Where is nice to live in Devon?

glassesmum · 03/09/2023 14:08

Tavistock is a nice town and not too far from the Cornish border. It's very much inland though and about 25 miles to the sea. Plymouth is near the sea and Cornwall and is very cheap, but is not a very desirable place. Barnstaple is fairly cheap but it's gone downhill a lot in recent years. Ilfracombe has a pretty harbour and is a seaside town, but has a number of social problems and is very isolated. Ivybridge is near Cornwall and a nice town.

XVGN · 03/09/2023 14:51

ŁadnaPogoda · 03/09/2023 13:48

We are looking to relocate to be nearish to family. We would like to be close to the sea (preferably walking distance). Family are near Barnstaple. Looking for a house, 2+ bedrooms, small garden would be a bonus. Budget around £500,000 (could possibly go up a bit). I don’t know Devon at all. Also have family in Cornwall, so within reasonable driving distance of them would be good. Any suggestions?

Round that neck of the woods check out Braunston, Appledore (bit touristy), and Combe Martin.

You really need to go down and check it out.

XVGN · 03/09/2023 14:52

Braunton

Original poster

ŁadnaPogoda · 03/09/2023 19:05

Thank you - super helpful! We’re planning on a trip to stay with family and scope out the area in a month or so.

OP posts:

XVGN · 03/09/2023 19:12

ŁadnaPogoda · 03/09/2023 19:05

Thank you - super helpful! We’re planning on a trip to stay with family and scope out the area in a month or so.

Good luck. Your family will probably be able to give you the very best advice. And don't feel shy about sending them out to view properties for you!!!

Oblomov23 · 03/09/2023 19:30

I would consider the move very carefully. Barnstaple is small. I grew up in Plymouth then Tavistock, lived in Bodmin too. My best friend lives in Brixham. My mil lived in Essex, Walton. We have a caravan for 16+ years near Weymouth, Dorset.

In every single place, the poverty is shocking. There's literally nothing to do there and bringing up children takes consideration. although all these places are very incredibly beautiful and I have lots going on. The poverty is not to be underestimated and the cold darkness in the winter months when all the tourists have disappeared is not to be underestimated. Please think very carefully about where you're moving from and what you're moving to.

XVGN · 03/09/2023 19:39

Oblomov23 · 03/09/2023 19:30

I would consider the move very carefully. Barnstaple is small. I grew up in Plymouth then Tavistock, lived in Bodmin too. My best friend lives in Brixham. My mil lived in Essex, Walton. We have a caravan for 16+ years near Weymouth, Dorset.

In every single place, the poverty is shocking. There's literally nothing to do there and bringing up children takes consideration. although all these places are very incredibly beautiful and I have lots going on. The poverty is not to be underestimated and the cold darkness in the winter months when all the tourists have disappeared is not to be underestimated. Please think very carefully about where you're moving from and what you're moving to.

You haven't visited the places I mentioned? It's not as you are describing.

Gomez15 · 03/09/2023 23:24

I currently live near Barnstaple, having moved 200 miles. Braunton is definitely the nicest place around there and very close to Saunton Beach . North Devon is not a wealthy area and salaries aren’t great but the people and the countryside are lovely. It does feel cut off from other parts of the country though - it takes an effort to go along the A361 every time to go anywhere except Cornwall.

Hambleshamble · 03/09/2023 23:33

Totnes is really nice. Anything goes and not boring . Good shops. Main line train.

good96 · 03/09/2023 23:55

I live in Ilfracombe which is like a 20 min drive from Barnstaple (depending on the route you go)
For 500k in North Devon you could get a fairly decent sized property and gardens with that amount.

Combe Martin whilst it is bustling in the summer, it is dead in the winter and most businesses close from end of Oct until March. Limited public transport too.

Barnstaple has some really nice places to live - Newport, Whiddon Valley, Landkey, Bickington, Fremington (stay clear of Pilton or Forches) and there is so much to do.

Ilfracombe and Braunton are nice places, more going on then CM but they are tourist traps as you can imagine in the summer.
Parking can be a nightmare.

Good Luck with your move.

BrieAndChilli · 04/09/2023 00:29

I grew up in Ivybridge so know south Devon well. I went to boarding school in Biddeford and my husband is from ilfracombe so I know quite a lot of Devon!
you won’t easily be able to get from south Devon to north Devon very easily due to Dartmoor being slap bang in the middle so will need to go round. If being near family in Barnstaple is the main consideration that concentrate your search on north Devon.
what are you planning to do for work? The reason we never settled in Devon was not a lot of career opportunities and we remembered how boring it was as teens - don’t get me wrong better to grow up rambling around Dartmoor and getting drunk in the village park than to be dodging drug dealers on city corners but nothing ever came to Devon - concerts or nice shops etc! KFC opened in barnstaple only a few years ago and people were wiring for hours!
Woolacombe beach is lovely but property is expensive and not a lot to do. Ilfracombe is busier and more things to do in walking distance.

Throwncrumbs · 04/09/2023 00:48

I love Teignmouth