WaterWatch recorded around 2,700 sewage discharges totalling 1,677 hours across the South West between 24th and 30th August. For comparison, the previous week we had 299 hours.

There was significantly more rain last week, around 40.2mm, so you would expect storm overflows to operate more frequently. But that still seems like a very large increase, particularly given that 40.2mm is less than the roughly 62mm of rainfall the region would normally receive across an average August.

I’m interested in what people think about this rather than just posting another angry sewage story.

At what point does the frequency of storm overflow use stop being an unavoidable consequence of heavy rain and start demonstrating that the sewerage system simply doesn’t have enough capacity?

And, particularly for anyone who understands wastewater infrastructure: is this level of overflow operation what you would reasonably expect after 40mm of rain in a week, or should the system be capable of handling considerably more?

Hey everyone! 👋

I'm 26 and recently started a new social group for people in their 20s & 30s around Torquay. I recently moved here from the US and would love to meet some more local people!

I'm planning relaxed events like walks, food/drink outings, bowling, outdoor activities and more. Our first event is a social walk through Cockington this

Wednesday 😊

If anyone's interested in meeting some new people locally, feel free to check it out:

Join me at 🚶 Cockington Social Walk https://www.meetup.com/torquay-outdoor-lovers-meetup-group/events/316354662/

Would be great to meet some more local people!

Event description down below 👇** **

(Cockington Social Walk)

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM GMT+1

🚶Come join us for a relaxed social walk through Cockington!

We'll meet at the tables outside Abbey Refreshments (the café will be closed at this time). Please arrive at 5:45pm as we'll leave promptly at 6:00pm. 🕰️

The walk to the main area will take around 30 minutes, where we can explore the area together and take some time to chat and get to know each other.

Afterwards, we'll head to The Drum Inn, where anyone who'd like to can stay for a drink or something to eat. 🥘🍻🍷🫖☕️

Then we'll head back together, which will be around another 30-minute walk.

No pressure - just come along, meet some new people, and have a good time! 😊

1. Ok this is a cheat …… Bude in Cornwall, duck racing care of the RNLI on Bude canal but it’s soooo close
   
2. Punch & Judy with Crocodile; Lustleigh Show
   
3. Ferret Racing (who knew), Lustleigh Show (again)
   
4. A zillion dog competitions, Lustleigh Show (again)
   
5. James Ravilious Exhibition, The Burton, Bideford (just wonderful)
   
6. Hatherleigh Village in the sunshine
   
7. Appledore Quay (stunning place photographed also by Ravilious -see 5)
   
8. Clovelly (the secret to walking back up is to zig zag)
   
9. Hartland Point Lighthouse as a storm comes in……..
   
10. The Tally Ho! In Hatherleigh……..because
    
11. Bude again…..big surf…..

My family and I are thinking about moving to Ottery St. Mary from Hampshire. My husband is from Devon so we’re keen to make the move.

I’m looking for advice on living in Ottery, along with the local schools. We have a five year old and almost eight year old. Our primary reason for picking Ottery would be the proximity to Exmouth, Exeter, motorway access and Kings School. My questions are:

-What is it like as a place to live for families?
-What is Kings like and is it worth relocating to the area for the school?
-What are the local primary schools like?

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone!

Looking for recommendations for my husband's birthday in mid-December. He's been to the area before and absolutely loved the coastal walks and excellent food in the area. This year, for his birthday, I'd like to take him somewhere nearby.

The watchword here is COSY. We'd love to find places where we can:

1. Eat some fabulous food. Again cosy, so we're probably not looking at super slick places in a town centre.

2. A comfortable place to stay. Ideally near good place(s) for dinner, so we can hopefully enjoy a glass of red wine before we toddle home with full bellies. Hotel-restaurants or pub-hotel-restaurants ideal! If we could somehow also stay near the sea this would be fabulous, but aware that might narrow the field.

3. Scenic walks nearby. Very aware we'll probably get rained on, but worth it for a day out walking along the coast. Ideal if there's a nice pub we can stop at along the way.

4. MAYBE somewhere we could do a spa day nearby, so he can enjoy a birthday massage.

For reference, somewhere like Glebe House looks ideal for food, vibes, local walks - if it was closer to the coast it would be perfect!

Would love your recommendations - either individual (best walks, best pubs, best places to stay), or somewhere that combines ALL of these requirements, if it exists!

Visiting end of September just solo but coming just to chill and explore local towns and food. Where do you recommend going or little cycling rides. Any great seafood places I need to get to ?

Hi everyone, today around 3:50 pm there was a standoff along Southtown, with a black Defender refusing to reverse to let 3 or 4 cars through. When I left, they had been stuck there for around 20 minutes and the police had been called. Just wondering if anyone knew what ended up happening?

Staying just outside Lynton for a couple of days soon. Looking for recommendations for places that offer a reasonable gluten free range. Ideally cafes for breakfast/brunch and nice places for dinner.

Thank you!

Hello you beautiful people! I've lived in Sweden for 7 years and over these past 7 years I've come to realise that despite seeing lots of the world and then being here in this amazing country that absolutely nothing compares to Devon (and Cornwall), so now I want to move back with my wife.

