Autumn Timetable, 7 September - 1 November 2026 (live status checked 22 September 2026)
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~20 min
Operator
Cornwall Ferries Limited, trading as Fal River
Map – St Mawes Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, single | £11.00 |
| Adult, day return | £16.50 |
| Child (4-16), single | £7.50 |
| Child (4-16), day return | £10.50 |
| Concession (student or 65+), day return | £16.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 3 children), day return | £48.00 |
| Child under 4, single or return | Free |
| Bicycle | Free |
Tickets can be bought on the day at the St Mawes, Prince of Wales Pier or Custom House Quay ticket offices, on board the ferry, or online in advance at a 10% discount (online tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and do not tie you to a specific sailing). All return fares are day returns only. Groups of 10 or more get a 10% discount by calling ahead. Family tickets cover up to 2 adults and 3 children; concession covers students with valid ID and the over-65s; carers travelling with a disabled passenger travel free, and disabled passengers themselves qualify for the concession rate. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The St Mawes Ferry is a passenger-only boat service across Carrick Roads, the wide natural harbour formed where the River Fal meets the sea, connecting the working port of Falmouth with the fishing village of St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula. It is run by Cornwall Ferries Limited under the Fal River brand, using a small fleet of classic wooden ferries — including the Duchess of Cornwall, hand-built by Cockwells in 2008 — that between them carry well over 160,000 passengers a year on a route that has operated in some form since 1827.
What catches out first-time visitors is that Falmouth has two separate landing points for this ferry, and which one is in use depends on the season. From the current Autumn timetable (7 September to 1 November 2026), sailings alternate roughly every 30 minutes between Prince of Wales Pier and Custom House Quay, about a 10-minute walk apart; from 2 November the service drops to an hourly departure and moves entirely to Prince of Wales Pier, since Custom House Quay does not run any winter sailings at all. Getting off at the wrong Falmouth pier by mistake means a longer walk back into town than expected, so it is worth checking the departure board or asking crew which pier a particular sailing uses.
The crossing itself takes about 20 minutes each way, passing Pendennis Castle, St Mawes Castle and the busy docks of one of the world's deepest natural harbours, with dolphins, seals and basking sharks an occasional bonus. Bikes travel free, dogs are welcome, and access at both ends involves steps down to the water that can be slippery and, at low tide, as many as twenty of them. Tickets are sold at ticket offices on both sides, on board, or online with a 10% discount, and this is a distinct Fal River route from the vehicle-carrying King Harry Ferry further up the same river.
- 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/st-mawes-ferry, which shows green for running, amber for disruption or red for not running, updated the same day. Checked live on 22 September 2026 at 09:44 it showed amber, with two early sailings cancelled for fog and others under review.
It depends on the season. On the current Autumn timetable (7 September-1 November 2026), sailings alternate between both piers roughly every 30 minutes. From 2 November through to April 2027, the winter timetable uses Prince of Wales Pier only — Custom House Quay does not operate in winter at all.
An adult single is £11 and a day return is £16.50. A child (4-16) is £7.50 single / £10.50 return, a family ticket (2 adults + 3 children) is £48 return, and concessions (students, over-65s) pay £16 return. Under-4s and bikes travel free. Buying online saves 10% off these prices.
On the current Autumn timetable it runs roughly twice an hour, 7 days a week, dropping to once an hour from 2 November. The crossing itself takes about 20 minutes each way, or you can stay aboard for a round trip of about an hour.
Yes — it runs 364 days a year. The frequency and Falmouth pier both change for winter: from 2 November 2026 to around the end of April 2027 it's an hourly service from Prince of Wales Pier only, rather than the twice-hourly, two-pier autumn pattern.
Yes, both are welcome. Bikes travel free of charge (remove any panniers before boarding), and dogs are dog-friendly and also travel free.
No. Both are Fal River services on the same river system, but they are different routes: the St Mawes Ferry is a passenger-only boat between Falmouth and St Mawes across Carrick Roads, while the King Harry Ferry is a vehicle-carrying chain ferry further upstream between Feock and Philleigh.
Access at both St Mawes and Falmouth is down steps to the water, which at low tide can be up to about 20 steps and may be slippery, so boarding is not step-free. There are no dedicated accessible boarding facilities described by the operator; take care and ask crew for assistance if needed.