We retired to Greece without a big, fat pension and live comfortably on just

Two years ago, Ron and Marcia Gibbs swapped doing the school run with their grandchildren in Newton Abbot, Devon for a new life on the largest Greek island – Crete. Today, even in February (the coldest and wettest month there) they are enjoying a relaxing breakfast in their garden, tucking into Greek yoghurt and local honey while soaking up the spring rays and the views.

‘The snow on the White Mountains looks so beautiful under the blue sky,’ says Marcia, 69. ‘It’s bliss here. Life is easier and slower-paced. This feels like a proper retirement.’

As well it might for the hard-working couple, who first met in a Torquay nightclub 50 years ago and were married two years later. They raised their children Mark 46, and Emma, 44, in a four-bedroom house and also helped out with their four grandchildren.

Marcia, who trained as a nurse at 18, retired from teaching at Torquay Hospital at 57 to look after the grandchildren, which she did until the youngest started senior school. Ron, 71, a fabricator welder, retired two years after Marcia to also help out. It was after four holidays to Crete that the couple decided the laid-back lifestyle there would be ideal for their retirement.

The sunset over the island of Crete in Greece

‘We knew we wanted another adventure in our lives yet we also wanted to be involved with bringing up our grandchildren. Otherwise we would have made the move sooner than we did,’ says Marcia. ‘We had visited other Greek islands but chose Crete because it’s the biggest, so has the most going on. The Cretans are so hospitable: they invite you into their homes and make you feel very welcome. One of my Greek neighbours left me a huge bag of oranges on the doorstep this week. I am going to make marmalade with them.’

The place the Gibbs call home is a three-bedroom house high on a hill in Drapanos, a village in north-west Crete close to the beach resort of Almyrida, which they bought for £218,000 in 2022.

They fell in love with its stunning views across Souda Bay after being shown it on Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun – although it did lack the swimming pool on their wish-list. So when they moved there a year later, building a pool was one of the first updates they made to the property.

They spent nearly €40,000 (£33,000) but Marcia says it’s been worth it. ‘The average temperature in July is 32 degrees so it [the pool] was essential and we positioned it to get amazing views, especially at sunset.’ Another €15,000 to €20,000 has been spent on improvements such as landscaping, while Ron has been using his welding skills to make a wrought-iron gate and gazebo for the property.

Marcia, who’s had severe asthma in the past, says the weather is fantastic for her health, as is walking their two dogs, adopted as stray puppies. She’s also immersed herself in local groups – and volunteers one day a week at a charity shop, the Syllogos in Plaka.

They joined 17,000 other British expats in Greece, and their timing was good – they bought in 2022, meaning they were able to apply for a golden visa to get Greek residency before the minimum qualifying purchase price of a property in Crete was raised from €250,000 (£206,000) to €800,000 (£660,000) last year. They decided not to sell but to rent out their Devon home to keep their options open.

The couple have lots of new British and Greek friends, but miss their family. ‘It is hard. We had a first Christmas here without them. But they come over in the school holidays,’ Marcia says.

Experts say it is Cretan life’s simple and inexpensive pleasures which make it a popular choice with British retirees. Unlike many of the smaller Greek islands, Crete – with around 670,000 residents – is well-equipped with hospitals, amenities and two international airports.

‘Apokoronas in north-western Crete is especially popular with retirees for its traditional villages within easy reach of the city of Chania (and its airport)’, says Phil Ambrose of estate agent A Place in Crete. ‘Along with Almyrida, Plaka, Kalyves and Kokkino Horio are very popular with British expats – these coastal villages get great sunset views.’

Marcia and Ron Gibbs knew the laid-back lifestyle in Crete, which they moved to from Devon, would suit them

In and around Chania, the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment is €917 (£760), according to consumer database numbeo.com, but British retirees tend to buy rather than rent. You can find two-bedroom properties from around €170,000 (£140,000), or renovation projects for under £50,000. Buying costs make up between 5 and 10 per cent of the sale price.

Weekly trips to the supermarket are no longer on the couple’s to-do list. Many neighbours grow their own olives, figs and vines, and Marcia loves buying fresh bread in the village and the…