After four Dartmoor walks in a row we looked for something by the sea, without driving too far. This ruled out a new coastal area for me as I’ve done all of south Devon and Cornwall, so a revisit was in order. The area around Noss Mayo is superb and on a day like today it shows off the best part of living in this corner of the country. The drive here is about 20 mins, although we could have parked in Noss Mayo as well and cut 5 more minutes off that. As it was we had a nice warm up, descending from Stoke Point, along lanes and through woodland down into Noss Mayo. Newton Creek was glinting in the sunshine on what looked to be a near high tide time, we turned to head through the woodland out the Gara Point, passing the ferry point to take you across to the next coastal path section. After a coffee stop near the ferry point, we soon walked up to Mouthstone and then Gara Point with wide views across the English Channel, the Mewstone standing like a sentinel off Wembury Point, guarding the entrance to Wembury Bay. Turning east we then walked the long promenade, which was a carriage ride built by Lord Revelstoke in the 1800s. It ran for 9 miles, sitting high along the cliff tops and running from Noss Mayo right around to Beacon Hill and beyond. The carriage ride allowed the Lord to entertain his dignitaries, including Edward 7th, and show off his Membland estate. Finally we dropped to the Revelstoke caravan park, originally owned by the Co-op, to allow ordinary people from Plymouth to have a place to go on holiday. The park is now privately owned but still holds a really old church in St Peter the Poor Fisherman, which we had a good look around before climbing steeply back up to the car. All in all a great walk, in superb conditions and a nice contrast to some of the greyer walks we have had on the moor recently.
Route – Stoke Cross – Noss Mayo – South West Coastal Path – Ferry Wood – Mouthstone Point – Gara Point – The Warren – Hollicombes – Coastguards – Stoke Point – St Peter’s the Poor Fisherman – Stoke House
Distance – 6.5 miles Start time – 10.50am Time taken – 4hrs Highest Point – Around Stoke Cross 100 metres
Weather – lots of lovely sunshine, clouding over in the afternoon
That is Stoke House down there, the caravan park is below that and Bigbury Bay can be seen stretching out on this glorious winter day. We’ve parked on the right just out of shot in a small car park and we are heading first for Noss Mayo via the lanes.Plenty of farmland out here as we walk the lanesNewton Creek is tidal and its a fair way in at this point. Newton Ferrers is across the other side and I’m stood in Noss Mayo, the church up to my right hand sideNewton Creek looking out to the River Yealm, we will walk through the woods on the leftIn Ferry Wood now and looking out to Yealm Pool, the river continues in that direction with a couple of other arms branching off it including Cofflete Creek. As with the name of the wood the ferry crosses here allowing you to continue on the South West Coastal PathThis might not be the fares now however, particularly for your pony or assRiver Yealm as it turns to head out to seaThis is the view from Battery Cottage, once the site of a 14th century fortification. You can see from the views the fine line of sight you would have from up here when defending the River Yealm entry. The island is the Mewstone off Wembury PointHeading through the woods to Mouthstone PointMouthstone Point and Wembury BayHeading around to Gara Point you get lovely views across the bay with the Mewstone sitting prominent. Above the Mewstone is Rame Head over in CornwallThis is the old carriage way, built by Lord Revelstoke in the 1800s, it started in Noss Mayo. Edward 7th would have been shown around here and seen these views. Hopefully he came on a day as good as this. Blackstone Point is the bit sticking out aheadLooking back the other way, glorious sunshine on the Mewstone and across to CornwallThere was some cloud building but it only meant some more dramatic looking landscapes and the clouds passed throughWe had lunch here at Blackstone Point with our backs against a wall, protected from the wind and a view across to CoastguardsThese walls were all part of the rabbit warren business that covered this area.Coastguards, this has had a bit of work done to it, with a new roof, pointing and a good tidy up. Credit to the National Trust for looking after it.Heading to Stoke Point with Bigbury Bay beyond. The point in the distance out to sea is Bolt TailStoke Point belowInto the sunWe entered the caravan park which has a footpath through the centre of itBigbury BaySt Peter the Poor Fisherman church built in 1226The ten commandments inside, the church is grade 1 listed and the roof has collapsed many years ago. It was last used in the 1970s as a church and is now run by the church conservation charityThere is still lots to see in here and the gravestones on the floor date from the 1660sI know there used to be at least one service held each year here.So to finish we climbed the hill back to the car at the end of a superb walk. The coast rarely fails in providing a great spectacle and when the weather is this good, you can’t fail. I should be able to type up one more walk before Santa Claus arrives, so I’ll save wishing everyone a Merry Christmas until then
4 thoughts on “Warren Point, Stoke Beach and Noss Mayo”
I don’t know this part of the world at all, Steve, but it looks very beautiful. Thanks for taking me there, and for your company throughout the year. Have a great Christmas! xx
Its one of those spots known well by those from South Devon/Plymouth but not a lot outside of that. Its normally busy ish and is always worth the trip to get here. Merry Christmas
treksandtors 
I don’t know this part of the world at all, Steve, but it looks very beautiful. Thanks for taking me there, and for your company throughout the year. Have a great Christmas! xx
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Its one of those spots known well by those from South Devon/Plymouth but not a lot outside of that. Its normally busy ish and is always worth the trip to get here. Merry Christmas
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It’s the one thing I miss where I live is easy access to a coastal walk. Lucky to have a good part of the SWP in easy reach.
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