Devon also boasts some brilliant nights out and city living in the thriving metropolises of Exeter and Plymouth. There are chic restaurants and old, oak-beamed pubs galore in the bustling Quayside and Barbican districts. If that high-octane pace is too much then the towns of Ashburton, Totnes or Dartmouth offer a more relaxed pace with cosy cafes and independent boutique shops.

Personally, my biggest reasons for settling in the South West would be having family in Somerset, meaning regular outings to the stunning North Devon Coast, Blackdown and Quantock Hills as well as an occasional flat bike ride around the Somerset Levels! Holidays often require little more than a B&B and a drive down the road to spectacular spots like Bigbury-on-Sea and Bantham or just over the border to Kingsand and Cawsand.

Of course, Cornwall also boasts those stunning quintessential fishing villages such as Polperro and Mousehole or the more popular St Ives and Fowey which are always on our list to stop by. Beaches too are often a draw for a break and dog walk – north coast favourites such as Saunton, Bude and Polzeath or south for Falmouth, Mevagissey or Looe.

Of course when you’re enjoying a hard day exploring you’re never far from some good local sustenance in the form of a hearty pasty or cream tea – although beware as over the Cornish border they will serve the latter incorrectly with the jam on first!?! Madness!!!

If you are in need of a longer sit down there are an abundance of cosy, quirky old public houses dotting the landscape. Sadly these have been starting to dwindle in recent years and need our support to keep them going. Many of these essential centres for village life have now been taken over as community pubs to stop them closing for good. Indeed, there are more than 200 community pubs now in the UK with around a dozen in Devon alone, some of the newest being the fantastic Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton (Dartmoor), The Five Bells in Clyst Hydon and The Cadeleigh Arms in Tiverton. In fact my local, The Dolphin Inn, Kenton, is currently in the process of being taken over by the community since closing in 2019 and welcomes anyone who fancies investing in a heart-warming British tradition. Community pubs are always worth a visit as they are almost entirely run by volunteers so you will always find locals very welcoming and friendly, along with trying to sell you as many pints of refreshing local ale as they possibly can! Come to the West Country and try a few!