Dartmouth Lower Ferry

What it’s like

A short chug across the Dart between Dartmouth and Kingswear, with the naval college and castle sliding past as you go.

This is the ferry that gets you across the river rather than round it, but the view does most of the entertaining. You get Dartmouth and Kingswear from the water, Britannia Royal Naval College up on its hill, Dartmouth Castle further along, and the open sea beyond that. For a small child who just likes boats, that's plenty.

It runs early, from just after seven in the morning on weekdays and Saturdays, a bit later on Sundays, and keeps going until nearly eleven at night. That's a proper working ferry timetable rather than an attraction's opening hours, so it fits round a day out instead of dictating one. It runs all year, skipping only Christmas Day.

There's no booking link, which suggests you just turn up at the crossing and go when the next one leaves. Crews help wheelchair users on and off, and the boat's built to take them, so a buggy shouldn't cause anyone a headache either. The crossing itself is short, more a means of getting somewhere than a destination in its own right, but it's a nice way to start or finish a day in Dartmouth with kids who'd rather be on water than off it.

Need to know

Wheelchairs

Fully equipped to accommodate wheelchair users

• The main event is the view: naval college, castle and the open sea from the water.
• It runs into late evening, so it works for an after-dinner crossing as well as a daytime one.
• No booking, you just turn up and catch the next one.

Plan your visit

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