[Closed] People of Devon and Somerset, advice please

Taunton. Fits all your criteria

somewhere near taunton, but not bridgwater.

given the current situation i'd just move to the highest ground you can find...

(Taunton. Exeter if you can handle the 'big' city).

It's a pretty big area. Can you be more specific?

Why do you need easy access to the M5 presumable to travel up the M5 on a regualr basis. I travel up the M5 with work most weeks but if I had to do it daily I would want to live closer to Bristol than Exeter.

Do NOT go to Bridgwater. You have been warned.
I wouldn't live in WSM either. Taunton is pretty good, otherwise just go to Bristol.

Taunton, or any of the surrounding villages. Dont go to Bridgwater, W-S-M, or Burnham!

Exeter: Haldon, N. Dartmoor
Taunton: Quantocks, Exmoor
Weston: Mendips
Bristol: Avon valley trails, Mendips, FOD, Cwm Carn

Bristol is definitely the best place for you, Devon is crap. Especially Exeter.

Actually, toys isn't wrong. Exeter is pretty crap.

I live in Exeter...................yes it's crap 🙁

see told ya. sucks balls.

Exeter is crap to live in, very few nice places and when you find a nice place, be prepared to pay through the nose on rent/mortgage etc. There are some good people here though and the ridings not to bad.
Dartmoor,haldon and Woodbury less than half hours drive away.
Also, lock your bike up good and proper, scummy little ****s in exeter love to nick em.

Kona dawg primo and Gary fisher hifi deluxe both stolen less than 4 weeks apart. 👿

FWIW we lived in Dulverton for a few years and loved it, a great wee village. Not as close to m5 as you would like though

Clevedon - right on M5, 20mins from Bristol, pretty decent local riding plus Mendips, Ashton Court, CwmCarn all within 30mins, plus Quantocks,Exmoor, Dartmoor, & Afan within 1 1/2 hours.
Few decent pubs, restaurants, cinema and even a night club if that way inclined. Good schools if important.
No bike club but good LBS who does regular rides, plus plenty of locals willing to hook up (Thurs 6.30 at All Saints Church/Old Inn from about 9.00).

Plus its not Weston Super Mare! Or Bridgwater.

I can see Exeter being crap if you want loads of bars/clubs/theatres/museums but otherwise it's ace - I say this having done the London thing for years and decided South Devon is better than South London to raise a family. If you think parts of Exeter are rough you've not experienced much.

As with most things, it all depends what you're looking for.

The nice bit between WSM & Bristol = Nailsea, Clevedon, Portishead.

I lived in Weston for quite a while, I really liked it. Should have taken the permanent job there really.

Nightmareish in summer on the front though when the hordes descend.

Devon's beautiful and loads of fun.. you've got to have a serious lack of imagination to think otherwise..

I'd pick Exmouth or Exeter if I was you.. good musical/creative/pub scene that's not too hard to find if you put your nose to the ground..

Exmouth's a bit murdery at the moment though but it adds to the charm IMO.. 😕

I'm a Londoner born and bred, I moved to exeter 6 years ago, I have experienced rough places, Exeter is not rough. It's stupidly overpriced.

I'm Exeter born and bred, I have experienced rough places, and i've experienced the rough places of Exeter.. Exeter is definitely not rough..
It's very very nice..

a bit murdery

Lovely phrase there 🙂

And sellisnba, you're right about the over pricing but it's the cost of being down here I guess.

Taunton sounds like the place you want, or somwhere just outside it and closer to the Quantocks Kington St Mary (nice but pricey), Cotford St Luke (cheap, if you like living in a shoe box) Bishops Lydeard (just right) 🙂

I grew up in Taunton. It's perfect. I'd happily move back there anytime.

Well I was joking about Exeter, it was supposed to be an insular yokel comment. It's a bloody excellent place. If it wasn't I certainly would not be here.

Dartmoor,haldon and Woodbury less than half hours drive away.

Haldon and Woodbury are also only about 45mins ride away from Exeter city centre if you want riding straight from the door instead of having to drive.

and yeah, Exeter is ace, but we're full, no more newcomers allowed 🙂

Wrong about Clevedon having no bike club .Road based I will grant you but it has had a club for a long time

http://www.cdrc.cc/

See topic heading.

which part of devon or somerset is

Bristol Nailsea, Clevedon, Portishead

Lived in W-S-M for some time. People used to ask why I drank so much, until they visited. Hated that place. I understand it's had some cash spent on it, so may well be better now - it was certainly fun during big storms, and the views to Wales were pretty cool. But if it still dies out of season, then avoid at all costs.

Depends on where you're moving from - that would be a good reference point for us to work from. W-S-M would be a good call if moving from Barry or Croydon or......

