With five estuaries in the National Landscape, ferries are an important and enjoyable way to get around.
If you are walking the South West Coast Path, they form an essential link across the estuaries. As they are dependent on tides and weather, it is best to check with the ferry operator on the day, before setting off.
Price per crossing
Single crossing
£4 Adult (14 years+)
£2 Child (4 to 13 years. Under 4’s travel free.)
£2 Bicycles
Well behaved dogs travel free
Family saver return crossing
£20 2 adults, 2 children
DO NOT attempt to swim across the water.
If needing to cross the estuary, we recommend you carefully plan your route to take place when the seasonal ferry is running. A better alternative to walking round is to take a taxi or use buses (see information further down this page).
Due to the shape of the estuary, the agreed England Coast Path alternative route is fairly long at 18km and involves some busy roads. We have mapped this route, see below:
DO NOT attempt to swim across the water.
You will need to take a bus or taxi. Alternatively, walk around on the very pleasant nine mile waymarked Avon Estuary walk.
The Erme can usually be waded across one hour either side of low tide, when the water will not come up much higher than an adults knee.
A short video of wading the Erme is coming soon, in the meantime please enjoy the video below:
For bus routes and timetable enquiries, call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or go to www.travelinesw.com
Avon Estuary
Arrow Cars: 01548 856120 or 07967 560467
HR Taxis: 07946 322824
Taxi-Mike: 07714 512516
Yealm and Erme Estuaries
Wembury Cabs: 01752 881651 or 07882 267436
Ivy Cabs: 01752 895555
Ivybridge Taxi: 01752 892222
A3122 Dartmouth outskirts TQ6 9LW
Open 25 March to 29 October 2023 (buses running)
Ticket £5 8am – 7pm for cars and motorcycles (parking and bus trip). £3 2pm – 7pm.
Prices and times may differ during Dartmouth Regatta.
For latest information check: www.southhams.gov.uk
Additional note – When there is no seasonal bus service from this car park, check machine for charges.
It is possible to walk into and there is alternatively a public bus service available, charges apply. The bus stop for this service is located nearby, outside Sainsbury’s supermarket.
A381 Salcombe outskirts.
Open 8 July to 3 September 2023 (buses running, fares apply).
£3 per day to park. Charges apply all day / every day of the year.
For latest information check: www.salcombetowncouncil.gov.uk
Additional note – When there is no seasonal service from this car park it is possible to walk into town or there is a public bus service that runs daily and can be used for journeys to and from the town. This is a very limited service on Sundays and Public Holidays.
The bus stop for this service is approximately 200 metres along Main Road (past the petrol station and over the brow of the hill) at the junction of Onslow Road and Main Road (known locally as Beadon Cross).
To aid South West Coast Path and England Coast Path walkers plan their route, low tide times are reproduced on the South Devon National Landscape website and the Spring/Summer (Apr-Sep) estuary crossing information panels located on the Yealm and Avon estuaries and year round on the Erme estuary.
Tide times are needed to cross the Erme Estuary, there is no ferry service but the Erme may usually be waded across one hour either side of low tide, when the water will not come up much higher than an adults knee.
Note the following:
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
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