Where to live in Somerset, Devon or Dorset?

[Snowbear20]

DP and I fancy a change, luckily we have friends all over the UK and work remotely so can pretty much go wherever we fancy. Family are all oversees so no considerations there either. Just us and 2 small DC to consider which obviously is great!

We have lived fairly rurally, mainly 30-40 minutes outside a city in villages in various areas of England and now fancy a change to these areas, we love the countyside they all offer (all unique in their own ways) and the pace of life.

So, if you live in any of these areas and can suggest a location we can visit and research that would be great?

We would like

• a village or small town (ideally with a shop to buy odds and sods)
• a primary locally, happily to drive to a secondary if need be
• a good community
• things like swimming within 20mins drive
• a nice pub with good food is always a bonus

Have a look at East Devon. Most villages/towns will fulfil your criteria while being within easy reach of Exeter. I have lived in/near some lovely villages in that area.

Shaftesbury in Dorset ticks all those boxes or Sturminster Newton

I was going to say east Devon too. I'm down there quite often.. The Exeter / Exmouth areas would also mean you have a train station nearby.

Sherborne and Wells are two of my favourites but there are lots of places that would fit your bill (lucky you). Lots of nice villages in those areas too.

My parents have a weekend home in Seaton (Dorset/Devon borders.) It’s a small town within good reach of Exeter as it’s nearest city and about ninety minutes from Bath (where their main home is) and Bristol. It’s a nice place, a decent town centre of mainly local shops, has a seaside-y feel but is neither run down nor gentrified. Many of the surrounding villages are also nice, if village is really what you wanted.

Chagford in Devon ticks your boxes. Exeter is 20 mins away, there is a heated all year round open air swimming pool, some seriously good pubs, very community spirit led, on Dartmoor, and absolutely gorgeous.

I live in Okehampton which is the nearest town and after moving here from London I love it and would never go back to a city.

I live in West Devon near Tavistock and love it.

Tavistock is a brilliant market town too. I love going there.

Winfrith Newburgh in Dorset

Also, if this is a long-term move, public transport is going to be a huge consideration. Whilst you might be happy to drive to a secondary school, having teenage DC in a school where the majority of their friends live some distance away and where they can’t easily get to them on public transport is going to mean either isolated DC or you having to do a lot of drip offs and pick ups. From friends I know who live in Dorset and Devon, outside the main cities, buses are pretty terrible.

Corfe Castle is perfection for me but not sure what the schools are like in the area.

Dorchester.

Sherborne:

Two good primary schools
Amazing secondary
Two swimming pools and a third 5 minutes away (all owned by the independent schools but open to the public)
Lots of activities for kids locally
Good high street- Waitrose, Sainsbury's and lots of independents
Community feel
45mins to the coast
Drop dead gorgeous (two castles and an abbey for starters)

It's pretty special- but the house prices do reflect that.

Frome is nice

Schools are great in Corfe Castle and two good secondary schools, but traffic is a major issue especially if the ferry is out of action as it was for all of this summer

That's true, Five, I'd forgotten how the chain ferry threw everything into horrifying disarray last summer.

Dorchester and surrounds are well worth considering. Lots going on, shiny leisure centre, good schools, 20 minutes to the coast (traffic permitting...).

Thank you! So many to look at which is great!

Tavistock is one we have already been looking into so glad that gets good reviews!

Happy to do long term ferrying around, although if we absolutely had to would move to nearer secondary schools if DC were unhappy

Dorch is good- lots of stuff on in the Brewery Quarter, pleasing schools and closer to the coast than Sherbs.

Budget?

Frome
Bruton
Wells
Langport
Baltonsburgh
Somerton

What kind of budget are you on @Snowbear20

Budget is probably max 500k for a 3/4 bedroom place

Wells is stunning but probably out of our budget. Will look at the others though, thank you

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/50804370?utm_source=v1:5bWFDybfWx7C7AGpeagt7mP3PgcqjuqJ&utm_medium=api

South Devon is fantastic ( beaches for summertime swims and sports) lots of well rated primaries. And swimming in Ivybridge,Plympton and big pool in Plymouth

Because of the size of catchment for the secondaries lots have free school bus services ( my dc have a coach park at school due to the sheer number of coaches)

You'd easily get a detached 4 bed in Dorchester with that budget.

Tavistock is lovely,

the honiton/feniton area of east Devon is also very nice.

Totnes is a cute hippy town (low uptake of vaccines though)

Some of the outlying areas of Plymouth are lovely even just across into Cornwall (east Cornwall saltash, looe, etc)

Princetown on Dartmoor is beautiful