If you enjoy a walk or a stroll, then the parish of Newton and Noss presents some 21 miles of country road, and in excess of 60 footpaths (some definitive and some permissive). Walks vary in length from just a few metres to over five miles. The blend of countryside and coast of the parish is a special feature, while not forgetting the enjoyment of walking within the villages themselves.

The Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure Map 20 South Devon “Brixham to Newton Ferrers” is a must for all with an interest in the area. The National Trust Information boards, too, come highly recommended. Try a walk and follow it as much as suits you or put your own interpretation on things by varying the route. There are so many alternatives that present themselves and in time you will be able to say that you have walked everywhere in one of the most special corners of Devon.

Researched and written by:

Tommy and Gill Taylor

Start where it suits you, but we are beginning at Newton Green. Walk along Court Road passing Holy Cross Church. After half a mile, take the left-hand fork down Lower Court Road. Catch glimpses of the Pool through the trees before turning left down the footpath that drops behind the former Yealm Hotel which is now The Yealm development. Once at the turning bay at the bottom, turn left along Yealm Road and then shortly after, right, down Yealm Steps to sit on a bench and take in the inherent beauty of the natural harbour of the Pool. Return up the steps and turn right along Yealm Road before taking a footpath to the right with its alternative names of Leas or Cinders Path. At its end, join Riverside Road West. Can you find the wasp on the boathouse at Kiln Quay? (Lord Revelstoke’s steam launch was called ‘Wasp’, and the name lives on in the Yealm Gig Club). Continue along the road past the Brook to reach the village centre where you’ll find shops, the Post Office, the Dolphin Inn, and the Yealm Yacht Club. Walk along Riverside Road East, formerly Fore Street, and then the footpath that continues into Yealm View Road, locally known as The Pathfields. Curve to the left at the top before reaching Bridgend Hill and continue through Church Park until you reach Yealm Road. From here, bear right up the hill to Holy Cross Church and take the footpath through the churchyard to Court Road. Turning right towards the Green, you’ve now reached the end of the walk.

In a nutshell: 
A walk with attractive views of the Pool and Newton Creek, while visiting the village on the way.

(2 miles, approximately a 50 minute walk)

Begin at the Yealm Steps and follow Court Wood Road (Public Footpath) into Court and then Newton Wood. Continue until you reach Shallowford Creek and pause to take in the view across to Thorn Pool and towards the upper reaches of the estuary. It is a place of peace and solitude, but had plans laid in 1906 come to fruition this place would have been very different. A railway embankment with regular trains carrying amongst others potential guests of the River Yealm Hotel would have crossed the creek here. It was even suggested the line could be electrified! Continue to the head of the creek with perhaps a break on one of the convenient Woodland Trust dedicated benches. Now pick up the permissive path that climbs the valley to the higher level where fields meet the tree line. After approximately half a mile the path takes a right and descends a zig-zag stepped route to re-join the public footpath at the lower level once again. Now return to the Pool at Yealm Steps to end your walk.

In a nutshell: 
A pleasant and peaceful circular walk through woodland, offering views of the Kitley reach which is rich in flora, fauna and bird life.

(2.5 miles, approximately a one hour walk)

Pick up the public footpath known as Hangman’s Hill on the opposite side of the road, just up from the entrance to Bridgend Quay. Follow the steep track upwards, passing between the brambles and blackthorn, then across three fields to Rowden. Turn left at the road and walk to Stoke Cross, then follow the road as it drops to Revelstoke (Caravan) Park. Follow the clearly signed and waymarked footpath down through the park to the ruins of Saint Peter’s Church. It was the parish church for Revelstoke (Noss Mayo) for several hundred years until the present one was built and consecrated in 1882. Now continue through the park and follow the route through the woodland and out onto the openness of Stoke Down. Enjoy walking at this lower level where you are truly close to the sea, but take care as there are sheer drops to the rocks below. Be sure to gaze at the views across Bigbury Bay towards Bolt Tail. At a dramatic deep gulley, the path begins to climb to re-join the Coastal Footpath (Nine Mile Drive). Take in the ruggedness of Stoke Point and bird life at both ground level and high above you. Make a left passing the impressive circular stone gate pillar and follow the drive for about 200m while looking out for a waymark post to your right. Climb up to the National Trust Stoke Point Car Park, then turn left and follow the road for half a mile to Langdon Hill (Netton) taking a right and following the sign to Noss. After 400m, turn left and descend through Middlecombe to Noss Green, the village and your return to Bridgend.

In a nutshell: 
The most direct but strenuous route from the nestling shelter of Bridgend to the rugged exposure of Stoke Point. Visit the Church of Saint Peter the Poor Fisherman and return with a choice of routes to Middlecombe, Noss village, and finally Bridgend.

(5 miles, approximately a one hour 45 minute walk)

Start at Noss Hard and take either Passage Road or the woodland path (Fordhill Plantation and Ferry Wood) to beyond Kilpatrick’s Steps. Pick up the footpath signed: Coast Path ‘Stoke’ pausing to look out for the old toll board. Walk through Passage Wood and climb to re-join the coastal drive. At Battery, if you wish, take a right-hand path down to Cellar Beach (it’s very uneven and not suitable for those with mobility issues). Or you can simply continue past the old Coastguard Cottages through Brakehill Plantation – a swathe of bluebells in spring and rhododendrons in early summer, then onto the open landscape of the Warren. Stop above Mouthstone to take in Wembury Bay, the Mewstone, and the start of the Cornish coast beyond. Pause for a moment before Gara Point, where on a wild and windy day you’ll see the waves breaking on the Ebb Rocks a little distance off shore. Did you know that the original slates of Noss church roof were quarried out here? Rabbits were also kept here as an important source of meat. Look at the significant proportions of the ‘Warren Wall’ here, which was built to stop the rabbits from getting into the crops in the field on the other side. You’ll probably want to keep walking at the convenient level of the Coast Path which, on this section, is the carriage drive built by Lord Revelstoke, Edward Baring of Baring’s Bank, for the benefit of his family and guests. However, some half a mile beyond Gara, keep your eyes open for the waymark for the path that descends to the West Hollicombes and Warren Beach and make that addition to your walk if you are feeling energetic! Now walk on past Warren Cottage and follow the graceful bends of the drive. Keep to the left when the tracks divide and head for the gate at the end of the Warren Wall and on up to the National Trust Car Park. Take a left and immediately right and descend the valley known as ‘Coombe’ back to the village.

In a nutshell: 
A famously popular walk with residents and visitors alike. A circular route with fantastic views of the harbour, the river mouth, Wembury Bay and beyond.

(4.7 miles, approximately a 50 minute walk)