Autumn Timetable, 1 September - 31 October 2026 — live status checked 15 September 2026 · Sailings shown by frequency — exact times from the operator.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~5 min
Frequency
every 20 min
Operator
King Harry Ferry (Fal River)
Map – King Harry Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Foot passenger, single (charity donation) | £1.00 |
| Car, single | £8.00 |
| Car, day return | £12.00 |
| Van (3.4-16 tonnes / 6-wheel commercial), single | £12.00 |
| Van (3.4-16 tonnes / 6-wheel commercial), day return | £18.00 |
| Coach (25-seat max) or large camper/motorhome, single | £11.50 |
| Coach (25-seat max) or large camper/motorhome, day return | £17.00 |
| Motorbike, single | £3.30 |
| Motorbike, day return | £5.50 |
| Push bike, single | £2.10 |
| Push bike, day return | £3.20 |
| Private trailer, single | £8.00 |
| Private trailer, day return | £12.00 |
| Braked or commercial trailer, single | £11.50 |
| Braked or commercial trailer, day return | £17.00 |
Fares are paid on board, per vehicle (or per foot passenger), when the crew member comes round after boarding — there is no online ticket or pre-booking for single and day-return crossings. Per the operator's own FAQ, single and day-return fares are paid by cash; card payment on board is currently accepted only for topping up a Fal Mussel Card account (the operator says an all-card ticketing system is being introduced but was not live at the time of research, so do not rely on contactless for a one-off crossing). Foot passengers are asked for a £1 charity donation rather than a fixed fare. Regular users can buy a Fal Mussel Card Local for a discount of more than half the standard fare. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The King Harry Ferry is a chain (cable) ferry crossing the River Fal at King Harry Passage, linking Feock — on the Truro and Falmouth side — with Philleigh on the Roseland Peninsula. Run since 1888 by the King Harry Steam Ferry Company, now trading under the Fal River brand, it is one of only five chain ferries still operating in England. The ferry itself is guided across the river by two 270-metre chains and weighs over 300 tonnes, carrying cars, vans, motorhomes, motorbikes, bicycles and foot passengers on a crossing of only a few minutes.
The ferry runs seven days a week, all year round, departing every 20 minutes from each side: on the hour, 20 past and 20 to from Feock, and 10 past, half past and 10 to from Philleigh. Hours change with the season — as of 15 September 2026 it is running to the Autumn Timetable (1 September to 31 October), with a first sailing at 07:00 (09:00 on Sundays and public holidays) and a last sailing at 21:20 from Feock / 21:30 from Philleigh. Hours shorten for winter from 1 November and lengthen again for spring and summer.
Because the ferry avoids a 27-mile road detour through Truro and Tresillian, it is a genuine transport link rather than just a scenic ride: locals commute on it, and around 650 vehicles a day use the crossing. That also means a real, practical question when it isn't running — whether for maintenance, a mechanical fault, or bad weather and tide — is what to do instead: the only alternative is the long way round via Truro, adding many miles and well over half an hour compared with the direct crossing, so it is worth checking the live status banner on the operator's own site before setting out.
Vehicles have a 16-tonne weight limit and a 3.7 m (12'3") height restriction because of a low bridge on the Trelissick side, and full-size coaches are not carried (only 25-seat midi-coaches). Fares are paid on board rather than booked in advance, and regular users can buy a discounted Fal Mussel Card Local instead of paying the standard single or day-return fare each time.
- 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
Check the live status banner on falriver.co.uk/ferries/king-harry-ferry — it shows green for running, amber for disruption or red for not running, and is updated the same day. On 15 September 2026 at 20:08 it showed green, 'Running 7 days a week to Autumn Timetable', with last sailings at 21:20 and 21:30.
A car costs £8 single or £12 day return. A motorbike is £3.30 single / £5.50 day return, a bicycle £2.10 / £3.20, a van (3.4-16 tonnes) £12 / £18, and a small coach or large motorhome £11.50 / £17. Foot passengers are asked for a £1 charity donation rather than a fixed fare.
Every 20 minutes from each side, 7 days a week, all year. On the current Autumn Timetable (1 September - 31 October 2026), the first sailing from Feock is 07:00 (09:00 on Sundays and public holidays) and the last is 21:20; from Philleigh it's 07:10 (09:10 Sundays/holidays) with a last sailing at 21:30.
Not reliably for a single crossing or day return — the operator's own FAQ says those are paid in cash on board, with card currently accepted only for topping up a Fal Mussel Card account, while a full card-payment system is being introduced. Bring cash to be safe.
Yes — the Fal Mussel Card Local is a pre-paid account card for regular users that costs less than half the standard single/return fare per crossing. It's ordered online or picked up from crew and can be topped up and managed online.
The only alternative is the road route around via Truro and Tresillian, which the operator itself describes as 27 miles longer than the direct ferry crossing — so a mechanical fault, bad weather or a tidal restriction can add a significant detour to a journey the ferry normally covers in a few minutes.
It runs every day of the year, but the hours change with the season. From 1 November 2026 it moves to the Winter Timetable, with the same 07:00/07:10 first sailings but earlier last sailings of 19:20 (Feock) and 19:30 (Philleigh).
Yes — 16 tonnes gross maximum weight and a 3.7 m (12'3") height limit because of a low bridge on the Trelissick side. Full-size coaches aren't carried, only 25-seat midi-coaches; motorhomes and caravans are fine if they don't have long overhangs that could ground on the ferry ramps.