East Devon

‘The villages in the Blackdown Hills, not too far from Taunton and the M5, are popular with these clients,’ says Nick Cunningham of Stacks Property Search. ‘Villages around Honiton, where there is still plenty going on, even in winter, are much sought after.’ Cunningham has noticed that downsizers are now often in their fifties, as opposed to being post-retirement age. Top of their wish list are single-storey homes with big open-plan living spaces. They do not particularly want a big garden but a home office is often required if someone intends to work from home. The charming coastal town of Sidmouth, with its festivals, is also popular – particularly the houses on the hill overlooking the bay. East Devon is also blessed with some superb pubs and restaurants. The King’s Arms at Stockland is a favourite, as is The Glebe restaurant in Southlea.

Torridge,  Devon

Torridge, a district in north-west Devon, is for downsizers who have had quite enough of urban life and fancy getting closer to nature. Coastal attractions include wild cliffs, waterfalls and sandy dunes, while inland there are ancient woodlands and steep valleys. Its remoteness also means better value for money in terms of property. Favourite spots include Appledore, a fishing village with narrow streets and hidden lanes, and the market town of Holsworthy. 

Yet Torridge also comes with a warning. ‘These are very strong local communities and incomers must work at being accepted,’ says Nick Cunningham. ‘Many incomers bought here during the pandemic but then sold up, letting their houses as Airbnbs, which hasn’t gone down well.’ For those who settle this is a great area for adrenaline junkies. Surfing, kitesurfing, wild swimming, coasteering and mountain biking are all popular here.

Herefordshire

The satirist Roger Lewis disparagingly described the land separating south Wales from England as ‘The Herefordshire Balkans’. The property search agent Anto Clay is somewhat kinder. ‘You are buying peace, seclusion, prettiness and character when you move here,’ he says. ‘You are buying a slice of life as it used to be.’ There are simple pleasures to be had, including walking alongside the River Wye and fishing or kayaking with the Black Mountains in the background. This is a seriously remote part of Britain so if anyone in the family needs to be in say Birmingham or London regularly it is best to be based in the east of the county. Here, Ledbury has a buzzing high street, some stylish shops and good independent cafes. Ross-on-Wye, perched on a sandstone cliff above the Wye, has excellent schools, a theatre and an air of sophistication. Both Kington and Knighton are well regarded but incomers should think carefully before buying in Hay-on-Wye on the edge of the county. The views are magical and during the annual literary festival, it is full of faces from television.