On demand, 09:30 to 17:00 daily from 1 April to 31 October, with no year given (to 18:00 from 7 July to 7 September); no fixed sailing times. The operator names no year, so the 2026 season is read as ending on 31 October. · Sailings shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Helford River Boats Ltd
Map – Helford Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult to Helford, single | £7.00 |
| Adult to Helford, return | £9.00 |
| Under-12 to Helford, single | £4.00 |
| Under-12 to Helford, return | £6.00 |
| Bicycle and rider to Helford, single | £15.00 |
| Bicycle and rider to Helford, return | £20.00 |
| Adult to Budock Vean, single | £17.00 |
| Adult to Budock Vean, return | £25.00 |
| Under-12 to Budock Vean, single | £12.00 |
| Under-12 to Budock Vean, return | £20.00 |
| Water taxi to other moorings and clubs, per person per trip (from) | £3.00 |
Paid on the boat, by cash or card. Fares are per person per crossing as listed in the operator's charges table; the table has separate columns for Helford village and Budock Vean, and a water taxi column that gives only a range (£3 to £12 per person per trip, dependent on distance). Babies, pushchairs and dogs travel free. The operator's page shows no date for these fares. The £15 single fare for a bicycle and rider is as printed, and is far above the foot passenger fare. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
Helford River Boats Ltd runs this passenger ferry between Helford Passage, on the north bank of the Helford River near Falmouth, and Helford village on the south bank. The operator says the crossing is less than a mile but roughly forty minutes by road, and the operator calls the ferry a favourite with hikers and ramblers on the South West Coast Path. The company dates the ferry back a thousand years and also hires out motor boats, kayaks and paddleboards from the same beach.
It is a small on-demand boat rather than a timetabled shuttle. The operator publishes opening hours, not sailing times: 09:30 to 17:00 every day from 1 April to 31 October, stretching to 18:00 from 7 July to 7 September, and says the ferry runs on demand allowing for tidal flow. There is no published minimum frequency, so a short wait is normal. On the Passage side the boat leaves from a movable private pontoon on the beach in front of the Ferry Boat Inn. In Helford village it uses the jetty at Helford Point, and the operator asks you to open the yellow circular sign so the crew can see from across the water that someone is waiting. You can also ring the kiosk on 01326 250770.
You pay on the boat, cash or card. The fares are quoted per crossing: £7 for an adult single and £9 return, £4 or £6 for a child under 12, and a bicycle and rider is priced at £15 single or £20 return. Babies, pushchairs and dogs travel free. The same table lists longer trips to Budock Vean, and the boat doubles as a water taxi for up to 12 passengers to moorings and sailing clubs, booked on VHF channel 37 or M1 or by phone, at £3 to £12 a head depending on distance.
The season is the point to remember. The operator's own page gives 1 April to 31 October as the ferry's operating window and its kiosk phone number is listed as seasonal for the same dates, and it publishes nothing for after 31 October. The page names no year for those dates, which is why this listing reads 31 October 2026 as the season's last day, treats 1 April as the usual reopening day without confirming a 2027 date, and asks you to phone if you are travelling in the final week or the shoulder months. Nothing is published about winter running, so ring the kiosk before a winter visit.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
It runs on demand. From Helford village, open the yellow circular sign at the jetty so the crew can see you are waiting; from Helford Passage, walk down to the pontoon in front of the Ferry Boat Inn. The kiosk number is 01326 250770.
The operator's page gives 1 April to 31 October as the running window, and lists the kiosk number as seasonal for the same dates. The page does not name a year, so treat Saturday 31 October 2026 as the expected last day and ring the kiosk to confirm before a late-October trip. No winter service is published, and the operator has not announced a 2027 opening date; the usual opening day is 1 April.
From 09:30 to 17:00 daily between 1 April and 31 October, and from 09:30 to 18:00 daily between 7 July and 7 September. There are no fixed departure times: it sails on demand, allowing for the tide.
To Helford village an adult pays £7 single or £9 return, and a child under 12 pays £4 single or £6 return. A bicycle and rider is £15 single or £20 return. Babies, pushchairs and dogs travel free. Payment is made on the boat by cash or card.
The operator says it runs on demand 'allowing for tidal flow' and that the Passage-side pontoon is movable, but does not publish tide-related closures or times. Ring the kiosk if you are cutting it fine, especially near low water.
Yes to both. Dogs and pushchairs travel free. A bicycle and rider is priced at £15 single or £20 return according to the operator's table, which is much more than a foot passenger fare, so it is worth asking the crew before you board.
Helford Passage, near Falmouth (TR11 5LB), from a movable private pontoon on the beach in front of the Ferry Boat Inn, and Helford village, from the jetty at Helford Point. It sits on the South West Coast Path, according to the operator.
The operator's standing window begins on 1 April, with ferry hours of 09:30 to 17:00. Its page names no year and carries no dated notice about 2027, so 1 April 2027 is the usual opening day rather than an announced one. Ring the kiosk on 01326 250770 to confirm.