Domestic (& continental) ferries

[wintonian]

Here's a topic which I think has been sorely neglected here.

Yesterday I was standing out on Haslar marina looking out to HMS's Illustrious, Victory and Warrior, watching the Gosport ferry and the Wightlink Cat whilst the MV Normandie was leaving harbour. Whilst observing all this I was adding up all the domestic ferry services in the county (9 I think), which made me wonder if thereis anywhere else in the country with more domestic (or indeed domestic and non-domestic if you include the 7/ 9 cross channel routes)

So we have:

Domestic

• Lymington - Yarmouth
• Portsmouth - Ryde Pier Head
• Portsmouth - Fishbourne
• Southsea - Ryde Esplanade
• Southampton - West Cowes
• Southampton - East Cowes
• Hythe - southampton
• Hamble - Warsash
• Hayling Island–Eastney

Cross channel

Portsmouth -

• Le Havre (Brittany Ferries & LD lines - does that count as 2?)
• Caen
• Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries & Condor - again does it count as 2?)
• St Malo
• Bilbao
• Santander
• Channel Islands (Guernsey & Jersey)

Does anywhere else in the UK have as many (or more) domestic (or continental) ferry routes?

 

[Liam]

Much larger area, but there are plenty of ferries in Argyll and Bute or to and from Argyll and Bute.

Car ferries:

Oban-Craignure
Oban-Barra and South Uist
Oban-Tiree and Coll
Oban-Colonsay
Oban-Lismore
Tobermory-Kilchoan
Lochaline-Fishnish
Kerrera
Iona
Kennacraig-Islay
Islay-Jura
Gigha
Luing
Tarbert-Portavadie
Claonaig-Lochranza
Brodick-Ardrossan
Rothesay-Wemyss Bay
Collintraive
McInroys Point-Hunters Quay


Passenger ferries:
Port Appin-Lismore
Tobermory-Drimnin
Kerrera marina
Gourock-Dunoon
Campbeltown-Ballycastle

I make that 12 in the Oban/Mull area alone.

 

[wintonian]

Ah yes, I was thinking somewhere in the extremity's of Scotland would put old Pompy back in it's place.

 

[coastwallker]

There's a couple more

Southampton - Hythe
Bosham - West Itchenor

 

[jopsuk]

Here's a topic which I think has been sorely neglected here.Cross channel[/B]

Portsmouth -
[*] Le Havre (Brittany Ferries & LD lines - does that count as 2?)

These are completely seperate companies with no ticketing cooperation- yes

[*] Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries & Condor - again does it count as 2?)

Hmm, tricky. Brittany Ferries and Condor do have partnership agreements (especially the joint-operated Cherbourg-Poole route) and it is possible to get tickets that are Condor one way, Brittany Ferries the other.

 

[Liam]

Ah yes, I was thinking somewhere in the extremity's of Scotland would put old Pompy back in it's place.

I should probably add that while those are the routes, some Calmac ferries do a number of routes. There are 3 large vessels at Oban, MV Isle of Mull, Clansman, and Lord of the Isles. They share the Craignure, Tiree/Coll, Barra/South Uist and Colonsay services. MV Finlaggan also calls Oban from Kennacraig via Colonsay once a week. In winter Clansman generally covers elsewhere, covering other vessels absence for annual survey. The Ardrossan-Brodick service is generally handled by MV Caledonian Isles, but in summer is helped by MV Isle of Arran. Rothesay is handled by twins Argyle and Bute, but other vessels (Lord of the Isles, Isle of Arran, Coruisk) can serve this route if required. Islay ferries are Finlaggan and Hebridean Isles, but Lord of the Isles and Isle of Arran have also served here in the past.

 

[wintonian]

Southampton - Hythe

I put that under Hythe - Southampton.

Bosham - West Itchenor

I'm fairly sure that's in (West) Sussex - the boarder being just east of Emsworth.

But I did miss out the Keyhaven - Hurst Spit ferry, although it might only half count.

 

[Lrd]

How about West Cowes to East Cowes chain ferry?

 

[wintonian]

How about West Cowes to East Cowes chain ferry?

