Popular areas to buy a holiday home or second home in Devon.

Why buy in Devon

Devon is a county of contrasts; the windswept north coast through to the natural beauty of Exmoor and Dartmoor, to the hidden gem that is the Tamar Valley to the rolling countryside of The South Hams and traditional seaside towns on the south coast.  In this respect there is a holiday home for every taste in Devon.

The county is heavily influenced by tourism, while farming remains important.  The two have merged where ‘food tourism’ and celebrity chefs have created national media interest and visitors to likes of Dartmouth (Mitch Tonks), Exeter and Michael Caines and Ilfracombe where Damien Hirst’s restaurant can be found.

Holiday Home Hotspots in Devon

Continuing the food theme, South Hams, in the south west of the county, offers organic farms such as the award Riverford Farm, Sharpham Vineyard and festivals including Dartmouth Food Festival and Abbfest in Newton Abbot, not to mention the excellent range of restaurants and pubs.  South Hams includes Dartmouth, Totnes and exclusive Salcombe.

Elsewhere in the south, The English Riviera is Devon’s most popular tourist destination with lots of family attractions and blue flag beaches. Further eastwards lie more traditional seaside towns including Teignmouth, Exmouth, Sidmouth and Seaton.

Dartmoor attracts walkers all year round and is fringed by bustling market towns such as Ashburton and Buckfastleigh to the south, Tavistock to the west, Okehampton to the north and Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh to the east.

In North Devon, rolling countryside gives way to the rugged coastline with large sandy beaches at the likes of Westward Ho!, Croyde and Woolacombe where surf culture mixes with Devon Cream Teas.

Buying a Holiday Home in Devon

Best for beaches: Croyde and Woolacombe on the north coast, Paignton, Bigbury-on-Sea and Dawlish Warren on the south coast.
Best for Food and Drink: Dartmouth and the South Hams.

Best for active: Surfing hotspots include on the north coast include Saunton, Braunton and Croyde, while horse riding, walking and cycling are popular across the North Devon countryside and Dartmoor.

Best for peace and quiet: the East Devon coast is home to peaceful seaside towns outside the peak summer weeks such as Sidmouth, Beer and Budleigh Salterton.

Best for families: The English Riviera comprises Torquay, Paignton and Brixham with plenty of beaches, family attractions and child friendly restaurants.

Travelling to Devon

The M5 connects Devon from Bristol and the Motorway network, while the A303 and A35 connect from Southern England.  The Motorway layout is such that many popular holiday home areas around Exeter, such as Dawlish Warren, Topsham and Exmouth are easy to reach, while North West Devon and towns such Clovelly and Holsworthy take longer to reach.

Exeter Airport is a popular hub serving domestic and international flights, while the South Devon is better connected to the rail network with services to London, Bristol and beyond.