Need to choose North or South Devon to live. Help me!

[RainbowShoes80]

Any advice would be appreciated!

We will be moving to Devon towards the end of the year as my husband has been offered jobs at both Barnstaple and Torbay.

So basically we need to choose and struggling! Both jobs similar , although Torbay around 20k more a year.

We have a 4 year old so primary schools is a big consideration. Both areas seem a mixed bag but generally lots of good choices. Obviously grammar schools in south.

Our heart says north Devon as we would like to live in a quiet village close to a sandy beach. Villages look beautiful. We don't mind being away from lots of shops but worried there might not be lots for DD to to when she gets older.

My head says south Devon, due to more money and grammar schools. Would need to love within 30 mins of Torbay and areas maybe don't look so nice ( might be totally wrong about this though as still checking the villages out) .

Does anybody have any experience of moving to either?
Any views about this would be great. Such a big decision.

I think for 20k I’d choose Torbay. The grammar schools are fantastic and there are nice areas. I wouldn’t choose it for ‘more to do’ though! The secondary schools around Barnstaple aren’t brilliant.

100% Torbay. For day to day life there is so much more going on. I live in East Devon and will go to North Devo n for day trips/weekends purely for the coast.

Look at the brixham end of Torbay for the coast or inland, you are close to Dartmoor

No help, but that is a choice I would love to have. Personally prefer N Devon for its proximity to Exmoor but you have schools etc to consider.

Be happy, both are beautiful areas and Devon people are so warm and friendly.

We recently moved back to South Devon. I love it here so would definitely recommend it. Lots of gorgeous places within 30 minutes of Torbay. We live in a small village just inside Dartmoor National Park and Torbay is about half an hour from us.

Torbay. Barnstaple is a bit of a backwater and I don't think the state schools have a good rep.

Could you live somewhere around Totnes?

I'd have to say south. I'm in east Devon and north is very much a backwater as someone else already said, no really good secondary schools although the beaches are much nicer and it's much quieter - in terms of tourists and traffic - in summer.

Thanks so much for your replies.

It seems most people think South. I think Torbay is the most sensible option. I really need to try and drive down in the next week or two. I have never been to south Devon which isn't ideal when deciding our life! I'll go and see Totnes, Brixham . Any other areas anybody would recommend? We want a quiet village, preferably near, or short drive, to a beach.

I have been to North Devon a few times on holiday and love it. We have visions of surfing/body boarding on days off, but there is obviously lots more to life than beaches!

The beaches and scenery in north Devon are far superior, but there is far more to do in the south.

Schools are really good and the infrastructure and amenities better for a young family.

We've had a LOT of holidays in North Devon over the years, a brilliant holiday destination but I honestly couldn't imagine living there all year round. I can imagine it being pretty bleak during the winter, even on rainy days in the Summer can be hard to find things to do. We have family living in South Devon and I would say it is much more suited to family life. And you have the advantage of being able to travel to North Devon for weekends and holidays when you fancy it!

I live in Somerset & visit both North Devon & Torquay regularly. I live North Devon & would love it live by the sea but economy wise & school wise it is very remote & deprived. If you don't have lots of money it can be very isolating.
Torquay/Torbay also is considered a deprived area despite the tourism but I'd say there are more opportunities available, including transport links to both Exeter & Plymouth. Schools are better & there are more wealthy areas.
A 30min radius from Torquay would allow you as far west as Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Chudleigh; as far south as Brixham, Paignton, Totnes, Dartmouth & as far north as Dawlish, Kenn & even the very bottom edge/suburbs of Exeter. The train line between Exeter & Plymouth (& hence on to London & the north) run down this part too & there are fast roads (though no motorway until Exeter) as well as country lanes.
I'd recommend coming down & viewing the area.

I grew up in Torbay. Be aware that in the summer the traffic can be really bad. As in, an hour + from Torquay to brixham. I used to commute from brixham to Exeter and i would need to leave at 6.30am to keep my journey to an hour. Getting in and out of Paignton and Torquay is generally better now as they have built a new road over kingskerswell, but the road to brixham is still single carriageway for some parts so the traffic funnels. If you are using google maps to look at journey times, use the feature where you can choose specific times to reflect rush hour and be aware it will be much worse in summer. Some friends have just moved to Marldon (small village with a community feel) and they really like it there.

I second Jess’s warning that the summer traffic is terrible. All the grockles!! Avoid Newton Abbot - used to be a sweet, if not particularly pretty, little market town - now bloated and encircled by large out of town supermarkets. Dartmoor is breath taking and the countryside around there and down into the South Hams is truly heavenly. I am jealous!

OP, homes in 'a quiet village close to a sandy beach' in North Devon are usually £££. Take a look on Rightmove to get an idea of the price range for what you would be looking for.

That's really helpful to know re traffic. AA map says it would take 22 mins today, so looks like more than double that in busy months!! Wow!

I'll have a look at the other villages mentioned, thanks for the suggestions. I guess Dartmouth areas would be too far unfortunately. My DH's contract is that he needs to get to Torbay within 30 mins if he is called in from home, so we can't really be flexible on location.

Need a house and school... stress!

Yes I might have to compromise on village AND beach location. I have looked I think at every house on Rightmove! The prices fluctuate massively depending on area.

If you need to be within 30mins, and traffic is an issue, I’d maybe look inland. You’ll not be far from coast and it is super pretty. We used to be some of those summer influxers as had family in Brixham. I like Brixham, it feels like has identity of ex fishing town to give it a bit of character on top of tourism. But wonder if commute is not feasible given traffic?

How wonderful! I don't think you can go wrong with either.

As PP have said, for the higher wage I'd personally go for the south. It's also very beautiful (the areas around Salcombe and Dartmouth are lovely), although admittedly not as spectacular as the north. And there's Dartmoor of course.

Plus you'd be closer to larger cities like Exeter and Plymouth, should you ever need to go to one.

The part of Devon between Exeter, Teignbridge, Newton Abbot and Cullompton has huge amounts of new housing development planned for the next ten years.

Another one who lives East Devon and would definitely go for South over North, much more going on , not as bleak in the winter and far better schooling choices. Also closer to Exeter re shopping and the airport. Depending on where DH will be based I would think Brixham area was a bit too far down as are Salcombe and Dartmouth.
If you want to be close to commute I probably look around the Totnes area, or closer to the moor Chagford is lovely. Otherwise somewhere slightly closer to Exeter such as Christow, Kenn or Kennford but if you want to be right by the beach Teignmouth or Shaldon .

Torbay.

I was dragged up in North Devon and, if I went back, it would be to Barnstaple. Its a nice place. But Torbay is better in my view, especially when you build in the extra pay.

Also dragged up in N. Devon. My heart says move back, but my head knows my family will have a much better life without the boredom and drugs of my teenage years. Friends who settled in South Devon after returning from university have thrived.

I really dislike Brixham!! But each to their own. Stoke Gabriel? I like Blackawton.

Actually 30 mins from TORBAY gives you a few options since the new road between Newton & Torquay was built. Kennford, near Exeter is within that distance. Lovely village too.