+1 for Taunton. Plenty of good riding rather local. Close to the M5, has an okay night life, usual standard of chav peasants as with everywhere but kept under control by the local Commando unit based there.

Has a top notch school there also & if you look towards Norton Fitzwarren, its just outside of town but lovely housing around that area.

NO dont go to taunton, were already full up 😆

See topic heading.

which part of devon or somerset is

Bristol Nailsea, Clevedon, Portishead

?

WHAT? 🙄

N,C and P are Somerset (North). See a map.

Clevedon has a very active mountain bike club that runs out of Bike Style cycles.

clearly deluded.

google 'map of somerset' amd 'map of avon'

Ain't no such place as [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avon_(county) ]Avon[/url] now.

Another +1 for Taunton and -1 for Bridgwater.

Is OP going to reveal need for M5 proximity? Fair few miles 'twixt Brizzle and Exciter; I'd be keen to minimise my time amongst the grockle boxes and artics on such.

cheez0,

Like how you tied in my username, clever that 😀 🙄

As drlex has said Avon doesn't exist, and hasn't for about 15 years!

N,C & P are towns in the unitary authority of North Somerset, within the ceremonial county of Somerset ... so, I think that's Somerset!

yep Taunton area is not bad at all ( after 20 years in Swindon )

But avoid the Devon Villages cos you will always be an outsider large towns are ok

WSM sorry tis a toilet I work there occasionally tis not nice in the town centre

Important things are Quantocks, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Haldon and the mendips are not far away there is alot of superb riding in the area

WSM a toilet what a load of bull sure the oldmixon and bournville isnt the best and there are a few strange types wandering around but a toilet no

some of you guys must live a very sheltered/pampered life

getting back to the original post where abouts on the M5 do you need to be near most

Isn't Exeter full of kids just back from their gap yah? 😆

Serious answer now. There are many choices, most will be lovely apart from Bridgwater. Just avoid Bridgwater. I'm not the first to say it, so it must be true.

Exeter/Bridgewater-rough. 😯 😀

Bridgwater [i]is[/i] rough, no two ways about it.
I certainly haven't lived a sheltered life either. Probably been to more rough and dodgy places than most.

Has he been back on yet to clarify which sort of area he'd be happy with - i.e. Exeter/Taunton/WSM?

Bilgewater's pants, avoid for sure. At least it doesn't smell so bad these days tho'.

I don't think so...he hasn't gone to Bridgewater has he???

WSM is a toilet .Peasant watching near the pound shop is fun its full of grey washed out people.It was certainly an eye opener to my girlfriend who is used to the more gentile surroundings of Bath

Cheddar? Right on the Mendips, but possibly too small for you.

Cheddar is ok ,only about 15 mins to the M5 at Burnham

I grew up in Taunton. It's perfect. I'd happily move back there anytime.

I didn't know you'd grown up Richie, when did this happen? 😯

WSM is a toilet .Peasant watching near the pound shop is fun its full of grey washed out people.It was certainly an eye opener to my girlfriend who is used to the more gentile surroundings of Bath

the more gentile surroundings of Bath

Oh no! It's another religious thread!

But avoid the Devon Villages cos you will always be an outsider large towns are ok

exeter BTW. ace place.

Git xxx

....nobody has mentioned Tiverton yet.....

i grew up in yeovil and if i moved back i would live i taunton but i did enjoy yeovil

I'm loving the hate post about Weston.

I have been here for over 30 years and Weston certainly has it's less 'attractive' areas, but given all the newer housing in Worle, Locking, Wick St Lawrence, you could quite happily live here as long as I have, and never even see those areas.

As for the town centre... never go there myself, nor the sea front in the middle of the summer. Yes the town fills up with visitors in the summer, it is bound to happen as Weston is a sea side town!

I like Weston, as much as I 'like' any town. It is very convenient for the M5, there is an active club or two, riding in Worlebury and Hutton is on the doorstep and Bristol, or the Mendips are within half an hour, with the Blackdown Hills, Quantocks and Exmoor just a little further. The FoD is within striking distance too.

....nobody has mentioned Tiverton yet.....

As someone who grew up in Bridgwater I'm interested what people dislike about 'Bridgy' so much?

WSM is a bit of a Mecca for drug addicts, being home to quite a few rehab facilities.
Many drop out of rehab, relapse and stick around.

I went out on the lash down there a while back and got chatting to some locals. When they found out we were from Bristol, they looked astonished and asked "what are you doing here?". They had a point.

