One of England’s oldest passenger ferries returns - powered by the sun

27th May 2025

One of England’s oldest ferry routes is being brought back to life near Plymouth as the Calstock Ferry resumes service across the River Tamar - this time powered entirely by the sun.

The Calstock Ferry has served as a vital link across the River Tamar between Devon and Cornwall for hundreds of years, operating on a route believed to date back to the Saxon period. Now, thanks to the Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme – a Tamar Valley National Landscape project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a grant from Defra  – the ferry is once again taking passengers across this historic crossing.

Calstock had a quay in Saxon times, and by the mid-19th century its river frontage stretched three-quarters of a mile to serve the thriving mining and horticultural industries. The last passenger ferry ended in 2015 due to tidal and access issues, but the new electric boat and improved pontoon allow for longer, more reliable operation each day. The ferry will operate as a one-year trial, to assess whether a regular passenger crossing can once again be financially viable.

The new aluminium electric landing craft is powered entirely by solar energy and is thought to be the UK’s first zero-emissions cross-river passenger ferry service. Solar panels have been installed on both the ferry and the refurbished historic ferry boat store, where the original ferryman lived and worked in the early 1900s. The boat store, which had fallen into disrepair, has been refurbished with new windows and doors, and a new solar-equipped roof to re-charge the ferry. It will serve as the operational base for the ferry service and a store and workshop for the local community.

The Calstock Ferry carries up to seven passengers and welcomes foot passengers, cyclists, and families with prams – no vehicles. It operates between Ferry Farm on the Devon side of the River Tamar and Calstock on the Cornish side. The ferry also supports walkers on the 87-mile Tamara Coast to Coast Way, enabling them to complete the route without needing to take a train between Bere Alston and Calstock.

In addition to regular crossings, the service offers trips from Calstock to the National Trust’s Cotehele and Morwellham Quay – once a major river port linking the mining communities of West Devon and East Cornwall to global trade routes. The ferry also runs scenic river cruises and wildlife-watching and photography excursions, showcasing the natural beauty and heritage of the upper Tamar Valley.

William Darwall, Manager of the Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme said:“We’re thrilled to bring the historic Calstock Ferry back into service. I live and grew up here and it’s a proud and exciting moment to see this centuries-old crossing revived using clean, solar-powered technologies, reconnecting communities in a way that honours the past while looking to the future. With the boat fully fitted, the historic ferry boat store restored, and our new Skipper at the helm, we can’t wait to welcome passengers aboard.”

The new Skipper of the Calstock Ferry, Will Mattos is a familiar figure on the River Tamar, having spent much of his time afloat in and around Calstock for over twenty years. Calstock Ferry Skipper Will Mattos said: "It’s a real honour to take the helm of the Calstock Ferry and be part of a tradition that stretches back hundreds of years. I’ve spent much of my life on the Tamar, and it means a lot to continue the work of the many skippers who’ve ferried people across this river before me. I’m looking forward to sharing the river with passengers - its history, its wildlife, and its quiet beauty.”

The ferry operates with the tides and can be booked in advance. Passengers can check the website for walk on availability: www.calstockferry.com and follow on social media @tamaracalstockferry.