Moving to Devon

[Ponyofdoom]

The plan is to move from the Home Counties to Devon. Just curious if anyone else has done this and how it worked out? Anything I should be aware of? The other options is somewhere around Herefordshire/Shropshire. Where would you choose of these areas and why? Thanks for any pointers :-)

I grew up in Devon - which area are you looking at?

Thanks. Not too bothered really, I am eyeing up some places just South of Exmoor but anywhere with nice countryside would do.. If it has a good microclimate, so much the better. I think the North looks too windy and hilly and the moors themselves very wet..

LOL yes I used to live on the edge of the moors. Braunton is lovely. Great beaches nearby and nice village community.

See, it sounds perfect. The only other downsides I could think of are; not as much work, have to travel further (probably no more takeaway pizzas!) and those crazy, high hedged narrow lanes. Oh and tourists in the Summer. Are there any other downsides? Would you move back?

We moved from Hereford/Worcester/Shropshire border 12 months ago to South Devon - absolutely no regrets and loving it. yes jobs not quite the same and pay is less, but overall it is worth it.

Our place/village in Worcestershire was beautiful and when we visit there we still say wow! but we wanted to live near the sea and where we live now has a 'wow factor' for us the positives outweigh any negative.

I would mave back tomorrow but DH doesn't want to (too near my family I suspect). Plus DH job is in London so would be a bit of a commute.

I think the main problem is lack of jobs/poorly paid jobs.

The plus side for us would be to be mortgage free though.

That's helpful, thanks both! Just need to sell the house now :-) Living near the sea sounds appealing as I have always lived right in the middle of England so far..

We rented until we knew it was the right decision for us, and rented out our own place.

Hmm I agree that is a sensible option, MrsOnTheMove but the logistics would be too complicated in my circumstances. I am going to have to take a leap of faith :-)

Do you drive,because public transport is dire and expensive.

Hi yes I drive and have a 4x4 so can even cope with foot high snow, which I believe might also be on the Devon downsides list :-) Interesting to know though, thank you.

What is your budget - fancy a little shifty on rightmove...

Budget a little vague TBH as haven't sold my house yet! To be fair I have already worn Rightmove out during quiet moments at work :-) I am looking for a preferably smallish house with 10+ acres as I have horses. I have spotted a number of possibles on Staggs' website but if you know any smaller agents who aren't on Rightmove that would be interesting! Thanks for your interest.

Here

pretty

54 acres

Crediton

remote!

nice village

Any of these any good?

Cece, that second one is gorgeous! And I love the Crediton one too....sigh....

Thank you for those links :-) The first one is gorgeous, but over budget. The second is far too big for me and looks like it might be haunted!! The third one would be ideal, but when I checked it out previously there is no out riding. But you have got very close! Probably knowing my luck it will take another year to sell my house though...thanks again.

Also I heard that Oakhampton is also known as Soakhampton for obvious reasons!!

Oh yes Okehampton does have it's own micro climate but not necessarily in a good way!

local estate agents

Thanks shakeit..that's a new one on me. Looks like my house has sold; agh panicking now!! The house I like a l has apparently got steep land, has anyone any experience of this and how much of a pain is it? I realise it might make anything involving a tractor a bit hairy...

Devon, the best place in the world to bring up children, on saying that two of mine have escaped, one to London and one abroad. Those Devon lanes can be a problem but you need to learn to drive as fast backward as forward, you'll find the visitors can't reverse. We live on the southern slopes of Dartmoor and its a lot lot warmer than up North.

Does it have to be Devon? We have a lovely house, ideal for horses (2.5 acres mostly level paddock) in Somerset which we are selling.

Hi Canuck, thanks for the tips, my reversing skills are pretty hot, luckily! :-) I have no children, but could do with some good quality of life for myself! I looked round the Dartmoor area last year and loved the countryside, I could definitely live there and would prefer an area with a warmer climate obviously..

MrsZoid, I am looking at Somerset too thanks; it is gorgeous and would be nearer to my friends, but 2.5 acres wouldn't be enough unfortunately as I have collected too many equines! I am sure you will have no problem selling though as that is the acreage that most 'normal' horsey people are after! Do you mind my asking why you are moving out of interest? Thanks again..

I dont know about the visitors,half the locals cant reverse either in my experience.
OP this is the property section of the regional paper

Excellent thanks! Haha I can even reverse my horse trailer, unless anyone is watching :-)