Your own little slice of Haven down in Devon
Situated in the desirable environs of Newton Ferrers, this estuary-side property has views that will never get old


It takes a certain amount of confidence in the quality of your property to name it The Haven. The implication would be that it would have to be a home of the highest standard, something approaching a ‘dream house’.
I imagine each of us have our own ideas of what perfection might look like. I, for example, enjoy my cricket, so would like my own pitch. Someone who likes horses (not me) would be keen on menages, or something like that, and paddocks, so that they can spend time with their giant unpredictable animals.
However, certain things strike me as universal. I think a kitchen island would be pretty much a staple for all these days, as would a top-tier bathroom with all the trimmings. If there’s one thing I know about most humans, it’s that they certainly would find heaven by spending time near the water.
Which leads me back to The Haven, near Newton Ferrers. This four-bedroom property – for sale with Marchand Petit for £1.95 million – certainly ticks the ‘near some water’ box, situated as it is above Newton Creek, which feeds directly into the River Yealm.
I’m trying to think of the correct way to describe the general atmosphere of this place. Nautical feels a little serious, so perhaps ‘seaside chic’ is what we’ll aim for — lots of white, lots of soft-blue hues, plenty of large windows throughout, seashells and wood.
Every bit of this property does what it can to make the most of the sensational setting, making sure it would never be more than a moment that you would lose sight of the Yealm and the Atlantic beyond.
The ground floor is set for entertaining, with large open-plan spaces forming the kitchen, dining and living rooms. Two bedrooms occupy the remainder of the ground floor, while the other two (including the master suite), take up the first floor.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Outside, the gardens wrap around the property and provide plenty of space to sit and enjoy the view with a coffee, as the photographs are desperate to prove, while a garage provides somewhere to park. The property offers water frontage with a mooring, subject to permission from the harbourmaster.
I’m not sure where I’d put my cricket pitch, and it seems unlikely that a horse could be stored here for long. But overall, I think The Haven just about lives up to its name.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Riverside living in a New-England style hillside home
Where the Truro and Tresillian Rivers meet, five bedroom Rivergarth is suitably positioned to take advantage
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
Quentin Blake’s former home for sale, and it’s as wonderfully higgledy-piggledy as his illustrations
This 570-year-old house was until recently the home of the iconic children’s illustrator Quentin Blake. We stepped inside to take

James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
The transformative renovation of a Grade II-listed property with an 'unusual footprint'
Having inherited this fine London townhouse, the new owner asked Sims Hilditch to help refresh the interiors, resulting in a youthful, yet elegant kitchen.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
‘One of the most effective pieces of propaganda ever made’: the Bayeux Tapestry heads to Britain for the first time in almost a millennium
A historic agreement between this country and France sees the 225ft-long tableau — which may have been made in Britain but has been in France since 1077 — arrive at the British Museum in Autumn 2026.
By Carla Passino Published
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countryside
Hartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston Martin
A new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
By James Fisher Published
-
The Mediterranean Magic of Malta
With historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
By Holly Kirkwood Published
-
Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country Life
If Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for sale
Great estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
By Anna White Last updated
-
A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in years
The ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
By Lotte Brundle Published