North Devon info please! Def. moving now..

[cupcakesgalore]

with DH's new job. He's going to work bet. Barnstaple, South Molton and Ilfracombe, so any advice wouyld be greatplease. My DS and DDs will need scholl places so recommendations re. good primary schools would be good. Thanks! Very very very excited...!

How lovely! Do you have a preference for where you live? Some of the villages are lovely but a bit isolated. Do you drive?

Braunton is nice I have relatives that live there. Not sure about schools and stuff though.

Although the new bridge has helped with the traffic situation a great deal, you might be better off looking at the South Molton, Landkey, Barnstaple side. That way he could get to Ilfracombe via the South Molton roundabout and avoid Barnstaple completely on those days that he needed to go there.

I have friends with children in Newport community primary (Barnstaple) and Bishops Tawton village school - both really rate their schools. Sticklepath (Barnstaple) also has had good reviews.

South Molton is lovely, but is a one-horse town compared to Barnstaple.

I still hear bad things about Lynton primary school. Parracombe is meant to be better, but is now in a federation with Lynton, so not sure what that will mean.

Bratton Fleming is a nice village, easy access to Barnstaple, Sth Molton and Ilfracombe. Not sure about the school but can check if you like.

Hi Cupcakes, glad you are coming to join us in North Devon. I would say you definitely need to be looking at Barnstaple or South Molton if your DH is going to be travelling all over. Ilfracombe is a drag to travel back and forth from and the schools are not good at all. All those Crimblemint recommended are good. Stick links to any properties you are interested in up and we will critique!
And more than happy to meet up with you if you are coming down for a recce of course!

We could have a New Years meet up.

Thankyou so much. It's been a great day because we've always wanted to move to this part of the country, but for me it means a totally new start which, after 3.5 yrs where I currently live, with 4 chjildren under7 feel slike a really big thing to do1 But now you've all gone and made me feel realy welcome so I'm feeling nicely bouyed by that so thankyou! I have a feeling our budget will be tight for the area. I had a feeling that Ilfracombe wasn't the best choice. What is South Molton like? Obviously less going on but is it ok? The schools seem good if Ofsted reports are worth anything. Also does anyone know about Knowle and Landkey. Is Sticklepath primary good? Their ofsted is really out of date now. I shall def. be calling on your experience! We're househunting from Nottinghamshire which should be interesting and our youngest is 5mos old and doesn't sleep much! Slightly dreading telling my oldest two about the move, change of schools etc - I think DS who is 6 will be less than thrilled - but can't wait to see and show them some hills and the sea though. After Christmas I'll be sending those property details for you all to see!

I have two very good friends who moved their kids from a village school to Sticklepath and are very happy. One has a very academic boy who loves it and one has a less bookish but very sporty boy who is very happy too. They run many kids clubs at sticklepath too especially in the long holidays. I also know a TA in the school and respect her opinion on the school totally.

South Molton is an interesting little town but Barnstaple has the most going on and lots of services for kids. Victoria house has lots of drop in sessions for little ones and is a great place to meet people - it's a family centre near the centre of Barnstaple.

Sticklepath has some biggish housing developments nearby, the school run would be walkable. Lots of families on the nearby Roundswell estate and a nice big Sainsbury's too!

We moved here when my eldest was 8 and my youngest was 6. It was hard to begin with but we are all very happy here...especially when the sun shines.

Crimblement - are you Araminta? We should definitely meet up - how cool to have a Barnstaple chapter of Mumsnet
Cupcakes - South Molton is a very nice little town but much quieter than Barnstaple. When we moved here five years ago I had a five-year -old, two-yr-old and six month old. I was coming from London and honestly I wouldn't have survived six months in South Molton. Barnstaple has much more in the way of toddler groups, children's activities and just plain old stuff to do. The High Street is not exactly Oxford St but you can get pretty much anything you need there and a big plus for me is that absolutely all our daily activities are within walking distance of our house - ballet, brownies, music lessons, etc.
I think Sticklepath and Newport are your best bets for finding something you can afford. Pilton is also good but quite expensive.

Barnstaple is sounding better and better! We're going to break the news to the children tomorrow - DS is 6.5, DD1 is 4.5, DD2 is 2.5 and DD3 is only 5 months. I wonder how they'll take it - I suspect that it won't register until they arrive in Devon and the nexr day wonder if they can see thoier best friends..DS can find social communication difficult when everything/one is new to him so I'm feeling sad for him that he'll be leaving such familiar territory. Rosa, hearing that you moved with a young family makes me feel better and that we're not completely mad. what took you - and you Crimblemint - to Devon? Also, I wonder how your chiodren coped with moving. We'll be moving just around our oldest daughter's 5th birthday.

festive greetings to u cupcake
yep Barnstaple is lovely. the nearest biggest city is exeter which is 1 hr away and there is plymouth which is 2 hrs away. i live near braunton and know Caen pri sch well which is in braunton and the parents are fab. u do not need intro as they just come up and chat to u about how your child is fittin into sch. anyway u make your own choice after visitin schs and decidin what is best for your kids. there is a lovely leisure centre in barnstaple town over the new bridge where they have swimming, karate and loads of activities. there is funderzone opposite tesco where the kids can burn their excess energy plus Big sheep, atlantic city and crealy park are all within reasonable distance. not to mention our outstanding beaches at ...Saunton, Braunton burrows, Ilfracombe and Wollacombe. Devon is quite different when u are new but given time u will love its slow pace & beach scenery !!!

i've lived in north devon all my life - mainly in BIDEFORD and i love it - there is a fantastic purpose-built surestart children's center which offers loads of playgroups and support groups - there is a beautiful park - the river - THE BIG SHEEP which has a great soft play all year with cheaper rates for locals - beaches either side INSTOW and WESTWARD HO! - lovely coastal walks etc etc etc

hope you and your family absolutely LOVE it here

Can't give you advice as only family live there now; Dad in Northlew (just outside Okehampton and Grandma in Northam (Bideford) but my mum used to teach supply at some of the schools.

Wanted to say Congratulations and wel done to your dh!!
I am really envious, it's a fabulous place to bring up your lo's! My childhood down there was idyllic. .

We got an offer for our house after being on the market for a few days over xmas so we're v. excited! House hunting seriously now - wonder if anyone knows Bickington - or is it High Bickington. Seems to be just outside of sticklepath.Would living in that area be difficult for my DH to get to Ilfracombe for work?