The threads on withdrawn ferries led me to think: where are there still regular ferries across inland (ie non-tidal) waterways in this country? Genuine regular ferries, not pleasure boat trips disguised for some kind of tax purpose. (This is going to be a bit of a grey area with things like the boats that do the length of Windermere!)
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British inland ferries
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Southsider
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I think some of the pleasure boats on Loch Lomond also provide a regular service for school children.
I can think of the following ferry routes which are all ordinary public routes and all appear to currently operate although i think some may be seasonal.
SURREY & LONDON:
Weybridge - Shepperton
Molesey - Sunbury
Molesey - Hampton
Hampton Court - Hampton
Twickenham - Petersham
SUSSEX & HAMPSHIRE:
West Itchenor - Bosham
Hamble - Warsash
Southampton - Hythe
Portsmouth - Gosport
Eastney - Hayling
ISLE OF WIGHT:
East Cowes - West Cowes
DORSET:
Sandbanks - Studland
Poole - Brownsea
Hengistbury - Mudeford
Hengistbury - Christchurch - Tuckton
Christchurch - Wick
ESSEX & SUFFOLK:
Burnham On Crouch - Wallasea
Brightlingsea - Point Clear - East Mersey
Felixstowe - Harwich - Shotley
Felixstowe - Bawdsey
Orford - Butley
Orford - Orford Ness - Havergate Island
Southwold - Walberswick
I am not sure if some of these would be considered inland or tidal as a lot of them operate very close to the coast but do not actually go in to the sea.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Woolwich Ferry?
High Dyke
Established Member
A few i can think.of.
- Reedham chain ferry, Norfolk
- Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
- Hampton ferry, Evesham, Worcestershire
- Normanton on Soar, Nottinghamshire
- Spalding water taxi, Lincolnshire
- Manchester Ship Canal, a couple of ferries in the Warrington area.
One of my reasons for tge “non-tidal” restriction was the assumption that the list of estuarine ferries (and indeed those to offshore islands where there is little alternative) would just be too long. There are lots of places inland where pub and road names indicate historical existence of a river ferry but now boast a bridge - I was therefore wondering about the survivors against the odds.
zwk500
Veteran Member
Does this extend to something like the Woolwich ferry, which is on a tidal part of the river Thames, or the Bristol Ferries which are on the formerly tidal, now impounded, Floating Harbour, which can still be overtopped by a particularly strong tide and the Avon alongside is tidal alongside?
(The Bristol Ferries arguably fail your 'disguised tourist trip' criterion, but they do run to a timetable and are used for transport).
If I’m being called upon to exercise the Wisdom of Solomon (or the Judgement of Paris?), I’d say Woolwich (or anything downstream of Teddington Lock) doesn’t count but the Floating Harbour would as it’s not supposed to be tidal. IIRC the Bristol Ferries do single-leg pricing that includes crossing the Harbour, so yes, it counts.
Most rivers are tidal quite a long way in lnland.
For example, the Thames is tidal up to Teddington Lock, so all of these count except Twickenham.
This one is very definitely tidal: the Blyth is tidal to upstream of Blythburgh.
Although a long way inland, this is nevertheless tidal: the Yare is tidal upstream to Norwich.
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
All the ferries I can think of in Devon & Cornwall are tidal; a honourable mention, however, to the Calstock Ferry (Devon to Cornwall) which although tidal is 12 miles inland. It restarted again this year using an electric boat.
On the Manchester Ship Canal the Irlam and Flixton Ferries are still going.
On the Manchester Ship Canal the Irlam and Flixton Ferries are still going.
Windermere chain ferry
Are there still ferries in Plymouth across the estuary?
there's still a foot passenger ferry across the mouth of the River Wyre at Fleetwood
and of course there's still a rowing boat ferry across the river at Weymouth
Are there still ferries in Plymouth across the estuary?
there's still a foot passenger ferry across the mouth of the River Wyre at Fleetwood
and of course there's still a rowing boat ferry across the river at Weymouth
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As a former Woolwich resident and user of the Woolwich ferry, both for leisure and work, I would say this has to be included. It serves two parts of the mainland, is well inland of the river mouth, and has survived despite the various river crossings added over the years both upstream and downstream of it.