If you want, but I thinking about ferries in the ceremonial county of Hampshire rather than the old rather obscure county of Hampshire & Isle of Wight.

 

[coastwallker]

I put that under Hythe - Southampton.

I'm fairly sure that's in (West) Sussex - the boarder being just east of Emsworth.

But I did miss out the Keyhaven - Hurst Spit ferry, although it might only half count.

You did and I misread county for country (no hope, I'm afraid)

Keyhaven is a good one - much better than walking along the spit

 

[Zamracene749]

Agree that our little ferries are a much neglected subject.

Is there a comprehensive list of these crossings on the web, or perhaps we could start one here with a sticky?

A highlight of old trips to see a mate in Fawley was crossing the Solent aboard Hotspur IV, probably the most rateable passenger ferry in the country. I'm not sure if she is still serviceable?

 

[Lrd]

Hotspur IV still gets a little run out every now and then, Great Expectations is the main one used.

 

[burns20]

Some from the North West:

Liverpool-Douglas
Heysham-Douglas
Knott End-Fleetwood
Windermere-Hawkshead Chain Ferry
Birkenhead-Dublin
Heysham-Warrenpoint
Piel Island-Roa Island

 

[craig87034]

The Cromarty-Nigg ferry is rather rateable (Summer only) will even detour to get close to the dolphins!

 

[wintonian]

Agree that our little ferries are a much neglected subject.

Is there a comprehensive list of these crossings on the web, or perhaps we could start one here with a sticky?

Dunno about a sticky but I like the idea of creating a list.

As such I will add in the Sandbanks - Studland Bay chain ferry and apart from the river boat services in London and Bristol I think my knowledge of domestic ferries ends. Is there still one to the Scilly Isles? I guess there must be since the helicopter is no more.

 

[richw]

Hmm, tricky. Brittany Ferries and Condor do have partnership agreements (especially the joint-operated Cherbourg-Poole route) and it is possible to get tickets that are Condor one way, Brittany Ferries the other.

Now incorrect, their agreement ended last at the End of September 2012. Brittany Ferries have brought Barfleur back into service to operate the Poole Cherbourg solely again. The Condor fast ferry will be solely going to channel islands from this season

 

[starrymarkb]

A few in the SW

Butts Ferry (Exeter)
Exeter Quay - Doublelock
DoubleLock - Turf (compete with requirement to duck for the low bridges)
Topsham Ferry
Topsham - Turf
Exmouth - Starcross
Dartmouth Higher Car Ferry
Dartmouth Lower Car Ferry (an unusual one as the unpowered ferry is towed by a Tugboat)
Cremyl Ferry
Torpoint Ferry (Probably one of the highest frequencies in the UK with a crossing every 10 mins at peak times)
King Harry Ferry (north of Falmouth - one of the most scenic in the world)
There are a few in Falmouth Harbour

Longer runs
Ilfracombe to Lundy
Plymouth to Roscoff
Plymouth to Santander
Penzance to St Marys (IOS)

 

[richw]

A few in the SW

King Harry Ferry (north of Falmouth - one of the most scenic in the world)
There are a few in Falmouth Harbour

On the River Fal

Falmouth to St Mawes,
Falmouth to Flushing,
falmouth Park and Float, (like a park and ride, but with a ferry along the river, from outskirts of town to town)
Falmouth to Truro
Falmouth to Trelissick
St Mawes to Plaice
Trelissick to St Mawes
Helford Village to Helford Passage at the mouth of the river where it joins the fal and helford river
King Harry Ferry
Falmouth to Smugglers Cottage
Falmouth water taxi (private hire rather like a road taxi between any suitable places)
St Mawes Water Taxi
There is also numerous ferries proviiding various river cruises with no landings

 

[Zamracene749]

Great to hear Hotspur IV is still going.

I can only add two ferries to our list for the north east region, the Shields ferry across the mouth of the tyne, and the DFDS service to Ijmuiden(Amsterdam)

There are regular trips from Seahouses to the Farne islands, they do call into the islands but are pleasure trips so they don't really count.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Ah yes, I was thinking somewhere in the extremity's of Scotland would put old Pompy back in it's place.

