Location advice - Cornwall

Murphybear

brixham wrote: »

On a recent walk around Polperro I noticed a HUGE amount of signs indicating properties were holiday lets. I think I would want to check an area out for that because as pretty as some villages are, if half the housing is holiday stock I would question the "community feel".
What would it be like in the middle of January ?

Fairly quiet but still a few visitors around. It is very crowded in the summer and you can't drive into the village, there is a big car park on the outskirts.

Murphybear

Davesnave wrote: »

I live in Mid-Devon too (South Molton, Crediton, Okehampton triangle) and the tourists scarcely register with me at all.

Although our village is about 50:50 locals/incomers, there isn't much 'them and us.' I still view it as the Proper Devon of my youth, despite all the estuary English.

But the OP wants beaches, and even with a good imagination + a pint or two, I can't see the spring tides from here!

Definitely no beaches:D. I love South Molton, lovely pannier market and one of our favourite tea shops that makes the best cheese scones ever. Still not touristy though;)

fairy_lights

Murphybear wrote: »

Definitely no beaches:D. I love South Molton, lovely pannier market and one of our favourite tea shops that makes the best cheese scones ever. Still not touristy though;)

There's a sweet shop in South Molton that does the best fudge ever. It's worth moving there for that alone.

catshark88

Have a look at Bude (near the Devon border). It's a nice little town and the beaches are fab. Houses are inexpensive (relative to rest of Cornwall) and there is lots of variety in the housing stock.

It's not too remote, but isn't as touristy as some places further south or west.

Muttleythefrog

catshark88 wrote: »

Have a look at Bude (near the Devon border). It's a nice little town and the beaches are fab. Houses are inexpensive (relative to rest of Cornwall) and there is lots of variety in the housing stock.

It's not too remote, but isn't as touristy as some places further south or west.

Looks lovely.. I think the only issue really connectivity... looks like it'd be via Exeter and then bus. But circumstances can change for us that could make it more viable. Cheers!

GaleSF63

fairy_lights wrote: »

There's a sweet shop in South Molton that does the best fudge ever. It's worth moving there for that alone.

I wish I hadn't read this. I've now added fudge to the online grocery order I'm preparing!

Murphybear

fairy_lights wrote: »

There's a sweet shop in South Molton that does the best fudge ever. It's worth moving there for that alone.

Unfortunately as a diabetic fudge is off the menu:(

Murphybear

catshark88 wrote: »

Have a look at Bude (near the Devon border). It's a nice little town and the beaches are fab. Houses are inexpensive (relative to rest of Cornwall) and there is lots of variety in the housing stock.

It's not too remote, but isn't as touristy as some places further south or west.

I concur. It is accessible as it is on the main road going along the north coast of Devon and Cornwall, known as the Atlantic Highway (aka A39). But beware it is single carriageway for long stretches and in the summer on a Saturday avoid like the plague as you will be stuck in traffic.:(

Ps not trying to put anyone off, just pointing out the pitfalls, we are thinking of moving to that part of the world:D

Davesnave

Bude has the holy trinity of Sainsburys, Morrisons & Lidl, with a Co-op too for those who want to be effical. Down the road at Holsworthy there's a Waitrose for the nobs + a weekly market. I think Bude has a Farmers' Market too.

So, quite well-connected for a place in the sticks....if you have a car, that is.

sacha28

I love these kind of threads something I can actually comment on because I have experience!!

I am what would be considered a South West mongrel...born in Bristol and have moved West at various stages in my life, finally settling 6 miles outside of Truro (moved here 3 years ago from Torquay). I am lucky (don't know if I can say that hand on heart atm) to be an NHS worker so a job wasn't an issue.

Cornwall is absolutely amazing BUT you have to be prepared to travel!!! Public transport is practically non-existent after 7pm, traffic is horrendous from Easter holidays onwards (during winter I can get from my house to work in 12 minutes, Wednesday it took me 45 minutes) and you may be on a train line but check the train times....sometimes there's only 2/3 trains a day out of the station.

I would not consider Bude. The nearest hspital, North Devon District, is about to close it's doors to A&E and maternity services (this is yet to be announced publicly, they have been ordered to keep quiet until June 16th.....I wonder what's happening before that??) meaning your nearest A&E will be in Exeter.....imagine having to travel 60 miles in the midst of a heart attack or having broken your leg or something, and then having to make your own way home because you don't meet their criteria for patient transport.

You want beaches? In Cornwall you've got them!! You are never more than 15/20 minutes from a beach, no matter where you live

Becoming intergrated is a struggle that's real. I'm 3 years in and only just feeling accepted. Having a social life is sometimes impossible due to the geographics of Cornwall. You face either a very expensive taxi ride home, an expensive night in a hotel or not drinking and driving home (I know not everyone drinks or cares but I felt it was important to point it out). Cornish people are suspicious of incomers and I swear to God they have a secret initiation process you have to go through until you are finally accepted :rotfl: but once you have made it through they are the friendliest and most loyal friends you could hope for!

One last thing, I would strongly suggest coming down as much as you can to scope out different areas. We live in an area that we hadn't considered. TBH we have fallen on our feet and wouldn't change it for the world and have come to realise that our chosen area really wasn't for us, our house was an accidental find and we moved here in desperation as we only had 2 weeks before my new job began with the intention of moving in 6 months to our chosen area. We spent many weeks travelling around...thank God for The Sun's £9.50 holidays :rotfl:

As for broadband....well...we don't have fibre optic (I think that's what it's called?) but have to make do with a copper line (does that sound right?). This is the case for most of Cornwall, broadband services are not very good unless you are more 'central' in a big town or Truro. We only have a choice of 2 providers...BT or Sky. Bear that in mind.

Sorry that was so long but good luck!