Need help with move to Exeter and surrounding areas.

[MrsOnTheMove]

DH has accepted a job in Exeter.

However we are moving from Worcestershire and need some help with 'where to live?'

We love Dartmouth and the South Hams area (lots of holidays) but feel that these areas may be more suited to holidays rather than living?

We would like similiar to what we have now... village/rural location with a good primary school feeding to a good secondary - village needs to have family/community feel (we've lived in 3 different villages over last 7 years and like to participate in events/ childrens activities etc.) we have 2dd's age 7 and 5 - currently enjoy trampolining, swimming, dance and climbing - so a village with near by access to activities, we will be renting initially - had a look on a few sites and cannot find much available. Is there a local paper we can get with rentals/agents listed?

Finally DH will consider up to 45 mins commute for the right location?

Any ideas on where to start????

Well done your DH, Exeter is a lovely place to be. I don't really know Dartmouth or the South Hams areas as I am the other side of Exeter. You should have a look on rightmove for ideas of what's available. Villages close to Exeter around my way would be Bradninch, Silverton, Thorverton, Hele. That's some places for starters, hopefully someone with more ideas will be along soon.

Thanks bluebump having a look on rightmove now

Have a look at Ottery St Mary. It's not really a village any more, a small town but villagey feel. Excellent primary and the secondary is King's (a place of legend for miles around).

We live on the edge (very edge) of Dartmoor in the Teign Valley, which is about 20-30mins from Exeter. Really lovely, various villages, several great small primary schools plus good secondary (by bus). Its post code area EX6.

the main newspaper portal is: www.thisisdevon.co.uk. You can access Find a Property or Rightmove from there.

Property pages are tuesdays and wednesdays generally for all the locals.

I work in villages across Devon, so, my recommendations are:

Exbourne (nr Okehampton and the a30 to exeter)
Ide(fraction south of exeter) or Kenn/Kennford
Silverton and Thorverton
Uplowman
Topsham
Chagford
Tedburn St Mary
Yeoford

Exeter is really small though, so if you were looking in town - you could try: St Davids, St Leonards as good areas.

Cheriton Fitzpaine, Poughill, Woolfardisworthy (pronounced woolsery), Sandford, Bickleigh .... all villages north of Exeter that are pretty appealing, all vibrant communities with access to very good primary schools IMHO.

I moved to Devon 14 years ago with young DC who are now moving on to Uni and have never regretted it for a moment!

Welcome!

Thank you for all your suggestions DH has formally accepted the job offer I've handed in my notice and we are all very excited.

It seems to be the case that house rentals for January will not be available until November so think we I may be very busy over Christmas (DH has given me the job of finding the house and a school for DD's)

We moved to Devon some years ago. At that time we had 2 very young children and therefore the priority was a place with a good primary school and secondary feeder.

We ended up near Ottery St Mary, because there were various excellent primary schools and Kings, the secondary school was (and I think still is) the best performing in Devon. Having said that, Kings I think has declined somewhat over the last few years, and Sidmouth is on the up with a fantastic head, apparently. If your children are nearing secondary school age, you can also put them in for the Colyton exam. This school has truly excellent results, better than any of the private schools (or other schools) in Devon.

I have been reading this thread as we might go to Exeter to live. My husband wants to live in the city, and I do not mind to stay in one of the villages with a great community and lots of things to do for kids. I have a 2 years old and a 6 months old, so I am looking to have good primary schools with good secondaries, as we might not want to move any more!!! I am having a hard time to see many properties, we were planning to let first to feel the area and maybe buy one year down the line, I have not seen too many houses in the traditional sites. If we do go downtown, St Leonards seem to be the best place to live (but I do not find too many properties for sale there, do you know what is their zipcode?) If not I'll check also Ottery St Mary, maybe we can go and escape to see it soon. Any ideas are well received!

You could do a lot worse than Sidmouth, which is only 25 mins from Exeter heading east down the Lyme Regis road.
Sidmouth has a decent primary (St Nics), brilliant grammar school on its doorstep (Colyton) and lots of decent shops as well as a spectacular coastal location. We moved down here 5 years ago from St Albans and have never regreted the move.

This is a grt thread! we are also looking to make lifestyle change and move from Germany to Devon. Know the area reasonably well, family connections - married in East Devon etc BUT would love practical advice on best sites/recommendations/local listings for kids activities/classes etc... other than this one of course :).

My kids are littlies 14mnths and 2.5yrs. We will be leaving behind years of urban life and international travel so being the nominated "stayathomemaker" I really want to feel sure I can connect easily, and be well located to do so with small peeps.

We're doing the move in early Jan, with two daughter (3y6m and 1y3m). We're leaving London behind for five acres and a fix-it-up house. After much research we settled on Stockland, which has a great primary and a good choice of secondaries, including renowned Colyton. It's great to hear the positive messages on here, just as we make the leap!

Kathabitha - best of luck... hows the move going ? we're thinking of heading that way when dh finished training - was thinking Ottery St Mary as worried about missing 'bustle' as have always lived in London......but want spaaaace...

I've accepted a job in Exeter and we (me, partner, six year old) will be moving in the summer holidays. We'd like to live in the university neighbourhood, if there is such a thing. All advice welcome!

we considered moving to that area and went to take a look last year. I LOVE Topsham - beautiful village with sailing and something like 11 pubs and lovely shops and delis, yet very close to Exeter. The only problem is that everyone loves it so much, it is very expensive property wise.

@3rdnparty Ottery is very nice but if you are hoping for 'bustle' in proper London terms........honestly it's like a different planet. :D

To anyone basing their move to Devon on proximity to Colyton - you need to make sure you have a Plan B.

@bluestocking there is certainly such a thing as the university neighbourhood. There are several roads in Pennsylvania that have a high proportion of lecturer households. :D To be honest though, Exeter is so tiny that you can live anywhere here and still be pretty close.

Thanks, Thetasigmamum! We're really looking forward to moving to Exeter. I don't know the city at all, so any tips you have will be very welcome.

hello,we are moving to Devon very shortly from kent, my daughter has been accepted for Teignmouth Community college, however she has a "pre-start" in July so she can get used to the school before September, only problem is we have been unable to find a suitable property to rent in the surrounding areas, and within our budget of £800, does anyone know of any private landlords, letting agents have not had suitable properties as of yet, and we are getting worried as term time is approaching!

mumto279 I'd recommend posting on Mumsnet Devon boards - as there is a good Teignmouth community on that. They might also be up for sharing your post on Facebook if you'd be happy for that? local.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_devon

Best of luck with the hunt. You're going to love Devon - it is a brilliant place to live x

thankyou for your reply localeditorexter, thankyou for your suggestions! yes we no we are going to love Devon, we always have! we have hopefully 3 houses to view on Saturday have to leave about 4.30 a.m.! but we are so excited about this it will b worth it! i will still post on the devon boards, havent a problem with facebook but i use a friends one, is this still acceptable?

oops sorry how to i get on to Devon boards??(confused)