Originally Posted by workhouse

Congrats! Dawlish is lovely, nice golf course there too!

We spent a couple of weeks in last June scouting out Devon and Cornwall for our planned return later this month. We flew from Toronto straight into Exeter on Air Transat which was a real bonus, headed to Looe and worked our way westward along the south coast to Truro, north to coast and all the way along to Somerset and then south to the east Devon coast. We did 1500 miles in the two weeks - a lot of driving considering much of it was on A & B roads.

We thought where Cornwall edged it in terms of tranquility and its picturesque beauty - Fowey, St Mawes and Boscastle in particular and Truro is a perfect sized city, very nice feel about it and some beautiful architecture, Devon had more livable year-round communities and better access to transport links. We liked the Jurassic coastal area from Budleigh to Lyme Regis, though the lack of a direct train line might have us favouring Honiton or Axminster.

We've a Colyford holiday rental booked for 4 weeks in late January while we seek out an unfurnished place for a 12 month rental

Originally Posted by workhouse

We'll want the longer term rental in a specific area, far more likely to be an unfurnished rental, particularly with us needing pet space. We had no heirlooms nor assisted relocation! so all furniture was sold in Toronto, shipped 24 largish boxes with personal stuff such as clothes and the like which I guess is somewhere between mid-Atlantic and Liverpool.

Had the most fab expat 20 years: Germany/Munich, Canada/Toronto, US/San Fran and Canada/Toronto. We got the pull to return for something longer than a visit during a trip to the Lakes in 2009 and prior to that point had not much thought about going back. Our trip to the south west last summer just reinforced that urge

Originally Posted by workhouse

We'll want the longer term rental in a specific area, far more likely to be an unfurnished rental, particularly with us needing pet space. We had no heirlooms nor assisted relocation! so all furniture was sold in Toronto, shipped 24 largish boxes with personal stuff such as clothes and the like which I guess is somewhere between mid-Atlantic and Liverpool.

Had the most fab expat 20 years: Germany/Munich, Canada/Toronto, US/San Fran and Canada/Toronto. We got the pull to return for something longer than a visit during a trip to the Lakes in 2009 and prior to that point had not much thought about going back. Our trip to the south west last summer just reinforced that urge

Originally Posted by Bevm

So perhaps our wanderings are over. We meant to settle on the south Devon coast, but when we came back from Canada we were tempted by the lovely north and rented in Whitby. Lovely place but too cold and harsh for us.

So we rented down here in Dawlish, and a house just turned up nearby. Lovely sea view, stuck in the late '70s so it needs work, but priced accordingly. And as we're renting we don't have to live in the middle of the unheaval!

We don't think property is a growth investment any more, and reckon prices could well go down, but this will be our home for quite a while, we hope.

Bev

Originally Posted by sallysimmons

Do those of you moving to Devon have friends or family there?

That would be my chosen spot if I had absolute freedom, but all our friends and family are in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland, so it just doesn't seem to make sense. I still toy with it though and am very envious.

Originally Posted by SomersetGirl

Perhaps the secret is to live within walking distance of the daily necessities and driving distance of somewhere bigger to shop.

Originally Posted by HighTide

We are almost neighbours. My partner and I have just relocated to Devon from Canada after 37 years there. Presently in Teignmouth but are in the process of buying a house in Brixham. Looked at a property in Dawlish also where I have quite a few relatives. Good luck with the house.

Originally Posted by Mallory

Congrats David on finding a property. Spent several holidays in Brixham when I was a child. My dad loved to go down and watch the catch come in! I can remember watching the fisherman throwing the fish in different containers, and all the seagulls screaming around waiting for scraps!

Also, congrats to Bev on the house in Dawlish. I've spent loads of summers all along the south coast, and the train used to go through all of those places. Teignmouth, Paignton, Dawlish, etc.

Originally Posted by Bevm

Denise, that works for us. Dawlish and Teignmouth have plenty for day to day shopping, and we can walk into Dawlish. It's pretty easy to find a house there in walking distance. In fact, if you're a walker, everywhere is!

Then Exeter and Newton Abbot for bigger things.

Bev

Originally Posted by HighTide

Anxiously waiting for the surveyor's report now of which we should receive the verbal report this evening followed by a more in depth written report in a couple of days. Hoping it is good so we can move along with the process and exchange contracts. Really want to get settled again.