Boat Trips & Ferries

Devon’s beautiful English Riviera is set within a sheltered bay with stunning coastal scenery. The rich geological landscape is so unique that it has received international recognition and is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark, one of only 10 in the UK. 

It’s a deeply indented horseshoe-shaped bay with lots of beaches and coves sheltering wonderful marine life including seals, porpoises, dolphins and a huge variety of sea birds including the famous guillemot colony at Berry Head.  There are regular cruises and ferry trips so you can see the breathtaking coastline at its best.  Discover the area’s 400 million years of history with a Geopark themed walk and sightseeing tour by boat.  It’s also a great way to visit other harbourside towns in the Bay plus Dartmouth.

Dartmouth Railway and Riverboat Company

This long established company runs a wide range of hugely popular boat trips and excursions around the Bay and in nearby Dartmouth.  Their cruises often include an exciting journey on the steam train and you can jump aboard the best-selling Round Robin, which includes boat, steam train and bus for a very special day out.

You can also enjoy a Dartmouth Day Cruise from Torquay or Brixham giving you time to browse the shops, restaurants and cafes before returning in the afternoon. Their Dartmouth River Cruise gives splendid views of picturesque Bayards Cove, Kingswear and Dartmouth Castles, the famous Britannia Royal Naval College, Dittisham village, Sir Walter Raleigh’s boathouse and Agatha Christie’s Greenway.

There are also regular 90-minute (each way) scenic river cruises from Dartmouth to Totnes along the stunning River Dart, passing the Naval College, Greenway Quay, the riverside villages of Stoke Gabriel and Dittisham, and the Sharpham Estate with its vineyards.  A fascinating commentary accompanies the trips and you’ll see lots of wildlife, which could include seals, herons, egrets, buzzards and much more. There’s a choice between the regular riverboat and the historic Paddle Steamer on the Dartmouth to Totnes route – you can do one each way! Dogs are welcome on all the trips.

Western Lady Ferry Service

The Western Lady boats have been operating a ferry service between Brixham and Torquay for almost 70 years. It’s a delightful 35-minute ferry ride you won’t want to miss.  It’s now part of the Dartmouth Railway and Riverboat Company and its attractive blue and cream boats include Western Lady VI and Western Lady VII.

Paignton Pleasure Cruises

The Lane family offers ferries between Paignton, Torquay and Brixham.  Take a Geopark sightseeing trip to discover more about the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark: One of Earth's extraordinary places. They also offer romantic sunset and wildlife spotting cruises and daily trips along the coast to nearby Dartmouth and have been running trips for over 60 years. They provide interesting commentaries about the bay, its coves, landmarks, history and wildlife.  Their fleet includes the Dart Princess and the Liberty Lass and they have boats available for private hire too.

Agatha Christie’s Greenway by Boat

There are regular ferries from Town Quay Dartmouth to Greenway Quay for a memorable visit to Agatha Christie’s riverside residence at Greenway (now National Trust).