Location & Area
Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo are among the most attractive and un-spoilt villages in South Devon. Noss and Newton as they are both known locally, are charming, twin villages divided by a creek on the beautiful River Yealm which is full of colourful sailing boats, yachts and pretty waterside cottages.
Noss Mayo & Newton Ferrers
Newton Ferrers is a much sought after estuary village on the northern side of the River Yealm, opposite Noss Mayo on the southern side. Oakvale whilst having an address of Newton Ferrers is only a stone’s throw from Bridgend and Noss Creek. Newton Ferrers has a range of local amenities including a church, post office and general store, small but well stocked Coop supermarket (open until 8pm daily), pharmacy, butcher, delightful tea room, Dolphin pub and restaurant and yacht club. Noss Mayo has a well known dining pub (Ship Inn), another more traditional local inn (The Swan), a children’s playground and two public tennis courts. There are also plenty of excellent eating places within a few miles, one of them being the Rose and Crown at Yealmpton, the other the Dartmoor Union at Holbeton.
Riverford Farm Shop is only a few minute’s drive away offering luxury and organic food as well as a great café. There is also a welcoming and well stocked organic shop in Modbury that is well worth a visit. For more comprehensive shopping centres Plymstock is about a fifteen minute’s drive en route to Plymouth which is only another ten minutes further on, where you can shop to your heart’s content. If you want alternative and holistic shopping, try Totnes which takes about the same time and is easily accessible via the A38 (6 miles away) and you can even visit Dartington glass on the way. Elegant Dartmouth is another half hour further on but well worth a trip, as is Salcombe.
Seaside and countryside
Newton Ferrers is surrounded by stunning South Hams countryside and holidaymakers are spoilt for choice with amazing walks of all kinds. There is a particularly lovely walk up to the Avon Dam near South Brent (20 minutes by car) and for those preferring something wilder, Dartmoor is only 11 miles away.
From Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers itself, there are breathtaking cliff top, woodland and coastal walks. There is an incredible 4 mile circular walk with stunning views of the River Yealm and sea, all the way from the tennis courts in Noss (or you can park at Warren Car park) ending up at the Ship Inn. It’s always a good idea to time the walk to finish with a delicious and well earned lunch!
The Yealm Estuary is very popular for sailing and fishing and you can swim at the beautiful local beaches of Cellars and Stoke. The sandy beaches of Mothercombe (5 miles), Bigbury and Burgh Island (12 miles) and Bantham (15 miles) are a short drive away, the last two being good for any surfing enthusiasts. It is possible to hire a rowing boat in Newton Ferrers and to potter on the water or spend time at Cellar’s beach. From May to September there is a ferry that goes from one side of the river and village to the other, but alternatively, you can walk across the Voss at low tide.
There are several 18-hole golf courses nearby including Staddon Heights which has spectacular views over Plymouth Sound and further away the well known Thurlstone course, Wrangaton to the north which backs onto the Dartmoor National Park and Bigbury to the east. The nearest leisure centre is Ivybridge which has a nice swimming pool. There is a local riding stables in Newton Ferrers, a dry ski slope in Plymouth and a National Trust property ten minutes drive away at Saltram House.
Nearby towns
Modbury 10 miles; Plymouth 12 miles; Kingsbridge 16 miles; Salcombe 21 miles; Totnes 23.5 miles; Dartmouth 30 miles.
Local travel
If travelling to Noss Mayo by train, the best station to head to is Plymouth.
A regular bus service operates between Plymouth and Noss Mayo, via Yealmpton. Or you can get a taxi, at either end; the journey time is approximately 30 minutes.
Plymouth Airport and the ferry terminal to Roscoff and Santander are both within 15 miles.
There is a passenger ferry service across the river Yealm to Wembury from Noss Mayo. This runs during summer months only.
You can hire rowing boats locally to explore the area by water.