Newton Poppleford is a long village nestling in the Otter Valley which straddles the A3052 main road between Exeter and Sidmouth. It is an attractive rural setting of mainly farmland, bounded by a ridge of heathland to the west and wooded hills to the east. The parish is part of an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and some five miles from the East Devon Heritage Coast.

Newton Poppleford is a good base for walking, with a frequent bus service, a public car park in the centre of the village and a network of footpaths following the river or up over the surrounding hills and commons. There is an important RSPB nature reserve at the top of the hill to the west. There are a few attractive old cottages with thatched roofs, but, as it is a lively community, much of the housing is more recent.

It is well endowed with facilities for visitors with a well stocked Post Office and General Stores, a specialist butcher, two pubs and five other eating places, including an Italian Restaurant and a Chinese Takeaway. It has a world wide reputation for cream teas at the Southern Cross.

For those staying longer there is a thriving primary school and a large number of clubs and societies.