Places to live in East Devon, Dorset or Somerset?
Discussion
I grew up in East Devon, so I feel a bit embarrassed asking this question, but...
Now we've got a young family, Mrs JackRatt and I are thinking about moving back to the Westcountry. My parents are near Axminster and we'd want to be within about half an hour of them ideally.
Where would you recommend in that area for a young family? I know broadly what most of the towns are like, but I remember them as a 17 year old trying to sneak into the clubs, not as a 30-something homeowner!
We're looking for somewhere at least semi-rural, but with a bit of life. My wife's a self-employed music teacher, so she needs somewhere with a couple of good schools in the area and preferably a ready supply of yummy mummies looking to book their offspring in for private lessons. A decent local primary school within walking distance would be a massive plus for our son too.
Taunton or one of the surrounding villages struck me as a good option, but I'm not sure we could afford the nice bits. Likewise Crewkerne (I know all about that one - I went to school at Wadham!) There seem to be quite a few houses that tick our various boxes around Axmouth, Colyton and Seaton too.
Now we've got a young family, Mrs JackRatt and I are thinking about moving back to the Westcountry. My parents are near Axminster and we'd want to be within about half an hour of them ideally.
Where would you recommend in that area for a young family? I know broadly what most of the towns are like, but I remember them as a 17 year old trying to sneak into the clubs, not as a 30-something homeowner!
We're looking for somewhere at least semi-rural, but with a bit of life. My wife's a self-employed music teacher, so she needs somewhere with a couple of good schools in the area and preferably a ready supply of yummy mummies looking to book their offspring in for private lessons. A decent local primary school within walking distance would be a massive plus for our son too.
Taunton or one of the surrounding villages struck me as a good option, but I'm not sure we could afford the nice bits. Likewise Crewkerne (I know all about that one - I went to school at Wadham!) There seem to be quite a few houses that tick our various boxes around Axmouth, Colyton and Seaton too.
South Petherton is a lovely rural village about 5 miles North from Crewkerne, close to the A303 for commuter access and in the catchment area for Stanchester academy secondary school for the piano lessons etc. An excellent Primary school with a few nurseries to choose from.
P.S. I don't live there, but its my nearest local village from where we are. Somerset has some stunning quintessentially English villages and prices are still quite sensible at present.
P.S. I don't live there, but its my nearest local village from where we are. Somerset has some stunning quintessentially English villages and prices are still quite sensible at present.
Thanks gents.
Also noticed the area to the north of Honiton - around Smeatharpe, Dunkeswell, Uppottery etc seems to be quite good value.
Take your point on Dorset, although we've seen a couple of places online around Beaminster that looked promising (we're not actively looking to buy just yet, but trying to get an idea of the market).
Also noticed the area to the north of Honiton - around Smeatharpe, Dunkeswell, Uppottery etc seems to be quite good value.
Take your point on Dorset, although we've seen a couple of places online around Beaminster that looked promising (we're not actively looking to buy just yet, but trying to get an idea of the market).
I live in Seaton which overall isn't a bad place but it depends on your expectations. House prices are sensible compared to neighbouring Lyme Regis and Sidmouth. The one advantage for your wife maybe is that Colyton Grammar School is here which has the children and parents that would use her services for extra music lessons. Seaton town itself isn't the greatest but there has been money spent recently and there seems to be a real effort made to stop it turning into another seaside retirement town. I rarely go out but have noticed events, gigs etc going on in the town which seem to be well attended and good fun. It not a busy town by any means and is hardly packed out in Summer which isn't a bad thing.
The primary school is good ( my son attends) and a few families I know who have moved here were pleased to get their children accepted there.
Lyme Regis next door always has lots going on but house prices are crazy! You mentioned Duckerswell, I have always considered it a place that can only be described as 'grey and foggy'!!
The primary school is good ( my son attends) and a few families I know who have moved here were pleased to get their children accepted there.
Lyme Regis next door always has lots going on but house prices are crazy! You mentioned Duckerswell, I have always considered it a place that can only be described as 'grey and foggy'!!
JackRatt said:
Thanks gents.
Also noticed the area to the north of Honiton - around Smeatharpe, Dunkeswell, Uppottery etc seems to be quite good value.
Take your point on Dorset, although we've seen a couple of places online around Beaminster that looked promising (we're not actively looking to buy just yet, but trying to get an idea of the market).
Dunks etc are cheap because they are the arse end of nowhere. Some nice places around there but access is a pig. Also noticed the area to the north of Honiton - around Smeatharpe, Dunkeswell, Uppottery etc seems to be quite good value.
Take your point on Dorset, although we've seen a couple of places online around Beaminster that looked promising (we're not actively looking to buy just yet, but trying to get an idea of the market).
