With its stunning sandy beaches, tranquil villages and vast swathes of unspoilt, green countryside, the Westcountry would seem to be an idyllic part of the country to live in.
But not according to a nationwide Quality of Life survey for rural areas – that doesn't include anywhere at all in the region.
"They must have made a mistake," suggested Devon estate agent Richard Copus, who is also spokesman for the National Federation of Estate Agents.
The Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey tracked where living standards are highest in Great Britain by ranking local performance across the labour market, housing market, environment, education and health.
No local authorities in either Devon or Cornwall ranked in the top 30 areas for quality of life. East Dorset was highest in the South West at position 16, followed by Tewkesbury and Cotswold in Gloucestershire – ranking at 38 and 41 respectively.
Mr Copus said: "Devon is the most beautiful county in England. People move to both counties, in spite of the salaries, for the quality of life. The Halifax map must end at Somerset or perhaps they didn't turn over to the next page."
Employment figures made slightly brighter reading for the South West, with Taunton Deane ranked third in the country at 83%.
Residents of East Dorset have the highest life expectancy at 82 years, ahead of North Dorset at 81.6.
Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing, people and economy and regeneration, said: "Cornwall is a wonderful place to live. Our communities manage with less resources because we are resilient. I'm surprised that Cornwall missed out on the survey. Perhaps it's because the wages are low and the financial situation is having an effect on people."
The Halifax survey found the "best" rural areas were in the East of England and the South East. Waverley in South East Surrey topped the survey, followed by Uttlesford in Essex and East Hertfordshire.
The biggest homes were found in Chiltern in Buckinghamshire, Uttlesford and Rutland in the East Midlands where the average house has 6.4 rooms.
Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said: "While Waverley is not the top area in any one indicator, its strength is that it performs strongly across the board. The average resident has a high weekly income, enjoys above average health and life expectancy and low crime rates."
A rural local authority is defined as one where the majority of its residents live in country areas. Halifax compiled its survey using data from the Office of National Statistics, Defra, the Met Office, the Department for Transport, and the Halifax house price database.
'We have an exceptional quality of life in our town'
It may be situated in the heart of Dartmoor, be home to an award-winning community pub – and even boast one of the country's finest restaurants at nearby Gidleigh – but Chagford was not deemed worthy of recognition for its quality of life. The quaint moorland town 20 miles west of Exeter is known for its sense of rural community with an eclectic range of shops, services and peaceable, friendly people. It even gained widespread attention for hosting Chagword – the town's first literary festival earlier this month. Last year The Globe Inn was crowned regional winner in the Community Hero Awards. Landlady Mary French, who runs the pub alongside Graham Flight, said: "Chagford is defined by its fabulous community. There is a complete mix: retired people, and families with children at the thriving school. We've even got a big hippy contingent with an abundance of musicians, writers and artists. "It is hard to believe we've not been included in the survey because the quality of life here is exceptional."
Villagers puzzled why their community didn't make list
It may have been named best-kept village, have a growing Women's Institute with 40 members and a thriving village shop run entirely by volunteers, but even that was not enough to elevate St Tudy to "best quality of life" status. The pretty village, situated near Wadebridge in North Cornwall, has long been admired for its strong sense of community spirit and picture-postcard good looks. It certainly proved attractive to Edward George, the former governor of the Bank of England, who lived there until his death in 2009. To WI president Lilian Lamerton, it should have been a shoo-in. "Most definitely," she said when asked if St Tudy should make the list. "Without a doubt. It's a very friendly village. "If anybody is ill we go and see them, we might take them to hospital. Before Christmas we lost a friend of ours and his wife was so overwhelmed with people's kindness. "It's very picturesque, with a church and chapel and school and community shop. It's pretty, picture-postcard stuff. I'm an incomer but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else." Her husband Brian, chairman of the parish council, agreed that St Tudy should have made the list. "I was born and bred here. I don't look at other places; there aren't really villages as good as St Tudy. Other villages aren't as pretty. "We've got some nice buildings here – a mixture of old and new." The village's shop and post office closed in 2011, but was reopened the next day by volunteers and has now moved to a new location by the village hall. Marigold Lawton, who sits on the management committee, said: "We have got a fantastic group of volunteers, who are absolutely wonderful and do all the shifts. I have lived here for five and half years. There is a complete mix of people – some who have lived here for generations and incomers like me. The church is wonderful and there is a very good pub called the St Tudy Inn. It is wonderful."
