I Left There To Live In Wales Loving It Here Though But Devon Was A Great Place To Live As Well.

[RATTER15]

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/8217-s-official-Devon-named-best-place-live-UK/story-25957440-detail/story.html

[bobbie22]

I left wales to live in Devon but I would go back in a heartbeat! I like Devon but it's not Wales

[Zacs-Master]

Ah. The royal Clarence hotel in cathedral yard. I know it well.

[RATTER15]

Bobbie. Where in Devon are you?

[Buenchico]

I have absolutely nothing against Devon. (It's a lovely county).

However I feel compelled to point out that it was voted as the best place to live in the UK by readers of Country Life. i.e. it won the award based upon the opinions of people who tend to be middle class (and often upper middle class) and who are generally likely to be among the better off members of society financially. (I doubt that Country Life features as as essential purchase for many people on low incomes).

So villages with exclusive housing and quaint pubs charging £20 or more for a main course are likely to be better valued (along with quiet market towns packed with antique shops) than they might be by people who want cheaper housing, a plentiful supply of pound shops and Wetherspoon's prices in pubs.

My own county (Suffolk) tends to score well in such surveys because of delightful towns like Southwold and some lovely small towns and villages packed with antiques shops. However most of the locals don't read magazines such as Country Life and can't afford to buy the over-priced antiques or live in the upmarket parts of the county.

So well done to Devon but remember that 'quality of life' surveys across a broader spectrum of the population might put cities such as Brighton, Liverpool or Sheffield ahead of more rural areas.

[RATTER15]

Zac. My step-son worked at the Royal Clarence as cook for a while.

[Zacs-Master]

Yes Chris I agree. Preaching to the converted.

[Zacs-Master]

Ratter, with Michael Caines?

[Nibble]

Did.... not a lot of people know that, ratter?



Sorry all, couldn't resist it :-}

[craft1948]

I couldn't be doing with living in Devon, it's full of southerners who talk funny...

[RATTER15]

I don't think Michael actually worked there, I think he just designed the menus at the time.

[Zacs-Master]

Oh he did, Occasionally. I may well have met your step son.

[RATTER15]

Zac his name was Nathan.

[janbee]

The west country is beautiful to visit, no doubt at all about that...but, I still think that The Scottish Highlands and, in England, The Cotswolds, take some beating.

[murraymints]

hope you are now settled with the animals...

[mikey4444]

I have some friends in Devon, not far from Dartmoor and I always enjoy visiting them. I like North Devon as well. But my heart lies in Cornwall, Gods Own County ( sorry Yorkshire ! )

[RATTER15]

All the animals gone now Minty, just the hounds left, we would never part with them.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah Devon, beautiful Devon;
Where is rains six days in seven.

Yes there are a lot of places that would vie for "best place". I'd expect the winner to change each year. Not a good idea to attract the hoi polloi to invade though. ;-)

[RATTER15]

Mikey, you surely jest! //Cornwall, Gods Own County// Not a patch of the countryside of Devon!

Next time you are down that way, spend a week touring Dartmoor, that will help you see the real Devon! travel into the countryside and see the Devon country villages. Far nicer than Cornwall!!

The best thing to come out of Cornwall was the road to Devon :-)

[tonyav]

We have relatives in Devon and Cornwall, both are beautiful counties.

[RATTER15]

I agree Tony, Devon is just better :-)