Where to live in South/East Devon?

[Snowcookie]

I'm planning a move within the next year or two, and I'm currently looking at Devon. I'd appreciate any advice on which areas I should consider.

My budget is 550-600,000. I'm looking for a three bedroom house(Could live with two bedrooms) with a small garden for the dogs. I have no children at present so they aren't a factor. I work from home so don't have to commute. I'm favouring the South but considering East too.

I'd like a suburban or semi rural area. Small town or village would be fine. Coastal would be preferable, but so long as I'm within 20-30 minutes drive of a nice beach I'm fine with that.

A town or village with some independent shops and a few nice restaurants would be ideal. I love gentle coastal and country walks, reading and anything involving museums, stately homes or animals. I like a quiet life.

I've been looking at Totnes, Teignmouth, Salcombe and Dartington. Possibly Newton Abbot, but it'd be helpful to hear from people with much greater knowledge of the area.

Thank you in advance and apologies if it seems like I'm looking for the moon on a stick.

Thank you for all of the suggestions, advice and good wishes. It's much appreciated and I hope that this thread is proving as useful ti others who are also considering making the move. Apologies for not mentioning all of you by name, but I have a terrible memory and will have forgotten them by the time I've scrolled back down. I'm equally grateful to all of you.

Also I am an idiot. I am also considering Sussex, not Surrey.

I'm busy researching as much information as I can. There's a lot to consider but you've all been so helpful. Thank you.

I lived in Ottery St Mary and adored it. East Devon is beautiful and quieter than South Devon. External is a cracking little city; I worked there and my husband lived there when I first met him

From what you said in your OP I would scrap Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish. All a bit seedy seaside and rough round the edges, lots of drugs, high unemployment/low wage jobs etc (I spent a lot of time in all these places in my youth and would NEVER consider living there. Include Paignton in that too. Although Teignmouth is slowly being gentrified, and has a Waitrose (wooo) there are much nicer places with your budget)

East is much, much nicer and more suited to your OP criteria. Sidmouth and Budleigh are amazing, lots of culture and only a quick drive into the city of Exeter or hop into the M5. If you want south then go further south. Past Torquay and Brixham and there are some nice villages between there and Plymouth. But you are then a long way from M5 and a long commute into anywhere else really. Good luck, Devon is an amazing place to live.

Oh gosh yes and the traffic in Teignmouth in summer is awful. Really really bad congestion, can take half an hour to drive across from Morrison’s to Waitrose. You could walk it in 15 mins. And not enough parking, so unless you can walk to the beach, you can forget driving and getting a space past 9.30am. Awful.

Newton Abbot is a dive tbh, same with Paignton and to a lesser extent Torquay. Totnes is nice, and Dartmouth. I love Galmpton (near Brixham) but I'm biased! 2 great schools and far enough from the towns to stay naice

Modbury/Ashburton, upmarket villagey town vibe, both beautiful.

Totnes - lovely but I think it'd do my head in to live there.

Dartmouth, gorgeous. Salcombe, no, go for the day.

Kingsbridge, great, I'd go here if kids are on the cards.

We spend a few weeks in S Devon every year, it's my dream to buy a Modbury bolthole!

Churston Ferrers which is between Paignton and Brixham. Amazing views across Torbay.

Ps galmpton is next to Churston Ferrers

Agreed - Galmpton and Churston Ferrers are pretty much one and the same 😊

I live in Totnes and I love it - I don't see us ever moving away. It gets a bit busy in summer, but most places in Devon do. It has such a community feel, really supportive and self sufficient.

Thank you again you lovely people. This is so helpful. I've taken a few places off my list and added a few.

The thought of a nice view is very appealing, though obviously that depends upon the house and not just the area. I have a very nice if not spectacular view of hills and fields full of deer and other wildlife from my current home so I'd miss that. Of course I have several other factors which are much more important to consider.

I'm busy doing research still but you are all making my job much easier, thank you all so much.

Hi Snowcookie,

Just in case you're still adding to your list - my wife and I (and our little girl) moved last year from Winchester, Hampshire to a beautiful village called Broadhembury. It is in the Blackdown Hills, in between Honiton and Cullompton. About 20 minutes from Sidmouth and 25 minutes from Exeter.

We have loved every second of living there (fantastic pub, little shop, tiny primary school and church, plus great community). We have actually just put our house (3/4 bed character property) on the market as my job is demanding a move back to London so if you need any inspiration - take a look!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66125107.html

Good luck!

Yes. Newton abbot has the local nickname Scabby Abbot from those I know who live there

Exeter is lovely if you pick the nice part. Lots of regeneration but it is a bit busier than a rural town obvs.
As others have said, try Totnes, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth. If you're working from home then those places are great. But they are less great if you have to get places as the communication routes down there are less great.

There are loads of lovely villages outside of Exeter (east Devon, west of Exeter) and around the moor. You can still be 20/30 mins from the beaches and coasts, but near the moor also, so you get the best of both worlds. That's what we did.

I was going to mention Ottery St Mary too. It's further east than the other places mentioned but certainly has the independent shops you want.

No one has mentioned Budleigh Salterton! Lovely beach. Home of Sue Lawley and Hilary Mantel- literary fest each year. It has old world charm, bit unosilt 1950 s feel, lovely beach and is nr Otterton (mill...cafe...music...)