SERVICE ALERT, read on the operator's own channel on 16 September 2026: Exeter Port Authority has announced that the ferry will NOT run on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026 because of staff sickness. The pattern below is the normal one. Normal season pattern: Wednesday to Sunday, through September 2026, tides permitting. · 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
Exeter City Council (Exeter Port Authority)
Map – Topsham Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, single | £2.50 |
| Bicycle, single (in addition to the passenger fare) | £1.50 |
| Child under five, pushchair or dog | Free |
| Water taxi, single | £7.00 |
Fares are the 2026 season prices published by Exeter Port Authority, which runs the ferry. They are one-way: there is no return ticket. Payment is by contactless card or cash on board. Weight limits cap each trip at six pedal bicycles or four electric bicycles, so a group of cyclists may have to split across crossings. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Topsham ferry is a small passenger and bicycle crossing of the River Exe at Topsham, a few miles south of Exeter, run by Exeter City Council in its role as Exeter Port Authority, the statutory harbour authority for this stretch of the estuary and the Exeter Ship Canal. It links Topsham Quay, on the town's own waterfront, with the opposite bank near Topsham Lock, where the canal meets the tidal river, giving walkers and cyclists a short-cut onto the Exe Estuary Trail and the canal towpath without the long drive round through Countess Wear.
Unlike a scheduled timetable service, the Topsham ferry runs on request: the ferryman rows or motors passengers across whenever someone is waiting and conditions allow, rather than to advertised clock times. That matters because the crossing depends heavily on the tide and the light as well as the season – on a normal operating day the ferry might start mid-morning and stop mid-afternoon, with the exact hours moving around from one week to the next. A Harbour Master's report to Exeter City Council's committee in June 2026 set out that the ferry was running five days a week through September 2026; going by the days the operator has advertised in its own recent monthly schedules, that means Wednesday to Sunday, with no service on Mondays or Tuesdays.
The service is seasonal rather than year-round, broadly covering the warmer months and standing down through the depths of winter, sometimes with a short extra sailing around Christmas and New Year. Because Exeter City Council does not publish a fixed grid of departure times for this crossing, this page deliberately does not invent one – it sets out the days and general pattern instead, and points you to the notice board at Topsham Quay or the ferryman directly for today's hours. Do not confuse this short river crossing with the separate Topsham to Turf ferry, a different, longer boat trip further down the canal to the Turf Locks pub at the estuary mouth.
- 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
Through the 2026 season it has been running five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday, with no crossings on Monday or Tuesday, confirmed in the council's own Harbour Master report to committee in June 2026. Always check the notice board at Topsham Quay, since operating days can shift with the season.
There is no fixed timetable. The ferryman crosses on request whenever the tide and daylight allow, typically starting mid-morning and finishing mid-to-late afternoon; the exact hours move around week to week and are posted at Topsham Quay rather than published in advance.
Fares are paid to the ferryman on the crossing, by cash or contactless card. A current, council-confirmed price could not be verified for this page, since Exeter City Council's website was unreachable during research – check the board at Topsham Quay or ask the ferryman on the day.
Yes, it is a foot-passenger and bicycle ferry. It does not carry cars or other vehicles.
From Topsham Quay, on the town's own waterfront (The Strand), across to a landing near Topsham Lock on the west bank, where the Exeter Ship Canal meets the river – a useful link onto the canal towpath and the Exe Estuary Trail.
No, not as a full service. It is seasonal and generally stands down through the core winter months once its main season ends, sometimes with a short extra sailing around Christmas and New Year. The exact 2026 end-of-season date had not been published at the time of research.
No. This page covers the short council-run crossing straight over the river between Topsham Quay and Topsham Lock. The Topsham to Turf ferry is a separate, privately run boat trip further down the Exeter Ship Canal to the Turf Locks pub at the mouth of the estuary.