exeter is a nightmare in rush hour generally.

I like Tiverton a lot, so many things for children and young families. However in terms of living there is only a couple of areas I would settle in! Some other things here; cinema, lots of clubs for ballet, karate, football etc for kids and a great exercise scene for adults. Museum, new skate park. Also I like that it is close to Somerset , so can go shopping in Taunton for a change of scene and closer to the moors

[Theincidental]

Purple - you're right about the rivalry though! Tubby was always a bit sad looking and deprived years ago. Don't know cullompton at all. I love west and north Devon but too far out for the op. Agree crediton might be option though.

If I was moving from Manchester to Devon with that commute - I'd go to exeter first as it will be such a shock to the system, unless you like very rural. Much easier to get the lie of the land when you've been here a bit.

[Theincidental]

Tubby - read tivvy!

[PinkSquash]

Arf at Tubby. I don't think Tiv is that great a place tbh. Totnes is lovely but it's still a small town. Athough it is in a good reach of Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay etc .Exeter doesn't have a lot for DC to do IIRC-we looked there when having to relocate.

I like Topsham although I've only driven through it

I have done both sides to Devon and the south has a lot more to offer

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

I think areas of tiv are still deprived, but i just won't live there ;) There is also lots going on to raise the profile of Tiverton I think.

I have been pleasantly surprised raising a young family here at how much there is to do and how friendly people are. The high school is a concern so may move if that hasn't got much better!

The rivalry in villages are particularly terrible and I would definitely not move further north as it is whole other world of needing chest freezers, oil fuelled heating and being snowed in!

Exeter is great if you like cities, I don't know areas very well though.

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

Topsham is lush, but very pricey! The more south you are I think the less isolated you feel in Devon, but the surfing is pants, it is more expensive as a general rule. And I think you have to hand dye your own harem trousers to live in totnes ;)

[Tillyanna76]

To be honest I've been looking around topsham and exmouth !! My children both need something to do ie-football , netball, gymnastics and me on the other hand I will have to try find a way to make new friends so don't particularly want too rural! I appreciate it won't be manchester I'm actually ready to leave that behind to be honest ! I would likes nice place , nice pubs, good , a gym , shops and somewhere maybe to go for coffee and cake every now and again xx

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

I quite fancy Exemouth, however I am not sure how the nightlife would affect me, I like quiet and it is a popular place to go clubbing! That and the summer will be tourist hell.

[PinkSquash]

I'd have said Torquay would fit the bill but you want nice

[Tillyanna76]

Yes I'm sure tourists will be the next problem ah !! Decisions decisions !! Suppose il know more on tues I'm travelling down for 4 days looking at villages , house viewings , schools etc ....will be worth it I'm sure

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

I wouldn't overlook Tiverton, it was known only as a shithole to be blunt fir a long time. However, on a sunny Saturday wandering around the nicer shops looking at all the kids wearing dance school clothes and looking at houses only in the nicer areas will set the scene! The are heaps of clubs and extra curricular activities and the private school is great if that is an option.

However , I really understand not wanting a commute as it is the reason I am here as DH works here!

[KernowKids]

Exeter has lots of gyms, if you went for Topsham the Exeter Golf and Country Club is v near, or there is a David Lloyd near the rugby ground. Exeter also has a very busy gymnastics club (has a web page) and there are heaps of dance schools, football clubs, swimming lessons etc.

[Tillyanna76]

Thankyou all so much I'm off there tomorrow so will take a good look around xx

[LocalEditorDevon]

Hi Tillyanna76,

Here's a link to the local Devon site. We have talk threads on there too as well as local listings of things going on and places to visit.

I hope you find it helpful.

I'll share you thread on the Mumsnet Devon twitter account for you too