Season ended: the operator's service notice of 12 October 2026 says it expects to be back in operation mid-April 2027 · 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
Crossing time
~35 min
Operator
Kingsbridge Salcombe Ferry Company Ltd
Map – Kingsbridge Salcombe Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, single (Kingsbridge or Salcombe) | £13.00 |
| Child (4 to 16), single | £6.50 |
| Child under 4 | Free |
Fares are for a one-way ferry trip and are paid on board, in cash or by card or contactless. The ferry cannot be booked in advance: the operator says it works first come, first served, and the poster says the crew decide how many passengers each trip can take. Child fares apply to ages 4 to 16 and under-4s travel free. No separate fare is listed for dogs or bicycles. Harbour, creek and coastal cruises are priced separately and are not part of the ferry fare. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Kingsbridge Salcombe Ferry is a 35-minute passenger trip up and down the estuary between the head of Kingsbridge creek and the Salcombe waterfront. The operator, Kingsbridge Salcombe Ferry Company Ltd, uses the Lady Mary, which its website describes as a Maritime and Coastguard Agency certified passenger ferry with 50 seats. It is a separate route from the Salcombe to East Portlemouth hop and from the South Sands Ferry, which each have their own page on this site.
The timetable is set by the tide. The operator explains that when the water is not high enough the Lady Mary cannot reach the head of Kingsbridge creek and uses the Crabshell Inn quay instead, and that high water moves by about an hour each day, so sailing times change daily. There is no fixed pattern to publish. The operator issues a poster and an online calendar for each period; the September and October 2026 poster, for example, put the first Salcombe departure at 10:00 on 3 October and 12:40 on 6 October. That poster stops at Saturday 10 October, so the board here shows no times.
The operator gives its normal season as April to October. On 12 October 2026 it posted a service notice on its website saying the main ferry season has now come to an end for this year, and that it expects to be back in operation mid-April 2027. Its timetable for next season is not published yet; the service notice on its website is where it posts interruptions and updates.
An adult single is £13.00 and a child single, for ages 4 to 16, is £6.50, with under-4s free. There is no advance booking for the ferry; the crew decide how many passengers each trip can take, and payment on board is by cash, card or contactless. Well-behaved dogs on leads and bicycles are accepted, and the poster invites passengers with reduced mobility to ring the ferry office before joining.
A second website, kingsbridgesalcombeferry.co.uk, still comes up in searches. It is an archive of the older vessel Rivermaid, which it says left the estuary after the 2019 season, and its timetables are history.
- 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
No. The operator's service notice, updated 12 October 2026, says the main ferry season has now come to an end for this year and that it expects to be back in operation mid-April 2027. Its last poster timetable listed sailings up to Saturday 10 October.
The operator says the service runs around the tides and the time of high water changes by about an hour each day. The Lady Mary cannot reach the head of Kingsbridge creek when the tide is low.
An adult single is £13.00 and a child single, ages 4 to 16, is £6.50. Under-4s are free. The fares are paid on board.
No. The operator says the ferry runs first come, first served, and its poster says there is no need to book ferry sailings. The crew decide how many passengers each trip can carry.
The operator says the trip takes 35 minutes each way.
In Kingsbridge, from Steamer Steps at the head of the creek or, when the tide is low, from the Crabshell Inn quay. In Salcombe, from the Ferry Inn Steps, or from Whitestrand Pontoon in October according to the operator's poster.
Yes to both, according to the operator's FAQ: well-behaved dogs must be kept on a lead, and the operator reserves the right to refuse any animal. No fare for either is listed.
The operator's poster points to the Tally Ho! 164 bus between Kingsbridge and Salcombe, about hourly, Monday to Saturday. Taxis are also mentioned in its FAQ.