Insider’s Guide to Devon

What makes Devon so special?
Devon has the best of everything – stunning countryside and coastal landscapes, including five designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, two National Parks and a variety of vibrant market towns. Exeter, where our Devon office is based, is a beautiful city with a wonderfully close-knit community, but the key thing is its location. Within half an hour, you can be on the beach or at the top of Dartmoor.

Who lives here?
Devon’s appeal is as diverse as its landscape. It is popular with downsizers, thanks to its excellent cultural scene, great pubs and restaurants, while young families are attracted by its well-regarded schools. In Exeter, these include the Maynard School, Exeter School and, for the musically talented, Exeter Cathedral School, which is where Coldplay’s Chris Martin was educated. In the wider county, Blundell’s School, Mount Kelly and Kingsley School are also popular.

We have seen more entrepreneurial buyers in recent years seeking opportunities to live and innovate in the area. We also regularly work with multigenerational families looking to set up home in the county.

What kind of properties can you find?
In Exeter, you’ve got a real variety, from Georgian crescents to Victorian townhouses and Edwardian terraces. And the city’s popular residential areas are peppered with unique new-build homes.

For something wilder, clients are drawn to the picturesque villages of Dartmoor and Exmoor, with their thatched cottages. The winter out there can be tough but that appeals to hardy country types.

To what degree does life revolve around the water?
The water has huge appeal for lots of people, and there are so many ways to enjoy it. You can walk the Jurassic Coast, starting in Sidmouth or Budleigh Salterton; ride the waves on one of Devon’s internationally renowned surfing beaches, including Woolacombe, Croyde and Putsborough; or sail the waters of the Dart and Exe.

Which are your favourite bars and restaurants?
In Exeter, there’s a little wine bar called Rendezvous, on Southernhay, that’s perfect for a midweek lunch. Then there’s a fabulous restaurant a stone’s throw from the water in Topsham: the Galley. It does incredible seafood, with a keen focus on locally sourced fish. Tucked away in the pretty village of Knowstone, on the edge of Exmoor, is the Masons Arms. It’s a thatched 13th-century inn with a wonderful restaurant, the owners of which cherish their Michelin star.

What about culture?
Exeter is a cultural hub. The cathedral hosts wonderful musical events, while the Royal Albert Memorial Museum has lots of local history, particularly on the Romans, whose influence on the city is immense. The medieval Underground Passages are fascinating too.

The wider county is bursting at the seams with galleries and exhibitions, featuring local, national and international artists. Its festival scene – which includes Beautiful Days at Escot Park near Ottery St Mary, Sidmouth Folk Festival, and the Two Moors Festival of classical music between Dartmoor and Exmoor – is a great reflection of Devon’s diversity.

Portfolio recommends…
Gandy Street, in the historic centre of Exeter, is worth a visit – especially for a hot chocolate at Chococo. The Quayside Distillery serves innovative cocktails and you can even make your own gin there. The Pig at Combe is an exceptional country-house hotel and restaurant. And at Lympstone Manor, on the Exe estuary, big-name chef Michael Caines has devised an eight-course tasting menu for the ages.

CHRIS CLIFFORD, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT,
RESIDENTIAL SALES, SAVILLS EXETER
CClifford@savills.com +44 (0) 1392 455 743

Pictures from top: Chris Clifford; the colours of Exmoor; Mill Bay Beach in Salcombe; Exeter Cathedral (Alamy); and Lympstone Manor