South Devon living Dilemma

as someone trying to downsize.

My family lived/live in this area of Devon. My parents were in several locations around South Brent, Ivybridge and Ashburton. And my sister still lives there out in the wilds of the moor.

Exmouth was my parents' home - they moved there just after I left 6th form for university; and I knew the area well, before that as my Grandmother lived in Lympstone and we spent all our holidays there as children.

The downside of these lovely places is the A38 - the huge dual carriageway that cuts the county in two, right by the places you are considering. When I used to be driven down there in my teenage brother's open top car, the road was fairly quiet and tolerable. Now it is a dangerous nightmare in my book; and a huge inconvenience to locals, some of whom need to join it, leave it at the next junction, cross it over a bridge, and rejoin to go back the other way to get to their local shops. I hate that road! There are some seriously dangerous entry and exit points and places where you can turn into a garage, but leaving it is in a hazardous place and there have been several accidents.

I would not live down there simply because of this dangerous road that cuts like a knife through the lovely countryside, and can be heard as a distant hum wherever you are - it used to be such a quiet place.

Luckygirl is right about the A38 having loads of accidents. The traffic jams are often on the news.
Atqui is right about the prices going up and properties being snapped up. Our son is looking for a house in Devon. His theory is there will be a lot of fall through sales coming on in the new year because when buyers get their mortgage valuations done now there is quite a discrepancy and they can't then get the loan they wanted.

Thank you everyone for your really helpful comments. I hadn't thought of some of the issues raised which I am very grateful for. I sense a few Airbnb trips in 2021 to explore more!

We lived near Tavistock many years ago. I found the winters awful! The mist used to roll in in the early afternoon and the rainfall got me down and I’m an upbeat person! We moved in to Plymouth and the change in weather was huge. We now live in the North East which suits me better. Lot less in way of rain that is for sure. It did get so so busy during the height of summer but rest of year was great. Good hunting.

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Good luck! This awaits you.

I shouldn't read this thread.

Do Not Look at This Thread!

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Ellianne

Good luck! This awaits you.

Also....

Thank you Ellianne and Ashcombe!

I lived in Tavistock as a child and it doesn't feature on my list. My heart is set in the South and South/East. I can't wait for lockdown to end so I can resume my explorations!

Crikey! That last photo looks like South of France Ashcombe!

Is the rainfall in South Brent as notoriously high as is reported?!