Relocate to north Devon

[Kimmyt85]

Hello, I’m new to this so hopefully posting in the right place!
After some advice and inspiration- my husband and I are considering relocating to north Devon (from Tring, Hertfordshire) probably around the Barnstaple area- we ideally want a balance of rural living, good access to beaches, but not isolated. We have a 2&4 yr old so schools are important. Are there any particular places to avoid? My OH is a plumber/gas engineer- what are the work prospects like around Barnstaple?
Would be great to hear from locals, or anyone who has also relocated. Many thanks x

Hey us too! Finding it hard to work out to be honest. We can’t decide being in a village near Barnstaple, or whether to live in Ilfracombe/a village near Ilfracombe...

North Devon is an amazing place to live! I’d live anywhere except Barnstaple though. ND in general though is an amazing place to grow up, can feel a bit isolated at times but there are definitely more pros than cons.

Thankyou, what reasons would you avoid Barnstaple? Tbh we’re keen to not be in a town but also not too isolated. ATM I like the look of Swimbridge and Braunton. Possibly to rent in south Molton to start as it’s good for accessing the area? Any info on these areas would be great.

For me, Barnstaple is just a pretty miserable place and it has none of the charm that makes the rest of ND so lovely. Obviously there are people who live there who love it! But I wouldn’t live there myself. I don’t know Swimbridge, but SM is a good shout as it’s so close to the link road, as that can feel like one of the bad things about living here, it can feel like it takes forever to get anywhere else! Braunton is quite nice though, and a really short drive from Saunton/Croyde/Woolacombe and I think it has quite a community feel to the area.

Elphaba, do you live there currently? Any secondary school advice?

Yeah, I’ve lived here for the last ten years. With regards to secondary schools, most kids go to their local school, and most school are pretty similar in terms of ofsted etc, there aren’t any that are particularly better than any others. In terms of post 16, options are quite limited, sixth forms at Ilfracombe and Bideford, or college in Barnstaple.

So you wouldn’t make secondary schools any sort of deciding factor? From looking at results, Park is slightly better than the others (none of them are amazing!), and so sometimes we have wondered whether we should prioritize that. But don’t actually want to live in Park catchment!

Yeah I wouldn’t make schools the deciding factor.

North Devon is gorgeous! You're so lucky to be relocating there. Have you had a look a Croyde? It's a small Village with your usual pub, ice cream shop, post office, town hall etc... it's a lovely area to live in.

Croyde is lovely, but keep in mind it doesn’t have a primary school

Have you Kimmyt85

South Molton CC and Chumleigh CC are Excellent secondary schools

Hey -
we are looking at doing the same as you - did you move in the end? Any advice?
EEK.so excited.
Hope all is well and you are settled in Devon now..

Perhaps late to the party but as a former North Devonian who is now in Tring I have a whole heap of insights, views and perhaps prejudices!!

Barnstaple is a marmite place ..

Moving into any area can be hard. There is perhaps, at times, a real sense of new locals and "old school" locals" but there more you get involved in the community the more it become your community.

There are highs and lows of being in the countryside; winters can be savage - the snows drifts of the 70s and 80s were the size of a person. What looks great in one season is not the full picture.

Public transport is limited. The road network isn't great. You can be up to 90 minutes away from bigger shops, the hospital, the dentist and the GP, with the joys of sheep on the road, the combine harvester moving fields, blown down trees and the much spreader losing its' load of smelly frightfulness!

Hope all goes well with the final decisions.

Hey

Did you make the move?

We are looking to move to Berrynarbor in North Devon and am struggling with the secondary school options....