Undated summer table on the operator's listing (first ferry 08:30, last 18:30); the South West Coast Path gives summer hours to 31 October and winter hours from 1 November · 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
The Salcombe Ferry Co Ltd
Map – Salcombe Ferry
No fare was found on the operator's listing, on Salcombe Information Centre's pages or on the operator's Instagram page, so none is published here. Ring the operator on 01548 842061 for the current fare. Prices quoted by guide and aggregator sites differ from each other and were not used.
The Salcombe to East Portlemouth ferry is a short foot crossing of the Kingsbridge Estuary, linking Salcombe's waterfront with the east shore. The operator is listed by Salcombe Information Centre as The Salcombe Ferry Co Ltd, and the listing calls it a daily service across the estuary that gives access to coastal paths, coves and sandy beaches. It is marked dog friendly. Its ferry-services page says the ferry runs daily throughout the year, which sets it apart from the South Sands Ferry, a spring-to-autumn service.
What the operator publishes is a pair of limits, not a list of departures. Its summer table gives a first ferry of 08:30 and a last ferry of 18:30, the same on weekdays and on weekends and bank holidays, with the frequency described as continuous. The South West Coast Path's ferry page describes a ferry every half hour and gives 08:30 to 17:00 for 1 November to 31 March. The operator's Instagram bio gives 8:30am to 6:00pm and asks people to call, so the last ferry of the day is worth confirming by phone on 01548 842061.
The Salcombe landing changes with the calendar. Salcombe Information Centre's ferry map shows the Ferry Steps, the remains of Jubilee Pier below Fore Street, in use from 1 April to 31 October and Whitestrand Pontoon from 1 November to 31 March. That page ties the change to dates, not to the tide, and we have not added anything about the state of the tide at East Portlemouth.
Three boats are easy to confuse here. The South Sands Ferry, which has its own page on this site, runs only in a spring-to-autumn season from Whitestrand to a beach with no jetty and closes on 31 October 2026. The Kingsbridge to Salcombe ferry is a 35-minute run up the estuary that follows the tides. This one is the quick hop across the water, and it carries on after the others have stopped.
No fare appears on the listing, the ferry-services page or the Instagram page we read, so none is listed here. Ring ahead to ask.
- 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
Yes. Salcombe Information Centre says it runs daily throughout the year. The South West Coast Path and the South Devon National Landscape give winter hours of 08:30 to 17:00 for 1 November to 31 March.
The operator's summer table shows a first ferry at 08:30 and a last ferry at 18:30 on weekdays, weekends and bank holidays. Its Instagram bio says 8:30am to 6:00pm, so ring 01548 842061 before relying on the last ferry.
The operator calls the frequency continuous and publishes no departure times. The South West Coast Path's page describes a ferry every half hour.
Salcombe Information Centre's map shows the Ferry Steps, by The Ferry Inn on Fore Street, from 1 April to 31 October, and Whitestrand Pontoon from 1 November to 31 March.
No fare appears on the operator's listing, on the Salcombe Information Centre pages read or on the operator's Instagram page. Ring the operator on 01548 842061 for the current fare.
No. The South Sands Ferry is a separate seasonal boat from Whitestrand to South Sands beach, due to stop on 31 October 2026. The East Portlemouth ferry crosses the estuary and runs through the year.
The operator's listing is marked dog friendly. It gives no dog fare and no rules, so ask the crew.
No booking system or ticket website was found for this ferry. Salcombe Information Centre says that at quieter times you should signal to the ferryman on the Salcombe side that you are waiting.