Upottery not bad as close to A30, Honiton was my home town, has grown a lot in recent years but still nothing there to do.
We moved to a little village about a mile or two out of Tiverton.
Just the right distance, IMHO, for school runs/Shopping but far enough out to be rural.
Has Blundells school and plenty of Mummies looking for music lessons.
We looked at places right out in the sticks - 5 miles plus out of Tiv/Taunton and am bloody glad we didnt go for those, commuting on country lanes is not great for the wallet or the clock.
Quickly found that the 730BHP V10 RS6 was a little overkill, now got myself a Defender.
I would stay well away from J27 of the M5 though, big plans for development...
Just the right distance, IMHO, for school runs/Shopping but far enough out to be rural.
Has Blundells school and plenty of Mummies looking for music lessons.
We looked at places right out in the sticks - 5 miles plus out of Tiv/Taunton and am bloody glad we didnt go for those, commuting on country lanes is not great for the wallet or the clock.
Quickly found that the 730BHP V10 RS6 was a little overkill, now got myself a Defender.
I would stay well away from J27 of the M5 though, big plans for development...
rcc2003 said:
I live in Seaton which overall isn't a bad place but it depends on your expectations.
I actually lived in Seaton briefly as a kid and I used to sail at Axmouth (my dad still does). Have heard there's quite a lot of development going on. oilydan said:
We moved to a little village about a mile or two out of Tiverton.
Just the right distance, IMHO, for school runs/Shopping but far enough out to be rural.
I think Tiverton might be a little bit too far west. We want to be close enough to my parents (near Axminster) to call upon them for babysitting. The villages around Chard and Ilminster seem like a good option, though. When I was at school Chard itself had a reputation for being a bit chavvy, but I gather it's quite posh now?Just the right distance, IMHO, for school runs/Shopping but far enough out to be rural.
JackRatt said:
I think Tiverton might be a little bit too far west. We want to be close enough to my parents (near Axminster) to call upon them for babysitting. The villages around Chard and Ilminster seem like a good option, though. When I was at school Chard itself had a reputation for being a bit chavvy, but I gather it's quite posh now?
Lol, I think Chard & Tiverton have similar reputations to be fair.o/p - which bits of Taunton have you looked at?
What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
If your budgets not massive have a look at cotford saint luke, not far from taunton .
It's built on a old asylum however where ever you live in the village , a 10 minute walk and your in fields and there are lots of green open spaces in the village.
If your budgets higher this place is also nice http://www.strongvox.co.uk/sandhill-park/
What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
If your budgets not massive have a look at cotford saint luke, not far from taunton .
It's built on a old asylum however where ever you live in the village , a 10 minute walk and your in fields and there are lots of green open spaces in the village.
If your budgets higher this place is also nice http://www.strongvox.co.uk/sandhill-park/
One of the things you need to consider if moving with small children to a village is there proximity to school friends when out of school, yes you can run the kids taxi but our kids traveled 16 miles to school in each direction and if their best friend is the same distance the other side it is a big hike.. Do not consider Cottford if keeping the TVR as it is the home of the speed bump. Where are you going to be working.
egor110 said:
o/p - which bits of Taunton have you looked at?
What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
Good question. I know some bits of Taunton are nicer than others (there used to be a really good mountain bike shop - that and Dellers were the only places in Taunton I've really visited!) so very much open to suggestion.What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
Our budget is likely to be circa £300k depending on what we can get for our current place. For that we need at least one detached wall, due to my wife's students honking and squeaking at all hours (so could be anything from end terrace upwards), three bedrooms, a garage and a decent garden. I say that... technically, we only actually need two good size bedrooms plus some office space. Downstairs 'reception rooms' would work just as well. An older house with a bit of character would be a bonus.
Dixy said:
Where are you going to be working.
From home. All I need is a half decent broadband connection and I'm good. My wife will probably want to drive out to schools and individual students. The TVR will probably realistically have to go anyway.
ETA Are there any places to avoid due to flooding? I guess it's only really the Levels...
Edited by JackRatt on Friday 25th March 10:29
JackRatt said:
egor110 said:
o/p - which bits of Taunton have you looked at?
What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
Good question. I know some bits of Taunton are nicer than others (there used to be a really good mountain bike shop - that and Dellers were the only places in Taunton I've really visited!) so very much open to suggestion.What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
Our budget is likely to be circa £300k depending on what we can get for our current place. For that we need at least one detached wall, due to my wife's students honking and squeaking at all hours (so could be anything from end terrace upwards), three bedrooms, a garage and a decent garden. I say that... technically, we only actually need two good size bedrooms plus some office space. Downstairs 'reception rooms' would work just as well. An older house with a bit of character would be a bonus.
Dixy said:
Where are you going to be working.