I could add one that our family have used, but on the north-east coast of Scotland:-

Pentland Ferries.....Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope

 

[martinsh]

Some from the North West:

Liverpool-Douglas
Heysham-Douglas
Knott End-Fleetwood
Windermere-Hawkshead Chain Ferry
Birkenhead-Dublin
Heysham-Warrenpoint
Piel Island-Roa Island

You've forgotten the most famous ones !

Liverpool - Birkenhead
Liverpool - Seacombe / Wallasey

 

[jamesontheroad]

There's been some confusion in this thread about which single county has the most ferries. Up there for contention with Hampshire will be Shetland (which was redesignated a region from county in the seventies). Entirely within it are:

Yell - Toft
Unst - Fetlar
Yell - Fetlar
Unst - Yell
Laxo - Whalsay
Vildin - Out Skerries
Lerwick - Out Skerries
Lerwick - Bressay
West Burrafirth - Papa Stour
Walls - Foula
Sumburgh - Fair Isle

And if you include ferries to Scotland:

Lerwick - Kirkwall
Lerwick - Aberdeen

I'm less familiar with Orkney (likewise not a county but a Lieutenancy Area, but wholly within the islands are routes to:

Eday
Egilsay
Flotta
Graemsay and North Hoy
Graemsay
Hoy and Flotta
Lyness (Hoy)
North Isles
North Ronaldsay
Papa Westray
Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre
Rousay
Sanday
Shapinsay
Stronsay
Westray
Wyre

Then to mainland Scotland:

Gills Bay - St Margaret's Hope
John o' Groats - Burwick
Lerwick - Kirkwall
Aberdeen - Kirkwall
Scrabster Harbour - Stromness

 

[Blindtraveler]

i see Iv been beaten to it with the Northern isles. Yes thats pritty much it! A point worth noting is that the John O Grotes and St Margarets hope services are purely comercial with the former being summer only.

The Stromness to Scrabster and Lerwick Kirkwall Aberdeen are Scottish Government funded and recently the opperating jbontract was won by Serco who are making a huge mess of it!

 

[richw]

There's been some confusion in this thread about which single county has the most ferries.

Didnt realise solely was looking at counties, I only gave solely from Falmouth.

Falmouth to St Mawes,
Falmouth to Flushing,
falmouth Park and Float, (like a park and ride, but with a ferry along the river, from outskirts of town to town)
Falmouth to Truro
Falmouth to Trelissick
St Mawes to Plaice
Trelissick to St Mawes
Helford Village to Helford Passage at the mouth of the river where it joins the fal and helford river
King Harry Ferry
Falmouth to Smugglers Cottage
Falmouth water taxi (private hire rather like a road taxi between any suitable places)
St Mawes Water Taxi
There is also numerous ferries proviiding various river cruises with no landings

Torpoint -Plymouth
Mount Edgecombe - Plymouth
Fowey - Polruan
Fowey - Bodinnick
Padstow- Rock
Penzance - Isle of Scilly
Mevagissey - Fowey
I also missed Falmouth - Malpas above.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Birkenhead to Belfast is missing from this.

 

[swt_passenger]

Here's a topic which I think has been sorely neglected here.

Yesterday I was standing out on Haslar marina looking out to HMS's Illustrious, Victory and Warrior, watching the Gosport ferry and ...

Which didn't get into your list for some reason? hock:

 

[Anon Mouse]

North Shields - South Shields

 

[wintonian]

Which didn't get into your list for some reason? hock:

Drat!

Nobody likes a clever clogs.

 

[W-on-Sea]

So... thinking of Essex: (all foot passenger only, some seasonal)

Tilbury - Gravesend
Burnham-on-Crouch - Wallasea Island
East Mersea - Brightlingsea - Point Clear
Wivenhoe - Fingringhoe/Rowhedge
Harwich - Felixstowe/Shotley
maybe others I've forgotten, or didn't know about...

and various continental ferries from Harwich

 

[34D]

Are there any domestic boats in Yorkshire or near? I'd quite like to take my little boy on one tbh