Torquay, Brixam and Paignton

[mrsnec]

Hi everyone, could any of you share experiences of living in the above places?

I'm abroad currently and considering moving back to the UK. My parents live near the above areas but I've never been there. I'll be a single mum with a 5 and 6 year old looking for somewhere reasonably priced but with good schools and a nice community. Somewhere where I can start a fresh. Any where in particular I should look at?

Might I suggest Kingsbridge as being more likely to meet those requirements?

My parents moved from there! I didn't like it. I found people rude and unwelcoming. I took my DC to the soft play and all the other mums looked at me like I had 2 heads. Also it seemed to take forever to get anywhere from there.

Depends on so many things. What sort of property are you looking for and what’s your budget? Do you want you children to sit the 11+ because the areas you mention still have grammar schools? Do you want to be on the coast or would you look a bit further inland?

I'm not bothered about being close to the beach. I want to be walking distance from a good school but not a grammar. I'd like to be able to walk to town. I had a look at Rightmove briefly. My budget might stretch to a 2 bed marionette I think at about 150k but I'm not sure if I might rent first.

My parents live in a village now and Totnes is their nearest town but they're finding themselves gravitating towards Torquay for everything these days.

I was brought up in Newton Abbot, my Dad still lives there and houses are much cheaper than on the coast. It’s a bit run down in places but there are attractive bits. Excellent transport links because it is near the A38 (Devon Expressway) and has a mainline railway station. Two decent comprehensives too, although some children sit the 11+ and travel to Torbay so they lose a bit of the top end. I also like Ashburton if you want to be nearer the moors. Good vibe, on the Devon Expressway and South Dartmoor Community College is there too. On the coast Teignmouth is worth a look.

I will look at Newton Abbot too. I've been through there a few times. I am very familiar with the A38 from previous visits.

Would it be impossible to live anywhere in Devon without a car?

We lived in Torquay for 3 years, but moved because we never felt welcome or part of something. It's quite an odd place to live as an 'outsider' with family. As working 30-something professionals, we struggled to integrate, despite going to baby groups, joining sports clubs etc.

There's some serious money in Torquay, but it's generally older people. There are a lot of old people in the bay!! There's also huge levels of deprivation - have a look at the stats. The influx of tourists over the summer also needs to be considered!

Personally, I'd stay away from the Bay. Have you considered Ivybridge?

That's how I felt in Kingsbridge. My folks said it took them 20 years to be accepted!

I'm used to touristy towns in summer. I know we could never get near Dartmouth or Salcome at times and in my late 20's I lived in a very rundown part of Bournemouth. I also live in a Mediterranean resort at the moment so I am familiar with some of the challenges mentioned.

I don't know anything about Ivy bridge at all. I will have a look.

What village are they in?

Public Transport varies, bus services to villages are pretty crap.

Can you drive or afford to run a car?

They're in Ashprington. There's not even a shop anymore so I am thinking public transport would be dire.

I can't drive but might be able to afford to learn. I liked the idea of being near but not on the doorstep if you see what I mean. That's why I was thinking of Torquay because they shop there etc.

My sister lives in Paignton and while she likes it well enough it's really not my cup of tea.

Paignton and Torquay , unless you can buy in the posher areas, can be a bit run down in places.
Newton Abbot, although it has its run down bits is not too bad and has a railway station . You'd get more for your money there than resort towns.
Personally I like Teignmouth, just seems to have a nice vibe about it.

Teignmouth looks possible.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110477123#/?channel=RES_BUY

@SueakyPeaks could you elaborate on that at all?

When I look at all these places online it looks like I can afford something but I bought in Bournemouth in an area that turned out to be really dodgy. Drugs, prostitues very high crime rate.

I want something a bit better but I'm worried I'll make that mistake again. My parents don't know Torquay or Paignton well yet. They go to Totnes occasionally but aren't really Totnes types.

I grew up in Brixham, lovely place.

We lived in brixham for years. There was a lovely community for us then. But that was before kids and it was a hard drinking place. Lots of drugs too. The fishermen liked to let their hair down after 9 days at sea! I doubt that is the community that you were talking about, but the people were friendly. I met a woman once who told me that living in brixham was like winning the lottery and she was a normal mum - not one of loonies we hung out with!

There are two schools in brixham. The comp and the grammar. The comp could be okay, but I did heard of some appalling behaviour (which is actually normal for an english schhol). The brixham comp has no sixth form, so the kids either go to the grammar or elsewhere (sorry - don't know where). I just re-read the OP - sorry I don't know about the junior schools.

Brixham town itself is nice and the surrounding area is stunning. I hated paignton personally and thought torquay was okay. If we hadn't have moved to brixham, I'd have lived in exeter or dartmouth rather than paignton or torquay. Lots of teachers in the brixham schools lived in totnes. Also there is
a village between brixham and paignton called Churston Ferrers. Nice, but no real centre.

By the way, yes you will probably need a car. We lived there without one. It restricted us a bit, but I couldn't imagine living there with kids and no car.

I was thinking that about driving. Last time I looked into it I saw there was an intensive course in Exeter. I would probably do that as soon as possible but I haven't driven in 10 years and failed my test countless times before then so I also have to bear in mind that I might fail again. I live 20 minutes walk from any kind of civilisation at the moment and I want life.

Do the automatic test. Driving an automatic is a dream compared to a manual.

Not having to bugger around with the gears really helps to concentrate on road.

Yes I probably would do that if I do the intesive driving course.

Having said that, parking does seem to be an issue if you want town centre living in a lot of places in Devon. It was an absolute nightmare in Kingsbridge and my parents main reason for moving. They had to park in Tescos and would need to check their car several times a day! Also we could never park in Salcome and Dartmouth and I recently saw a property programme on Totnes and Brixham where parking was highlighted as an issue. Hence me wondering if I could do it without a car.

We did manage with the bus. There is a bus that links brixham, paignton, torquay and newton abbot. There are trains from paignton.

My husband cycled, but I wasn't either brave or fit enough on the tiny hilly country roads.

You could be lucky with parking. I actually had a parking spot outside our house.