From home. All I need is a half decent broadband connection and I'm good. My wife will probably want to drive out to schools and individual students. The TVR will probably realistically have to go anyway.
ETA Are there any places to avoid due to flooding? I guess it's only really the Levels...
Edited by JackRatt on Friday 25th March 10:29
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
or try looking around nether stowey , it's pretty much the opposite side of the quantock hills.
The areas in Taunton you want to be looking at are parkfield or killams although this place in staplegrove looks fine and it near to Taunton school http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
egor110 said:
JackRatt said:
egor110 said:
o/p - which bits of Taunton have you looked at?
What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
Good question. I know some bits of Taunton are nicer than others (there used to be a really good mountain bike shop - that and Dellers were the only places in Taunton I've really visited!) so very much open to suggestion.What's your budget and what sort of house are you looking at 3/4/5 bed , semi or detached?
Our budget is likely to be circa £300k depending on what we can get for our current place. For that we need at least one detached wall, due to my wife's students honking and squeaking at all hours (so could be anything from end terrace upwards), three bedrooms, a garage and a decent garden. I say that... technically, we only actually need two good size bedrooms plus some office space. Downstairs 'reception rooms' would work just as well. An older house with a bit of character would be a bonus.
Dixy said:
Where are you going to be working.
From home. All I need is a half decent broadband connection and I'm good. My wife will probably want to drive out to schools and individual students. The TVR will probably realistically have to go anyway.
ETA Are there any places to avoid due to flooding? I guess it's only really the Levels...
Edited by JackRatt on Friday 25th March 10:29
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
or try looking around nether stowey , it's pretty much the opposite side of the quantock hills.
The areas in Taunton you want to be looking at are parkfield or killams although this place in staplegrove looks fine and it near to Taunton school http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
Taunton struck me as somewhere that might have a nice balance of amenities, potential students for Mrs JackRatt and access to the countryside, but it is getting towards the edge of our 'babysitting radius'.
'with a bit of life' ... that's always gonna be tricky in the Elephant's Graveyard that is East Devon. God's Waiting Room etc etc. I'd be more inclined to look at the South Devon area i.e. the other side of Haldon Hill. Plenty of Urban amenities in Newton Abbot or Plymouth, plenty of artycrafty places round Totnes & Dartington, towns like Falmouth have been reinvigorated by the fact that Exeter University moved all its arty courses like Music and so forth out there (to Exeter's loss, I might add) so there's a surprising amount of culture.
Otherwise I think that SW Dorset is probably a bit (not much though) more happening than East Devon.
Otherwise I think that SW Dorset is probably a bit (not much though) more happening than East Devon.
vsonix said:
'with a bit of life' ... that's always gonna be tricky in the Elephant's Graveyard that is East Devon. God's Waiting Room etc etc. I'd be more inclined to look at the South Devon area i.e. the other side of Haldon Hill. Plenty of Urban amenities in Newton Abbot or Plymouth, plenty of artycrafty places round Totnes & Dartington, towns like Falmouth have been reinvigorated by the fact that Exeter University moved all its arty courses like Music and so forth out there (to Exeter's loss, I might add) so there's a surprising amount of culture.
Otherwise I think that SW Dorset is probably a bit (not much though) more happening than East Devon.
True, but we're not after high society, just a few other youngish people and the odd pub or restaurant. Otherwise I think that SW Dorset is probably a bit (not much though) more happening than East Devon.
We stuck near a major town on our last move and found we just don't have the time for big nights out now we've got a toddler in tow. The only time we manage to escape is when we can drop him off with his grandparents ... which is why proximity to Axminster (Dalwood, technically) would be helpful.
I live in the Street/Glastonbury area, while nice, the summertime traffic on the A39 kills it. If I were to move anywhere the only place I would look is Sherborne. Easily the nicest village that I have ever been to in the Somerset/Dorset area (we stayed there in a cottage while looking for our home). Wells is also nice, and is pretty close to Bristol.
fivepointnine said:
I live in the Street/Glastonbury area, while nice, the summertime traffic on the A39 kills it. If I were to move anywhere the only place I would look is Sherborne. Easily the nicest village that I have ever been to in the Somerset/Dorset area (we stayed there in a cottage while looking for our home). Wells is also nice, and is pretty close to Bristol.
Yeah, traffic is a concern.That said the alternatives are staying near London where it's busy all the time or moving up towards my wife's parents in North Yorkshire where you'd have a similar issue in the summer.
Quite tempted by Seaton/Colyton area. I know Seaton is not as picturesque or as Bohemian as somewhere like Lyme, but it's supposed to be on the up currently, plus it's big enough and affordable enough to have other young families not just wealthy retirees. Heading down for a look next week with a large list of areas to investigate.
Edited by JackRatt on Saturday 26th March 13:02
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