Devon

The County

When you’re a property buyer seeking rural retreats, coastal havens, or family homes in charming market towns, Devon is highly recommended as a property search location.  Our independent buying agents cater for all property buyer tastes, from traditional cottages to new build luxury apartments.

Your Recoco property finder can locate Devon accommodation from the English Channel in the south to the Bristol Channel in the north. Borders are shared with Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset. Boutique buying agents can introduce Devon’s green landscapes, unspoiled moorland, beautiful coastline, and rural lifestyle - even in county town Exeter, often called the “City in the Country”, as our property buying agent can confirm.

The county’s total population is about 1.1 million – ask your real estate buyers agent for latest figures. (Plymouth and Torbay are unitary authorities - ask the Recoco buying agent for details.)  

Ask your property search company about mid-sized towns Barnstaple and Paignton, or smaller settlements like Totnes, Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, and Dartmouth. Property buyer who loves the sea? Your Recoco property finder may suggest bustling Exmouth, genteel Georgian Sidmouth, or charmingly-named Beer.

In North Devon, ask your independent buying agents for a Barnstaple, Bideford, Great Torrington, or Ilfracombe property search. Love it when the surf’s up? Ask your real estate buyers agent about the surfing, which is especially popular around Croyde. Your property search company may also mention smaller Woolacombe, Westward Ho!, Saunton, or Croyde. Oh, and if Wi-Fi is important, check with your Recoco property finder about signals.  

History

The word Devon probably comes from the region’s old name Dumnonia, part of which fell under the Kingdom of Wessex in the 8th and 9th centuries. There is evidence of pre-Roman settlement, and our property buying agent can highlight recent Roman discoveries near Exeter Cathedral.

Tin, wool, and seafaring all influenced the landscape. Our property buying agent can show you Dartmoor’s fiercely independent tin mining (stannary) towns, or ask our boutique buying agents about properties steeped in history.

Travel

If your Devon property search involves road travel, check for congestion, especially in high season. Your property search company can confirm the M5 motorway ends at Exeter, with fewer dual carriageways further south.

Your independent buying agents can confirm locations with direct train services to London Paddington, Waterloo, Plymouth, or Penzance. For destinations south of Exeter, ask your buyers agents about the main coastal train route, sometimes affected due to track location. Your Recoco buying agent can supply more details. 

The only passenger airport is Exeter, with some international charter flights. Bus companies serve the region, although less frequently in more remote areas.  

Leisure and Events

Plymouth has some larger scale music and theatrical venues; your Recoco buying agent can outline other options like the internationally famous Sidmouth Folk Festival. Traditional festivals range from Wassail in January to Ottery St. Mary’s flaming tar barrels display in November. Enjoy a little history? Ask your buyers agents about Torquay’s prehistoric Kents Cavern.

Our boutique buying agents will confirm Devon is ideal for outdoor pursuits. Exmoor and Dartmoor are both designated national parks while West Devon and the Jurassic Coast have designated World Heritage sites.

Sports fan? Your real estate buyers agent can describe Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, and Torquay United Football Clubs, or non-league clubs Bideford and Tiverton. Exeter Chiefs play in the Aviva Rugby Union Premiership; there are five rugby league teams. Cricket, hockey, motorcycle speedway, horse racing, surfing, and cycling are other options. Horse-riding, walking, and water sports including surfing all remain popular. 

Foodies’ Corner

Devon’s mild climate and well-managed agriculture mean first rate food quality, flavour, and freshness. Call in to one of the excellent farm shops, or enjoy a sea view at one of many charming, quirky or upmarket restaurants. Many local inns also have first rate menus – boutique hotels like Endsleigh offer delicious local fare in a bucolic setting. Or sample the wares of friendly, independent enterprises like Alder Vineyard.

Education

Buyers agents will happily help identify excellent local state schools (although few have six forms) and independent schools (all have sixth forms). Several University colleges and local tertiary colleges have strong academic reputations, including the medical schools.  

Celebrity Connections

Devon writers include “Queen of crime” Agatha Christie, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Ted Hughes. Seafarers Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Chichester, and Sir Walter Raleigh, painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, and political figures Nancy Astor and Michael Foot also have connections.

Singers Chris Martin and Joss Stone grew up here; sports celebrities include swimmer Sharron Davies and diver Tom Daley.

Fun Fact

Devon was the first place in modern-day Britain to commercially cultivate olives.