Inside exclusive Devon street where house prices stretch beyond £1million

Last month, the Strand in Topsham was named one of the most prestigious streets in the UK. House prices there can stretch well past £1million so we paid a visit to find out why.

Topsham is adored by locals and visitors alike for its glorious views along the Exe Estuary, large selection of pubs and friendly residents. In fact, the last time we visited, locals told us that the place was so perfect, that its only downside was a lack of parking.

At the time, Lesley White who works at The Café and has lived in Topsham for 25 years, said: "It's got a good community, great schools, incredibly friendly. I haven't got much negative to say about it really. We've got a fantastic Indian restaurant which is award-winning."

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However, some did also mention that house prices could be out of reach for the average person, which according to Rightmove currently stands at just over £500,000. Nowhere is this more true than the Strand, where many homes sell for in excess of £1million.

Properties on the exclusive street typically hold their value, regardless of the state of the housing market and many are sold in private, never even making it to Rightmove. Earlier this week, we paid the residents a visit to find out what makes the Strand so popular among some of the most affluent members of society.

As you arrive onto the street from the direction of the town centre, your greeted by some of its more humble properties. The closer you get to the end of the street, near popular walking trail the Goat Walk, the bigger and more luxurious the homes seem to get.

Plenty have large gardens, including several that look out directly onto the estuary. Even some of those who live on the opposite side of the street can cross the road and enter their waterfront garden.

It's perhaps not surprising that the picturesque street has its fair share of holiday homes and Airbnb lets. The location is ideal for visitors, who can enjoy stunning walks and the nearby pubs, including The Lighter Inn which is just a stone's throw away.

Many of the properties are centuries old and have been converted from their prior use into impressive homes. There are a number which are even grade II listed according to Historic England.

With such large and pricey homes, it's understandable that many like to keep their gates closed and keep to themselves. But one homeowner gave DevonLive a glimpse into what it's like to live in one of the country's most desirable places.

Sandra Atherton and her husband bought their home, which is located near the Goat Walk, around 15 years ago. According to Rightmove and Zoopla, it was purchased for £2.5million in 2006 and is currently estimated to be worth between £2.37million and £3.55million.

"We did an awful lot of work to it but it's all worth it," she said. "It used to be red brick so we rendered it and put a new roof on and just updated it a lot."

Sandra said her and her husband visited Topsham and immediately "fell in love" with it. Like many newcomers to the town, she raved about the views, the people and the thriving town centre.

She said: "I'm originally from Cornwall, my husband is from Yorkshire and we lived in Tiverton for a bit but we used to come and walk our dogs on the Goat Walk. We just loved it.

"We just came down one day and absolutely fell in love with the place. The views, the people are always lovely. We're very lucky we've got a lot of shops up in the town so you really don't need to go anywhere else if you don't want to."

The house itself is a modern property which looks out directly over the river. It also boasts a large garden and driveway, with room for plenty of vehicles, and a gated entrance. Outside the front door are steps up to an elevated outdoor porch.

The Strand isn't totally exempt from Topsham's parking woes as the street was packed full of vehicles. Sandra joked that she takes "a deep breath" before driving up the road but, for the most part, she says pulling up on their driveway is "always exciting".

When asked if there were any drawbacks to where they live, she said: "The traffic and the parking but it's worth it. Sometimes I take a deep breath before I venture up the road.

"It's always exciting to come home. You drive past Hannaford's Quay and just feel great."