Moving to Devon – 7 Great places to live
From the slower pace of life and peaceful settings to fresh air and access to the coast moving to Devon is desirable and an incredibly popular place to live for many reasons.
Those moving are often attracted by the prospect of living an outdoor lifestyle, not having to worry so much about safety or overcrowding and fortunately for those looking for a property, there are a large number of great places to live to suit different preferences and requirements.
1. Thorverton
This pretty village is very well placed only 8 miles north of Exeter and equally distanced to Tiverton.
Thorverton has everything you would want from a village; a stream running through it, a pretty little village square and an array of local amenities. You can choose between two pubs, The Thorverton Arms or the Exeter Inn. There is a doctor’s surgery, Post Office, church and great village hall complete with cinema and the Berry Dairy village shop.
For a nice day trip, The National Trust’s Killlerton is only about 15 minutes’ drive away. The M5 is easily accessible for easy access towards Bristol, London and the Midlands. The trains stations at both Exeter or Tiverton Parkway offers excellent links into London Paddington or Waterloo.
Thorverton is also within the catchment area of Blundell’s School and the village also has its own Primary School and pre-school.
Properties in this popular village are highly sought after due to its easy access to both Exeter and the beautiful surrounding countryside.
In the village, you will find a range of properties from pretty, stone and thatched cottages, elegant Georgian family homes and some new build properties on the outskirts of the village.
2. Exeter
This fast-growing city is an excellent place to live for those who want good connections to London, Plymouth or Bristol with the M5 and A38 nearby taking you to these destinations with ease. Residents also have a very easy and comfortable option to take the train to these places arriving at London Paddington in just over 2 hours.
Exeter is a vibrant city with a growing tech industry and renewable energy in particular which is bringing many people here together with the students who attend the popular University of Exeter and Exeter College. They all enjoy the many great coffee shops, bars and restaurants around the city especially those found in and around the sophisticated Cathedral Yard overlooking the beautiful Cathedral and down by the trendy Quayside.
There is a wide range of areas to choose from when considering where to live in Exeter some of the most popular is St Leonards due to its village feel and sought-after schools and Exeter Quayside with its loft-style apartments with river views. Both these locations are within a 10-minute walk to the city centre so you can expect to pay a premium for these locations.
Exeter has great festivals and markets throughout the year, most popular are the Exeter Food Festival lead by famous chef Michael Caines and the festive Exeter Christmas Market.
3. Topsham
Topsham is a small but busy estuary town popular with locals and tourists alike. The town has a great village feel and the high street running through it has lots of character with local independent shops, pubs and restaurants.
There are many different styles of properties in Topsham from quirky Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian Houses to Dutch Style Gable Houses.
One of the most regarded and sought-after streets in Topsham is The Strand where houses sell for premium prices.
Just outside of the town centre many new developments are being built including EXEIII and the Zero carbon The Chasse.
Topsham has a highly regarded primary school and there is a popular outdoor swimming pool to enjoy.
4. Ashburton
Ashburton is an increasingly popular town on the edge of South Dartmoor ideal for walking, fishing and nature lovers.
Situated by the A38 Devon Expressway, this town is ideal for those working in Exeter or Plymouth with either being around 30 minutes’ away. It is also incredibly easy to get to the many fine places on the Devon South Coast including Teignmouth, Dartmouth or Salcombe. The charming market town of Totnes in the Dart Valley is just 20 minutes away.
With this great position properties are becoming increasingly sought after. In terms of the types of homes available for sale in Ashburton there are attractive town houses, barn conversions, new builds or large family houses with acres of land and outbuildings.
5. Chagford
Chagford is a thriving Dartmoor town is popular with walkers and nature lovers. Being located on the northeastern side of Dartmoor it benefits from a microclimate giving it more sunshine and less rain than the western side of the moor. You can be in Exeter within about 30 minutes by car taking the easily accessible A30. From Exeter, you can get a train to London Paddington or Waterloo.
Chagford is a very cultural town which hosts annual film festivals and shows as well as the famous Chagstock music festival. Residents can also enjoy the open-air swimming pool in Chagford, fed by the nearby River Teign and walks all around the area including The National Trust’s Castle Drogo.
If you want to buy a property in Chagford you can expect to pay a premium as it is one of the most favourable places to live in Devon and the Dartmoor area. Property for sale in Chagford includes beautiful cottages and houses full of character, barns as well as impressive country piles with swimming pool, tennis courts and large grounds.
6. Tavistock
Tavistock is an ancient market town on the western edge of Dartmoor with the River Tavy running through it.
Tavistock is a very friendly and vibrant place and has a range of great local independent shops and famous and award-winning farmers markets.
With direct access to Dartmoor, you can easily enjoy great walks and cycling or visit the nearby National Trust sites such as the fabulous Lydford Gorge and Buckland Abbey.
There is a wide range of property types in Tavistock including riverside apartments, terraced houses, cottages and bungalows.
7. Ottery St Mary
One of the oldest and most historic towns in Devon, Ottery St Mary is a wonderful place to live. Located on the River Otter this town offers lots of great walks and good riding. It’s conveniently located only about 10 miles from Exeter and easy access to the A30 main road to take you there and beyond, connect to the M5 or to Exeter International Airport.
The heart of the town is the Church of St Mary which is modelled on the Exeter Cathedral and there is a great choice of Pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and tea rooms and a primary school.
Property in Ottery St Mary ranges from detached family homes, terraced house and cottages, bungalows and river view apartments.
Devon property finders
If you’re considering moving to Devon and are looking for great places to live we would be delighted to assist with your search for the perfect home. Please contact us to discuss your plans to move and our services.
