Relocating to Devon/Cornwall - should we do it?

[Lastyearsmodel]

We've done the classic thing of returning from holiday in Cornwall and wanting to move down there - are we stupid to think we should live somewhere lovelier?

We've been down quite a few times and have friends who moved there from West Yorkshire 6 years ago and love it, so we're not completely unaware of the pitfalls.

We're in South Yorkshire, DP has a secure but boring job (he says) and have DD (3) and DS (18 months). I'm a Londoner but have lived in Yorkshire for 15 years and DP is a Yorkshireman. The schools here are OK, not great, and I'd always said I didn't want the kids to grow up here.

We're outdoors types - cycling, walking, paddling, etc - is it worth the move to have better weekends?

He's seen jobs he could apply for and reckons now is the time to go. Are we being naive?

Has anyone relocated because you felt you and your family deserved a better quality of life?

All thoughts and opinions welcome - as you can probably tell, I'm a bit confused...

(scroobi - hopefully bump into you in tesco in not too distant future!!)

I am always amazed at the M25 snobbery, too. I lived in London for a while and it is so common for people to think that way. For people who like to think they are so cultured and enlightened just by living in London, it is a very narrow minded attitude...

I sort of understand pixie's point, but unfortunately it is a free country and people moving into the area is not always a bad thing. As long as they are moving there permanently and planning to bring skills, business and families to contribute to the local community, what is the problem? I definitely see the point of holiday homes being a problem as they are empty most of the time and the owners don't contribute to the community, but a new family coming and using the shops, schools and other facilities - where is the harm in that? People like me and others who want to move to the SW aren't pushing the prices up, as I can't afford any more expensive houses than people who already live there!

Hmm - no, I don't think it is unfair to say that the lack of culture is an issue for some people.

Somewhere like Bristol is great for families in terms of culture - think of all the diverse festivals there: Afrika Eye, Vegan carnival, Habour festival, Balloon Fiesta, St. Paul's Carnival, Werburgh's... They are MASSIVE and really well done and well attended. That kind of celebratory and inclusive culture both reflects and affects the ways people think - and sorry, but that doesn't happen in Somerset. Great though Bridgwater Carnival is it is not the same as some of the excellent stuff going on in places like Bristol (or obviously London), which are far more diverse. I REALLY miss those opportunities. I think that's fair enough.

I don't want to rain on anybody's parade but just to give you another perspective: dh and I moved from London to East Devon - very near to Cornwall- for two years and really hated it. We came back to London as soon as we could.

DH had a good job, our rent was cheap, we lived in a very pretty village, but I missed friends and family and did indeed feel we were living in a cultural desert. The restaurants in Plymouth and Exeter were dire. Also was pretty horrified when the tv station dh worked for started getting racist complaints after they put a black weather girl on air.

But, in all honesty, we aren't really suited to country life and only moved in the first place for dh's job.

forget bloody sw. come to scotland. much nicer and we don't have those daft high hedges that multiply your chances of an accident by 5.

Wasn't it hard to get back to London? I always think once out it's too expensive to go back.

There is culture in Cornwall - noticed a theatre in Truro when we were there this summer.

However we did notice there were only 2 decent branches of M and S in the whole of Cornwall and nearest Waitrose in Okehampton .

still it must be nice to live by the sea in the winter and walk along the beaches when they are not full of tourists.

morningpaper - yes, of course it's fair enough to say that things happen in some places more than others, and if those things are important to you, then of course you want to live where they go on.

Personally, carnivals aren't my thing. I like open space, beaches, country pubs, water sports and the relaxed atmosphere you get at the coast, so London and Bristol are not for me!

But that is completely aside from the people who I encountered in London who truely believe that nothing interesting exists outside the M25. That is just pure London snobbery and so narrow minded, I can't begin to quantify it! (not directed at you, though )

Bristol is good to have just down the M5 I must admit. Taking DS#1 to the Colston Hall to hear St Petersburgh symphony orchestra.

But there are other compensations in Cornwall. Not to mention the biggest skate park in the UK!

TheMightyToosh, do you live in that place with a park that has a very tall climbing frame in it (next to the cricket pitch)and an excellent primary school?

I live very close to Ivybridge too, in a very posho village ( me not posho though)

the foosa, we meet again!

you knew me as another pirate? (wracks brains for your village)

As you are an outdoorsy family it may suit you down here beautifully. In fact, the people I know that are happiest living in this part of the world would definitely fall into that category.

I moved to Cornwall from Manchester 4 years ago. I was horrified by the openly racist comments & general hostility towards outsiders. Not everyone, of course, but a significant & vocal no. amongst the first people I met. I also missed having the variety of cinema, live music & theatre etc. that city life offers. I now live in Plymouth & still miss the same things not being on my doorstep & still find many commonly held attitudes around here unappealing.

