Padstow - Rock Ferry
COVID-19 UPDATE - LATEST FERRY INFORMATION
The Padstow to Rock Ferry Service is CANCELLED until further notice.********************************************************
This service operates continuously throughout the day on demand until the last ferry either from the North Quay Slipway or Lower Beach.
NB: On big spring tides you may be disembarked at Daymer Bay over the low water period.
The ferry can be contacted on 07773081574 (DURING OPERATIONAL HOURS ONLY).
The Padstow Rock ferry (a Seakeeper 715) and named "Black Tor", runs between Padstow and Rock, operating continuously throughout the day at 20 minute intervals. The ferry will depart from one of two points in Padstow depending on the tides.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS - We would respectfully advise customers travelling in or with wheelchairs that due to the soft sand on beaches either side of the estuary, travelling by the ferry may be difficult or impractical. Travel can be achieved at certain states of the tide when the ferry can access the concrete slipways and the ferry crew will be happy to advise you of the times when the tide allows this.
FERRY ROUTES
NOTE: The Ferry now runs on Sundays throughout the year.
NOTE : During the off-peak season (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr) the ferry will be suspended between 13.30 and 14.00 to ensure that the crew have an adequate rest break in line with Merchant Shipping Law.
| FERRY SCHEDULE | |||
| FROM PADSTOW | FROM ROCK | ||
| FIRST FERRY | 8.00 a.m. | ||
| LAST FERRY | end BST* - 31 March | 4.50 p.m. | 4.30 p.m. |
| 1 April - 31 May | 5.50 p.m. | 5.30 p.m. | |
| 1 June - mid July | 6.50 p.m. | 6.30 p.m. | |
| mid July - 31 Aug | 7.50 p.m. | 7.30 p.m. | |
| 1 Sep - mid Sep | 6.50 p.m. | 6.30 p.m. | |
| mid sep - end BST* | 5.50 p.m. | 5.30 p.m. | |
| * BRITISH SUMMER TIME |
| FARES | ||
| Adult | £4.00 return | |
| Child | £2.00 return | |
| Dogs (charged at ferryman's discretion) | £1.00 return | |
| Bicycles (subject to prevailing conditions) | £4.00 |
WHY THE NAME "BLACK TOR"?
A note from Mike Arnott:
"Tor means a high rock or hill. Until the late nineteenth century there was a high elvan outcrop rock at the present ferry north landing site and this had been known as Black Rock for centuries; then it was quarried away. When the ferry became known as the Black Tor Ferry I do not know. I cannot remember it being called that forty years ago when it was commonly referred to on our side of the estuary as the Padstow ferry. I suspect Black Tor Ferry was the name given to the first of the landing craft style of boats now in use because it was felt that something that would suit both sides of the river would be a good idea."
