January 2026 Plymouth to Newton Ferrers

 There are three things to think about when planning to walk from Plymouth to Newton Ferrers in mid-winter.

The weather - obviously

Finding somewhere snug to stay

How to cross the river Yealm

We were extremely lucky with the weather.  It had been raining in Devon relentlessly for weeks but on Saturday 17th January, the weather cleared and the sun came out.  There was one brief sharp shower around midday, but otherwise the weather was kind to us.

For somewhere snug to stay, we simply rebooked the Courtyard AirBnb which we used on our abortive first attempt at this section when we both got sick and had to abandon  it.  the Courtyard was snuggish.

Our lovely host, Kairen only put the heating on briefly at 6 o'clock.  There was also an oil-filled electric radiator, but it didn't heat the place enough for us elderly folk. We supplemented by turning on the oven and leaving it open.    

Crossing the Yealm was another matter.  According to Becky, it's pronounced 'Yam'.  It's a big river.  In the winter it is impossible to cross.  So a work-around is required.

The solution was to drive to Wembury Beach, park in the National Trust car park and do the walk backwards to Mountbatten Pier, and get a taxi back.

The day did not start well.  We began by making the mistake of relying on the satnav to get us to Wembury beach.  Chris was driving as it took us down increasingly impossible Devon lanes.  Finally she rebelled.  My answer was to get out the actual paper map and turn the satnav off. The only way to get to Wembury Beach without facing the lanes, was to  drive almost into Plymouth.  We wasted half an hour.

The NT car park was busy with chaps pulling on wet suits to go surfing.  We set off boldly at 10.00.  A few minutes later we stopped because Chris wanted to take a picture of the Mew Stone, the extraordinary cone-like island just off the coast.

"I'll do it.  Then it's in my phone for the blog.

Oh.  I don't seem to have my phone."

In a mild panic, I rushed back to the car.  The phone was there.  Also my binoculars, which I did not retrieve.  Another 20 munutes wasted.

The Mew Stone was well worth the picture.  People lived on it once, including an 18th Century offender who was sentenced to seven years exile on the Mew Stone. Later a couple took up residence.  The wife gave birth to three children there.  It's now a nature reserve.

                                                 The Mew Stone - and path with puddles

It's a gentle path to Mount Batten.  It would have been easy without the rain.  This had made the path very muddy with puddles to navigate all along it.   We were at Jennicliff by 14.00, where we ate ore salami rolls.  It was only another three quarters of a mile to Mount Batten.  The view of Plymouth and across to Cornwall and Rame Head grew ever nearer and I cursed myself for forgetting  the binoculars.

Finally reaching the pier head we were overwhelmed by how close the city was. 

 It was 15.00.   In bright sunshine, I failed to get through to any of the taxi firms I had carefully researched.  We were saved by Uber.  Arnold came in 11 minutes and took us back to Wembury Beach for £15.95.

Sticking entirely to main roads via Yealmpton, we were back in Newton Ferrers in time for tea.  Later, we drove round to The Ship at Nos Mayo to celebrate.  Our risky winter trip had paid off.

You may think us nerdy, but we do feel that we can't claim our SWCP completer's certificate until we have filled all the gaps.  There is one left:  Mullion Cove to Lizard.  But I think we will wait for the weather to be a bit more reliable.