Relocating to South Devon - need advice please!

[Wearefamily2020]

Hi Everyone,
We are relocating from the midlands to Devon before the end of the year and I was hoping to get some advice if possible!
We are a family of 4, 2 children under 5 years.
Both self employed, husband is a plasterer so will be giving up his successful business here and hoping to build his reputation in the south west. We want our children and ourselves to have a different lifestyle.
We have only ever visited Teignmouth and surrounding, Dawlish etc so was wondering if you have advice on areas for a young family?
We dont want to be too isolated and no more than half an hours drive to a nice beach. We are used to living in a busy town so would like something similar or maybe a small village so its quieter. Just not too isolated and quiet!
We will be renting first then buying once we have settled on an area.
Looking at 2 to 3 bed up to £1000 per month.
Trying to do as much research as I possibly can, some people say torquay is lovely, others say rough! We are going back to Devon the end of this month to have a good look around so are there any areas you would recommend having a drive around?
Thanks

Honestly I would think long and hard. Seaside towns are notorious for social problems, drink and drugs in underage children. There are very few long term jobs there so offspring struggle to buy houses in the area they grew up in. Houses are usually hideously expensive. What exactly is it you want to change in terms of lifestyle? If more time Roth children, how can you go that now? Sorry to be so down on the idea. Others may come along with rosier pictures!

I have heard areas of Torquay and Dawlish are rough ( just jailed a big drugs gang from there) and Exmouth is well known to have a drug problem.

I agree with haggis, be careful where you pick
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/16/hell-on-sea-dawlish-drugs-gang-geordies?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Gmail

On the otherhand there are some very nice towns e.g topsham, sidmouth, lyme regis etc

Brixham would have my vote.

Lyme Regis is Dorset and hardly any rentals come on the market - it is a very expensive place to buy a house plus it is saturated in summer months with visitors. Sidmouth is East Devon and mainly populated with over 70's slightly cheaper than Lyme to buy.

Have you considered hampshire or Dorset? I’d worry about Devon and Cornwall. In terms of jobs and things for the kids to do.

Thanks for your honest replies, not considered Dorset, will look into it.
We are hoping for a lifestyle that's more relaxed and easy going but on the same hand I want the children to still have good opportunities when they are older. Feels like we are in a rat race running a business and not having enough down time. Dawlish and teignmouth seem to be drawing us in with the idea of an outdoorsy lifestyle and from the facebook groups its seems they are good communities. Crime is a lot lower there than where we are too so that's a big draw

Thanks for your honest replies, not considered Dorset, will look into it.
We are hoping for a lifestyle that's more relaxed and easy going but on the same hand I want the children to still have good opportunities when they are older. Feels like we are in a rat race running a business and not having enough down time. Dawlish and teignmouth seem to be drawing us in with the idea of an outdoorsy lifestyle and from the facebook groups its seems they are good communities. Crime is a lot lower there than where we are too so that's a big draw

Thanks for your honest replies, not considered Dorset, will look into it.
We are hoping for a lifestyle that's more relaxed and easy going but on the same hand I want the children to still have good opportunities when they are older. Feels like we are in a rat race running a business and not having enough down time. Dawlish and teignmouth seem to be drawing us in with the idea of an outdoorsy lifestyle and from the facebook groups its seems they are good communities. Crime is a lot lower there than where we are too so that's a big draw

Have a look at East Devon villages.

Close to Exeter, A30, M5, seasides, countryside ... there's some lovely communities with lots to do.

Any opinion on Honiton? Tends to come up on Rightmove when looking at Ottery.
Thanks

Look at secondary schools because they give you an idea of what the education in that area is like. I personally wouldn’t go too near the sea because of the crowds in the summer. There are so many beautiful little villages.

Hi, we moved from London to Exeter 4 years ago with a 4 and 1 year old. We love it. Exeter is a small city so it doesn't take long to get out of and visit Teignmouth, Torquay, Dawlish, Dartmoor. Exeter has everything you need, museum, cinemas, quay, cathedral, department stores, independent shops. For work the biggest employers are the University, Met Office and Devon County Council. I don't know about setting up your own business but good trades are always in high demand, we waited over a year for our builder. We live in St Thomas/Alphington, good local shops, library, 2 parks and the river is close by. Lots of primary schools some with Outstanding Ofsted.

I live in nr to Honiton - what do you want to know? I don't have children in school here so can't comment on that.
Fairly busy market town, no clothes shops loads of hairdressers, charity shops and coffee shops (standard Devon town!)
Tescos, Co - op there. Sainsburys in Ottery and Waitrose in Sidmouth.
Some rough pockets of housing but everywhere has. Train to London goes hourly and Exeter is a 25 min journey.
Coast is a 30 mins drive away and you are on the Dorset and Somerset border so it is handy for travelling.

Dorset is far more expensive than Devon. Visited Torquay last summer and the marina is lovely but was surprised to find it quite down at heel for want of a different phrase. East Devon between Lyme Regis Dorset and Exmouth has some nice areas like Budleigh Salterton, Beer and Axmouth.

Places like Okehampton/Launceston are cheaper. Not right by the coast but South and North coasts reasonably accessible. Dartmoor on your doorstep. Also not too bad for driving to Exeter.

Some friends moved to Exmouth a few years ago, with children aged around 8, and love it.

Honestly I would think long and hard. Seaside towns are notorious for social problems, drink and drugs in underage children. There are very few long term jobs there so offspring struggle to buy houses in the area they grew up in. Houses are usually hideously expensive. What exactly is it you want to change in terms of lifestyle? If more time Roth children, how can you go that now? Sorry to be so down on the idea. Others may come along with rosier pictures!

No rosy pic from me sadly,no way would I live there for the exact reasons you posted. I lasted 2 years just outside Exeter before moving. I've lived all over the place and have no issues making friends but dear God it was soul destroying. I didn't have kids at the time but I know people who have moved there and have had a lot of school issues.

Hi OP, we made the move to Devon this year . No regrets from me so far. Happy to PM you if you want more info.

I’ve moved from Devon to the Midlands and I love the Midlands. I think there is loads of accessible countryside here and lots of nice villages that are cheaper than moving to Devon. I think people are very idealistic about the South Coast. We only ever went to the beach in winter as in the summer it is over run with tourists. The nearest decent airport is Bristol but you’ll end up driving to Heathrow. The train to London takes 3.5 hours.

If your husband has a successful business why doesn’t he cut his hours rather than quitting all together?