South Devon National Landscape
Follaton House, Plymouth Road,
Totnes TQ9 5NE
There are five estuaries in the National Landscape and four are served by ferries – an important and enjoyable way to get around.
If you are walking the South West Coast Path, ferries form an essential link across the estuaries. There are seasonal ferry services on the Yealm and the Avon and year round services on the Kingsbridge and Dart estuaries.
As ferry services are usually dependent on tides and weather, it is best to check with the ferry operator before setting off.
DO NOT attempt to swim across the water.
If needing to cross the estuary, we recommend you carefully plan your route to take place when the seasonal ferry is running. A better alternative to walking round is to take a taxi or use buses (see information further down this page).
Due to the shape of the estuary, the agreed England Coast Path alternative route is fairly long at 18km and involves some busy roads. We have mapped this route, see below:
DO NOT attempt to swim across the water.
You will need to take a bus or taxi. Alternatively, walk around on the very pleasant nine mile waymarked Avon Estuary walk.
The Erme can usually be waded across one hour either side of low tide, when the water will not come up much higher than an adults knee.
Watch this short video on YouTube, showing us wading the Erme, for more information
For bus routes and timetable enquiries, call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (12p per minute) or go to www.travelinesw.com
Avon Estuary
Arrow Cars: 01548 856120 or 07967 560467
HR Taxis: 07946 322824
Yealm and Erme Estuaries
Wembury Cabs: 01752 881651 or 07882 267436
Ivy Cabs: 01752 895555
Ivybridge Taxis: 01752 892222
A3122 Dartmouth outskirts TQ6 9LW
For up-to-date operating times and prices go to www.southhams.gov.uk
Additional notes – On dates when the seasonal Park and Ride service is not operating:
A381 Salcombe outskirts TQ8 8EL.
Seasonal service. For up-to-date operating times and prices check the Salcombe Town Council website.
Additional note – When there is no seasonal service from this car park it is possible to walk into town or there is the Tally Ho 164 bus service that runs daily and can be used for journeys to and from the town (limited service on Sundays and Public Holidays). Check Salcombe Town Council website for bus stop locations for this service.
To aid South West Coast Path and England Coast Path walkers plan their route, low tide times are reproduced on the South Devon National Landscape website and the Spring/Summer (Apr-Sep) estuary crossing information panels located on the Yealm and Avon estuaries and year round on the Erme estuary.
Tide times are needed to cross the Erme Estuary, there is no ferry service but the Erme may usually be waded across one hour either side of low tide, when the water will not come up much higher than an adults knee.
Note the following:
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (https://copyright.ukho.gov.uk).
All low tide predictions below are shown in BST.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (https://copyright.ukho.gov.uk).
All low tide predictions below are shown in BST.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (https://copyright.ukho.gov.uk).
All low tide predictions below are shown in BST.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (https://copyright.ukho.gov.uk).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (https://copyright.ukho.gov.uk).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of The Keeper of Public Records and the UK Hydrographic Office (https://copyright.ukho.gov.uk).
All low tide predictions below are shown in GMT.
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