Dartmouth Ferry Dog Policy UK 2026

How it works:

• Open-deck car ferry pulled by a steam tug across the Dart.
• Carries cars + passengers + dogs.
• Crossing time: ~7 minutes.
• Runs year-round, daily.

Dog policy:

• Dogs travel free of charge.
• Must be on lead during crossing OR in the vehicle.
• No size or breed restrictions.
• Dogs allowed on deck with their owner.

Practical details:

• Operating hours: approximately 6:30am to 10:45pm (slightly later weekends, check current schedule).
• Fare: GBP 9 for car + driver one way (paid on board).
• Cash + card accepted.
• Frequency: every 10-15 minutes during busy periods.
• Boarding: drive directly onto the ferry at Dartmouth side (foot of Mayors Avenue) or Kingswear side (railway station car park).

Best for:

• Dog walks combining a town visit + Kingswear-side walking.
• Day trips to dog-friendly Coleton Fishacre + the South West Coast Path.
• Avoiding the 35-minute drive around via Totnes.

How it works:

• Chain-driven car ferry north of the town centre.
• Carries cars + passengers + dogs.
• Crossing time: ~3 minutes (faster than Lower Ferry).
• Runs year-round, daily.

Dog policy:

• Dogs travel free of charge.
• Must be on lead during crossing OR in the vehicle.
• No restrictions.

Practical details:

• Operating hours: approximately 5:50am to 10:55pm.
• Fare: GBP 9 for car + driver one way (paid on board).
• Cash + card accepted.
• Frequency: continuous service during operating hours.
• Boarding: drive onto ferry at A3122 turn-off (Dartmouth side, north of town) or Kingswear marina road (Kingswear side).

Best for:

• Travellers driving through (avoids town-centre traffic).
• Faster crossings when Lower Ferry queues build up.
• Year-round consistent service.

How it works:

• Small foot-passenger boat across the Dart.
• Operates from Dartmouth South Embankment to Kingswear pontoon.
• Crossing time: 3-5 minutes.
• Operates Easter to October main service.

Dog policy:

• Dogs travel free.
• Must be on lead during boarding + crossing.
• Limited capacity per crossing - busy weekends may require waiting for next boat.

Practical details:

• Operating hours: 7:30am to ~6:00pm Easter to October (reduced winter hours - check at the embankment).
• Fare: GBP 2.50 adult one way (paid at pontoon or on board).
• Cash + card accepted.
• Frequency: every 15 minutes during busy periods.
• Boarding: walk down to Dartmouth South Embankment (near the Royal Castle Hotel) or Kingswear marina pontoon.

Best for:

• Dog walkers without cars who want to access Kingswear-side walks.
• Short town-to-town trips for cafe stops + South West Coast Path access.
• Saving the GBP 9 car-ferry fare for short walks.

Coleton Fishacre (National Trust):

• ~15 minutes drive from Kingswear.
• Dogs allowed on garden paths (on lead).
• Cliff path walks suitable for dogs accessible from the gardens.
• Famous Arts-and-Crafts house with sea views.

Kingswear railway station:

• Heritage steam railway to Paignton.
• Dogs travel for GBP 2 each way on steam services.
• Strong dog-friendly atmosphere on the heritage line.

Mansands and Sharkham Point:

• South West Coast Path heading south from Kingswear.
• Year-round dog-friendly coast path.
• Mansands shingle beach allows dogs year-round (rare in summer).

Brixham harbour (15 min drive):

• Working fishing harbour with dog-friendly pubs.
• Year-round dog access to harbour + cobbled streets.

Our published pet-friendly Dartmouth-area options include:

• Aeolus House - paw 4.6/5, four-floor townhouse, parking permit included.
• Rose Cottage Central Dartmouth - paw 4.6/5, walkable to all amenities.
• Frebus House - paw 4.6/5, central, spacious with views over Dartmouth.
• Harbourside 2 - paw 5.0/5, harbour view, repeat visitor recommendations.
• Harbourside 3 Luxury - paw 3.4/5, luxury riverside, mixed reviews on outdoor space.
• 34a Clarence Street - paw 4.2/5, budget central no-outdoor-space option.
• Midships Dartmouth - paw 3.8/5, holiday home with steep-hill caveats.
• Morocco House - paw 5.0/5, Kingswear-side with river view.