For the three years there has (at least in summer) been a temporary ferry across the Thames above Benson Lock, to plug the gap in the Thames Path caused by damage to the walkway across the weir. Work has now started on the weir (significant reconstruction, not just mending the walkway) with completion planned for next spring, and the relevant webpage suggest that the ferry isn't going to return in 2026, but perhaps it might if the weir work falls behind schedule.
185143
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I'm relatively local to that area and had absolutely no idea about those! There used to be a ferry in the Warrington area too, any idea if that's still going?
Some Googling indicates that there are boats on Loch Lomond that do something similar to the Bristol ferries on a larger scale, and also a proper 'straight across' ferry near the north end of the loch.
There's also a ferry to the ruins of Inchmahome Priory on an island in the Lake of Menteith; you could argue that the ferry + priory constitute a tourist attraction, but on the other hand that the ferry is something that people use to reach a destination rather than as an end in itself.
I presume that's the only vehicle ferry on non-tidal water, unless anyone knows differently.
WelshBluebird
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They also run a proper commuter ferry to the east of the city centre too.
Whisky Papa
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Not sure what you are referring to here? The Hulme's free ferry (pedestrian) between Irlam and Flixton is still in operation, although the operator's website suggests it is now seasonal. They also run a daily ferry across the canal at Thelwall, which may be the one @185143 was thinking of in post #15.
The Irlam vehicle ferry, which was further south and then part of the B5213, ceased operating some time in the 1970s. I recall mithering my older brother to take his car over it in (I think) 1972, but a few years later the only way across was via the path over Irlam lock gates. Our school did a sponsored walk which returned via this route in 1977 or 1978 - absolutely terrifying!
Further downstream, I should mention the former ferry between Partington and Cadishead known as Bob's Lane ferry. In the mid 1980s, I recall our Schedules Office was given the task of costing a replacement bus service via the Warburton toll bridge, which would have been astronomical.
Weirdly given that I grew up in the area, I wasn't then aware of the tragedy that had struck in 1970, when oil floating on the canal surface ignited and killed the Bob's Lane ferryman and four workmen who had rowed over in another boat. Probably my parents managed to shield me from the news at the time, now of course there are various articles online about it.
ian1944
Member
Windermere, Bowness /Sawrey. I thinks it's on a cable, and if it's tidal we all have to worry.
There's a cable ferry across the non tidal part of the exe in exeter. Link to Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butts_Ferry
anothertyke
Member
Kings Lynn to West Lynn. Or is the river tidal there?
Fort William to Camusnagaul?
Fort William to Camusnagaul?
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The Thames has already been mentioned, but there were numerous ferries all along the navigable length to the upper limit at Cricklade. They were mostly there to provide links in the towpath which crossed the river at all manner of inconvenient spots, presumably due to difficulties with local landowners when the navigation was upgraded with proper pound locks. The only one that I know for certain survived into the late 20th century was (is?) at Weybridge.
What about Beese's ferry near Bristol which takes you across to the pub? I don't think it is tidal there.
www.beeses.co.uk
Beeses - Travel Information
Welcome to Beeses - Bristol's Best Kept Secret! Enjoy a selection of drinks, fantastic food, regular events and live music in our beautiful setting next to the River Avon.
www.beeses.co.uk
from the websiteWhat about Beese's ferry near Bristol which takes you across to the pub? I don't think it is tidal there.
Beeses - Travel Information
Welcome to Beeses - Bristol's Best Kept Secret! Enjoy a selection of drinks, fantastic food, regular events and live music in our beautiful setting next to the River Avon.
so it is tidal, at least sometimes
Can’t remember which side of Hanham Lock it is. That’s the official extent of the tidal Avon, though I can’t imagine there’s much tidal influence there most days.
zwk500
Veteran Member
The ferry appears to be downstream of Hanham Lock, but upstream of Netham Weir which is the ordinary tidal limit. It needs a rather extreme tide to overtop Netham Weir and reach Hanham lock (but it does happen, you need a high tide above about 12m).
Come to think of it, I think Netham is the official start /end of the tidal river though it is overtopped by the higher tides.
There are several ferries in the Plymouth area, including those to Cremyll, Cawsand and Saltash in Cornwall. As far as I know all are commercial, some are seasonal and all are subject to weather and tides! There is a poster and leaflet showing all of them and a kiosk at the Barbican where tickets can be bought.
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