People always make THESE 5 mistakes when they move to Devon
I’m a bit biased, but I think Devon is the best county in England to live in.
It has jaw-dropping nature but also two cities, so there’s generally plenty going on all year-round.
It’s also not too far from the rest of the country, thanks to the M5 and rail links to certain towns (more on that later).
My family have lived in Devon my whole life, and I found myself in lockdown here in 2020 (for essential reasons).
And the sand and sea drew me in. After we sold my grandma’s house (where I was staying), my partner and I decided to buy our own flat here. And we’ve lived here ever since!
But there are a few things to consider when moving to Devon that make it different to resettling in a UK city.
So, here are the five top MISTAKES people make when they move to Devon.
Don’t consider the winter months
Devon changes in the winter months, but not necessarily for the worse!
As the weather gets colder, the county gets quieter. In the heart of winter, tourism almost stops.
This means that some businesses temporarily close – it can also mean much less activities and events on.
If you’re planning to move to Devon, I’d recommend visiting the town or village in the winter and seeing what kind of things are happening when the weather’s not so great.
For example, in my Devon town there’s a small theatre, a cinema and plenty of social groups that run all year round,
Live too close to the beach (or water)
I know… it’s that West Country coastal dream, isn’t it, to live right by the beach?
I’d actually generally advise against it (although there are exceptions).
Houses right on the coast are generally more susceptible to flooding, and you might find it difficult to get home insurance. This also applies to living too close to a river.
Of course, this isn’t such a worry if you’re renting rather than buying.
Also, you’ll often find you’re paying a premium for living right on the beach. A 10 minute walk inland, properties are often notably cheaper.
Don’t factor in rail travel
Devon doesn’t have the best rail links in the country, so if you do think you’ll be using the trains, make sure that you’re close to – or able to drive and park at – a station.
Stations on the GWR mainline to London include Plymouth, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Exeter st David’s and Tiverton. Parking is chargeable at all station car parks, but you’ll usually find on-street parking a walk away.
There’s also a SWR line that connects London Waterloo with Exeter, stopping in Axminster, Honiton and a few other small stations (as well as places in Somerset and Dorset).
This line is a lot slower, but also usually cheaper!
Branch railways also offer regular trains going to Exmouth, Paignton and Torquay (with stops in Dawlish and Teignmouth), Barnstaple and Okehampton.
Other than Exmouth, coastal East Devon is not that well connected by railway, but you’re usually only about 30 minutes drive from Honiton.
North Devon is also not well connected – your only option is the Barnstaple line which leads to Exeter, where you can then change to trains in the country.
Bearing this in mind, the best places to live in Devon for trains (aside from Exeter and Plymouth) are:
- Newton Abbot
- Totnes
- Tiverton
- Honiton
- Axminster
Then the next best would be:
- Exmouth
- Paignton
- Torquay
- Barnstaple
- Okehampton
Go for aesthetics over atmosphere
Clovelly, Salcombe, Appledore… charming, aren’t they?
But do bear in mind that these tourist-focus villages will have less going on for locals.
While I’m sure village life is wonderful for some – the community will be close-knit for sure – if you want somewhere with a more varied lifestyle, I’d recommend looking at the more residential towns rather than the tiny fishing villages.
With more people, you’re also more likely to make like-minded friends too. And in Devon, you’re never far from a beautiful beach or scenic village!
Don’t get involved in village or town life
Even in the larger towns, the communities in Devon are stronger than elsewhere in the country.
Some limited people in Devon are against “grockles” moving there (not many these days, especially not in towns). I don’t think there’s any issue with anyone moving anywhere and wanting to make a life there – people have been doing so since the beginning of time!
But I do think, when moving anywhere, it’s important to get involved in the community, use local businesses and generally try to impact it in a positive way.
In smaller villages, while you of course never have to do something, you’ll probably find adjusting much easier if you get involved in village life.
In the larger spots, like Torbay and Exmouth, there’s of course no obligation to get involved in the community; but you’ll find your stay so much richer if you do.
Moving to Devon as an adult, it took me a while to find a community, largely because I was feeling quite shy and overwhelmed.
But as soon as I started putting myself out there, I found the loveliest community of people; which has made Devon feel like home.
A few recommendations:
- Exeter Girl: If you’re in Exeter or the surrounding areas (anywhere on the Exe Estuary, Torbay or East Devon) this is a fantastic WhatsApp community with lots of subgroups depending on interests. Most events are in Exeter but a few groups for other locations have branched off as well.
- CrossFit: There are a number of CrossFit gyms in Devon (including in some of the smaller areas!) and it’s a wonderful community of positive, motivated people.
- Co-working spaces: If you work remote, co-working spaces like Propeller in Exmouth are fantastic for meeting people and having “colleagues”. There are a few in different areas of Devon!
- Meet Up: There are a few communities and events on Meet Up – a few I’ve seen include hiking, language learning and writing!
- Facebook community groups: I love and hate Facebook community groups – they can be very negative, but also are great places to make friends. I’ve seen a few people post on mine and have had dozens of comments from people in similar situations.
Feel free to drop me a message on Instagram or Facebook if you’re moving to Devon and have any questions!