Taunton is nice, clevedon is ok too. Seaside without crowding.
Perhaps look around blagdon or chew magna?
Exeter is too south for me to live, but I do love dartmoor so not all bad, bit of kayaking/canoeing on the dart would be nice too. Bit studenty, CTCRM is around the corner so a few military around. Looked a little run down last time I was there though?

Exeter? Run down? We're getting a John Lewis don't you know!

moonsaballoon - i grew up in yeovil and if i moved back i would live i taunton but i did enjoy yeovil

Good on you for escaping, I moved here 10 years ago & still here! 🙁

Wrecker - you sure you don't mean exmouth?

I don't think W-s-M is any more a mecca for drug addicts than anywhere else. Go to the wrong part of anywhere and you will find drunks and druggies.

But avoid the Devon Villages cos you will always be an outsider

unless you are a narrow minded, surrey born, privately educated, middle class asshat of the first water - in which case i know a certain devon village where you'll fit right in.

the more gentile surroundings of Bath

Oh no! It's another religious thread!

I must remember to spell correctly when posting in haste(hangs head in shame)

I must remember to spell correctly when posting in haste(hangs head in shame)

....nobody has mentioned Tiverton yet.....

Tiverton makes Bridgwater look like a nice place to live 😆

I live just outside Taunton about 5 mins from the M5 which is handy as i work in Exeter. I'm spoilt for choice as i've got the Quantocks on my doorstep, if i chuck my bike in the car i can do Haldon after work, and Exmoor & Dartmoor are close too 8)

I live in cannington quantocks are 10 mins from my door and the m5 is only about 15 mins away. I don't get all the hate for bridgy. Its not great but not really any worse than anywhere else, plus it's got a very good bike shop who've dug me out of the shit on numerous occasions

Bridgewater gets most of it's grief because of the smell no..?
Traditionally, blind people driving along the M5 have used Bridgewater to navigate.. although I understand that the pong situation has improved slightly in recent years..

FWIW, I've an old friend who has at various times been a Junkie, a pikey's skivvy, resident at Wormwood Scrubs (amongst many other infamous jails), and has lived in a succession of public toilets in and around London..
he still rates living in Bridgewater as a low point in his life..

Good carnival though, the UKs answer to Rio de Janeiro IIRC..

The Cellophane factory responsible for the Bridgwater smell has been closed for the best part of 10 years now.

Edit: The factory closed in 2005.

Another vote for Clevedon here... lived there for 3 years and moved away about 18 months ago for work.

Wish I could go back 🙁

p.s. My address had 'Somerset' in it.

Good carnival though, the UKs answer to Rio de Janeiro IIRC..

From what I have seen Rio has prettier girls than the Somerset carnival circuit

Been looking for what seems like forever, would recommend not using staggs lettings!

Oh and hold off looking till I've found somewhere please! 🙂

Finally! Feel free toresume your search! Ifyou end up anywhere near Tiverton /south Molton area give me a shout!

Thanks for the help, now i'm pretty confused, i'll be working all over somerset, cornwall and devon so need easy access so being near the M5 seems a good idea. From what you guys have said it seems like Taunton or clevedon

I think the carnivals are an awesome spectacle and yet a virtual secret outside the county. My family visit especially for them now they know the secret and are really surprised they are not more widely appreciated. I suppose it being regional culture is considered uncouth or somat.

Clevedon pier is rather lovely:
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I was rather taken with the town, quite quiet, close to the motorway, and none of the brashness that W-S-M has.
Or the hordes of Emmets, either.
If I was going to live anywhere down there, then I'd choose Burnham or Berrow, purely because the beach is so great to walk along, and you don't get the hordes there, either:

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[edit] Those pics were taken last Wednesday, the only decent day all week for weather!

Thanks for the help, now i'm pretty confused, i'll be working all over somerset, cornwall and devon so need easy access so being near the M5 seems a good idea. From what you guys have said it seems like Taunton or clevedon

That's a huge area to be fair - any idea how much travel is involved? And what the split is across the different areas?

If you're covering Cornwall and Devon a lot then Clevedon is probably a too far North to be honest.

Taunton area would probably be a better bet. Or you could consider extending the search to locations along the A30 if you're going to be heading further west a lot. I live in a village within the Dartmoor National Park with the moor itself on my doorstep and can do Exeter and the M5 in 25 mins, most of North Cornwall and South Devon in under an hour. Taunton in an hour, Bristol in 90 mins.

Contrary to what others have posted about Devon villages, we've found ours to be really friendly and welcoming with a great community spirit and already know more people here after a year than we did living in a similar sized village in Kent for 9 years. Yes there are places where you're not considered local if you can't trace your lineage back to Domesday, but they're fairly rare and with the right attitude at worst you're going to get a bit of occasional ribbing in the local pub.