8 things you won’t expect when relocating to the South West

I always dreamed of relocating to the South West when I lived in London. 

There are cities, sure, but the emphasis on nature and getting outdoors is unparalleled in the UK. Wild swimming, trail running, surfing and weekends camping are the norm!

But daily life here comes with its own quirks that aren’t obvious when you first arrive. 

These are eight things that often surprise people who make the move!

House prices vary dramatically by postcode

Before you list your property on property purchasing website like We Buy Any Home, know that a move of just a few miles can mean a huge jump in property prices. 

Villages close to the sea often cost significantly more than inland ones, even if they’re only a 15-minute drive apart!

Some coastal towns (such as Salcombe) attract second-home buyers, which pushes prices up further. 

Meanwhile, inland villages might have larger homes for far less money, though you may sacrifice easy access to shops and services. 

It’s worth researching small areas closely, not just the wider region, before setting your heart on a location.

Tourist season reshapes daily life

In summer, life revolves around tourism. 

Traffic crawls through harbour towns, supermarket queues snake into the aisles and even a quick beach walk can involve dodging crowds!

You soon learn to run errands early in the morning or later in the evening. 

Locals often plan their days around avoiding the midday rush, especially during school holidays! 

Outside peak months, the pace changes dramatically, and places you avoided in August will feel like an entirely different world by October.

You’ll know the tides off by heart

Tide times shape coastal life more than most newcomers expect!

If you want to walk along certain beaches or catch the local ferry, the tide can be the deciding factor. 

For example, Kynance Cove is a completely different beach at high tide, while the Starcross to Exmouth ferry’s timetable changes depending on tides. 

Before long, you’ll find yourself checking the tide table as routinely as the weather forecast and timing day trips or walks to match the low tide window!

Winter feels like a different place

Once the summer crowds leave, towns and villages quieten almost overnight. 

Cafés and restaurants shorten their opening hours, some closing completely until spring. Beaches that were packed in July become vast and empty, with only the wind and gulls for company. 

Parking spaces appear where it was once impossible to stop, and traffic dwindles. 

The contrast can be dramatic, and it often takes a full year here to get used to the ebb and flow of the seasons!

Public transport is patchy

Away from cities like Exeter, Bristol and Plymouth and their surrounding areas, public transport can be sparse. 

Many villages have only a handful of bus services a day, and some routes stop running altogether in the evenings or on Sundays. 

Trains connect the main towns, but not much else! 

If you move from a city where you never needed a car, this can be a shock. That said, I use my car very little living in Exmouth, as we have good rail and bus links to Exeter. If you don’t drive, take a look at these easy places to visit in Devon without a car. 

Community ties run deep

In smaller towns and villages, local networks are strong. 

Many people have lived in the same area for generations and know each other well, although in bigger towns there are quite a lot of newcomers. 

Joining community events, volunteering or even chatting to shopkeepers makes a huge difference. 

In Exmouth, I joined Propeller, the coworking space, which really helped me get involved in the community. 

Weather can change in minutes

The South West’s weather is famously unpredictable! 

You can leave home in sunshine and be hit by sea mist halfway down the road. A calm morning might turn into driving rain by the afternoon, then back to bright skies. 

Part of it is living by the coast, but the moors are infamous for brooding skies and changeable conditions. 

Locals are used to carrying a waterproof jacket at all times and keeping spare shoes in the car. 

It’s part of daily life!

You’ll start measuring distance in time

Locals rarely talk about journeys in miles. Winding lanes, tractors, and single-track roads mean a 10-mile drive can easily take 30 minutes or more. 

Travel times also vary by season. A route that takes half an hour in winter might double in peak summer traffic. 

So expect for journeys to take a varying amount of time!

Wherever you move to in the South West, you’ll love it once you’re used to these curiosities! It’s a welcoming and beautiful place – and being a stone’s throw from the coast is always glorious!