On the plus side, I met my partner down here (a local & lovely ) & now have a dearly loved baby girl.

Bloody hell, I've got some reading to do! Thanks for all your responses.

Totally take the point about culture, but then again the particular corner of South Yorkshire I live in isn't exactly cosmopolitan (although I do love Sheffield).

Not many naysayers - looks like we might have to go for it...

Got to go out now but will read all in full later (in between dictating DP's job application blurb to him).

scroobs - yes hello!

I've chatted to you before, used to live near Salconbe

was called something else, but now not

how you doing?

aha. you were in M place. (looks left and right furtively) that was ages back wasn't it?

I am fine. so you moved? hope all's good with you.

Look at all you mnetters near ivyb..

Where the fuck were you all when i was there devoid of fun.

I left devon 2 months ago to the south west of scotland. I've not once looked back. Couldn't wait to leave.

It takes more than pretty beaches for a place to feel like home for me...and i'm no further from the beach now.

Interesting how almost everyone here is comparing Devon /cornwall to London /se when op comes from Yorkshire !

Might sound obvious, but being on holiday somewhere is not the same as living there. You mention cycling, walking and paddling - all things people do in Yorkshire when on holiday. On the other hand, if moving for better schools then now is the time to do it.

My dad lives in ivyb...

I on the other hand live just off JCT27 on the M5 so I am sandwiched between north and south Devon and I love it. I am 20 mins from Exeter, 20 mins from Taunton so despite there being naff all to do in my town I am close to bigger cities/towns and the beaches.

I think north Devon would be too remote for me as would Cornwall. Properties where I live aren't that cheap despite the fact there isn't a lot here but as you can commute to other places that's probably why. It didn't help when the MET office moved down as that pushed prices up too.

When I left uni I was desperate not to come back but i've been back here for 9 years now and i'm in no rush to move.

I'm from Lancashire but lived in Plymouth for 10 years after meeting my now dh. His family are there, mine in Lancs so neither was perfect for us. Lifestyle was great there, lots of outdoors stuff and a beautiful coastline BUT we felt so far from everything (120m to Bristol, 40 to Exeter), the opportunities for dh to progress in his job were extremely limited and there is a general very inward looking attitude I found.

We decided to move back to Lancs and have never looked back. We have a great base for family holidays and still have friends there. Here we still have a very outdoorsy lifestyle and live in a beautiful part of the world. We make sure that every year we have holiday(s) in places with fab coastline as that's what we miss most.

You need to weigh up the pros and cons and make sure what ever you decide is right for you. There are other probably cheaper, more accessible places in the country that could give you a similar lifestyle change.

Only do it if and when one of you gets a decent paying job. Its a spendy area for housing and travel.

Can't you get to the peaks, the dales and the N York moors in just a few hours from where you are now? I now live on teh edge of dartmoor but would quite like to be back on teh Yorkshire coast with the moors teh other end of town. We could sure afford a bigger house there.

We moved in January last year. Started off in Exeter but now about 20 miles outside, everything seems a fairly easy commute and we have a regular bus service (essential as I don't drive). Our area has plenty going on and the locals are much friendlier than I anticipated.

Dh continued working in London for 18mths till his contract recently expired, he has struggled to find work here, but I know he'd find it just as hard in London. There have been some tough days but worth it for the excellent school our dcs attend. I am convinced they would not receive the same opportunities had we not moved.

We love outdoor activities and do take advantage of much the area has to offer, but we did that in London too so I guess it depends if you're the doing sort.

We picked Exeter off the map as it seemed fairly central to everything, I would love to move to Cornwall but it's just too remote to be feasible for us. If I can be any help just ask piximon at gmail dot com

actually , I kinda agree with pixie sticks. We do suffer from "relocators after a nice life style".

We were relocated several years ago with no option other than DH leaving his ( rather specialised and hard to find) job if he didn't move to Devon.

I'm never going to sound pure devon ( or pure yorkshire, or pure london), tho my husband will again soon( hes west country born and bred), but our son was born here and is a right devon boy, proper job.

green army

OK, have had a proper read now and take no offence at the hijacks .

DP has seen a job in Falmouth. Yes, Cornwall is a fairly long way from everywhere, and I think it's that part that bothers me most. My parents recently moved further north from London (they're about 50 miles away now, rather than 160) and they see the DCs every week.

I take the points about being sure of jobs and income before we go. And, yes, parts of Yorkshire are beautiful holiday destinations, but not the part I live in. We're 2 hours from the coast, almost 2 hours from the Peaks and the same again for North Yorkshire. I suppose I think that in a country surrounded by coastline, is it so wrong to want to live near it?

Thanks for all offers of CATing and email addresses. Will see how DP gets on with this job application and keep you posted...

falmouth is where i want to be!!!!i love it there!i have one sister there,another lived there but has just moved to london.falmouth is beyond lovely!