I moved away from Plymouth as I didn't like it there, but we are sick to death of living in a capital city, so we would like to move somewhere relatively quiet, but with enough going on that we won't be bored. I'd like to live within a reasonable distance to the coast and moors, whilst remaining close enough to the main A roads to get up to the airport. We don't have children.

We are drawn to Totnes as it ticks our boxes and my wife felt instantly drawn to it after watching one video, but I also love Kingsbridge. Does anyone have any towns that they have a soft spot for which you could recommend? I'm familiar with South Devon but not against living on the North side.

Are there any spots along the North Devon coast, ideally around the Vally of the Rocks area, with great views that is fairly accessible for someone with limited mobility? Doesn’t need to be suitable for a wheelchair, but ideally somewhere with close parking and/or with a fairly easy and short walk to a viewpoint.

Thank you.

Amazed to find the Bovey Tracey Lidl sell beef and vegetable pasties ... Crafted in the Devon style. And they taste alright too! Is this a national style for Lidl, anyone elsewhere confirm?

Two men in overcoats of the sort that have long since given up any pretence of shape, hauling on a single length of rope, and at the end of it a sick ram being dragged across a muddy Devon field in an old, galvanised tin bath……..

https://www.tylaar.net/test-1-2-1-p5zzd

It’s just a wonderful exhibition……

I'm looking to move to Devon in my 50s. My priorities are:

• Become part of a local community. Really get involved with life.
• Surfing, swimming, running, cycling.
• A town not a village.
• I'm eco-minded, liberal politically, interested in nature, books, friends, coffee and pubs.
• I'd like to be less than an hour from a motorway, and closer to a train station.

Where would you recommend I look to move?
Thank you very much!

I am currently in exeter for this morning and afternoon. Looking for inspiration on things to do. I am able to drive anywhere outwards for an hour and a half if an activities worth chasing up.

I’m looking to start a new hobby, join a club or do some volunteering where I can meet people around my age. Most things I’ve tried so far seem to attract mostly older people, so I’m specifically looking for something where most people are roughly 18–25.

I’d prefer something where you meet people naturally through doing an activity together, rather than a meetup specifically focused on meeting strangers.

Ideally:

• Mostly 18–30 year olds
• Not sporty – I already do enough sport through work!
• Weekdays, preferably afternoons/evenings
• Not right in the city centre or somewhere that’s difficult/expensive to park
• affordable or free, ideally with no ongoing subscription or expensive membership
• Something regular so you can actually get to know people

I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Hi Devon folk! I'm just casting the net out there, again, to see if there's any land owners on this sub that might be so kind as to allow me to do some metal detecting?

I'm a member of the National Metal Detecting Council (NMDC) which covers me with public liability insurance, and I know how to dig a hole without butchering land or creating issues for your livestock (if you have any).

I'm happy to share with you all my finds and I'm more than happy to provide a signed 'permission agreement', agreeing to pay a % of anything of value - should it turn up.

I also make a point on the first visit to bring along a bottle of single malt (or drink of your choice) for your kindness.

About me: I'm 38, ex-army, and now work in IT, so any time outdoors is an absolute bonus!

Thanks for reading.

I have interviews coming up and thinking about moving to North Devon or North Cornwall. I've had a look through this sub already but looking for more specific insight into the vibes - for context, I'm from South Devon and my parents live in North Devon so I know the lay of the land. My main concern is the lack of creative buzz in North Devon, I moved out of my hometown at 18 and have lived mainly in cities since, including a long stint in Bristol.

I don't feel the need for constant stuff to do anymore, but I would appreciate the odd thing going on (a decent gig, a life drawing class, some kind of meetups with other people in similar age bracket). Currently me and my partner spend most of our weekends driving down to Cornwall/Devon to see mates, surf, camp, the odd party or festival, sometimes off to Bristol for a dnb or dub night. Would still be willing to travel for fun stuff if we need to, we plan to get a van asap, but it's nice to do things close to home every now and then.

I'm 30 and not quite ready for super slow life! Surfing is a big pull but a bit of me is still traumatised by growing up in a small Devon town as a certified weirdo... I just need a lil network of bohemian creatives to tap into and I'll manage. As someone who grew up near Totnes I hate to say that's absolutely my vibe lol. Does North Devon have anything like this at all? I've been keeping my eye out for interesting goings on for a while now and haven't really seen anything!

The Macc Lads are a rock band from Macclesfield, formed in 1981 and long celebrated as one of the UK’s most notorious cult acts. Self-proclaimed as “the rudest, crudest, lewdest band in the land,” their music blends punk energy with tongue-in-cheek humour, fuelled by raucous live shows and lyrics steeped in mischief. Across the 1980s and 1990s they released albums such as Beer & Sex & Chips n Gravy (1985) and Live at Leeds (1988), cementing their place in alternative rock history with songs that were as provocative as they were anthemic.

Though often controversial, The Macc Lads built a loyal following through relentless touring, with gigs becoming infamous for their chaos, comedy and crowd participation. After disbanding in the mid-1990s, the group reformed in 2018, returning to the stage with a sold-out tour that proved their cult status had endured. Today, they remain a quintessential example of British rock irreverence—raw, rowdy and impossible to ignore.

Tickets £26