Across the Helford

River adventures and ancient tales across the water.

The Helford River has always been a working waterway. Long before guidebooks and walking trails, it carried farmers, fishermen, traders and travellers between communities divided by the inlet. Today, that tradition continues through Helford River Boats, a family-run business whose activities are based in the daily life of the estuary and knowledge acquired from spending years upon it.

At the heart of the operation is the Helford Ferry, recognised as the oldest passenger ferry crossing in Britain, with records stretching back more than a thousand years. From April to October, seven days a week, the small ferry shuttles between Helford Passage and Helford Village, carrying walkers, residents, visitors and pub-goers across the watery divide. For many, it provides a pleasant journey between the Ferry Boat Inn and the Shipwrights Arms. For others, it is an essential stage in a much longer journey.

The ferry forms an official section of the South West Coast Path and serves as a stamping station on the Falmouth to Helford Village stage. Its practical value becomes immediately apparent when one considers the alternative. Without the crossing, travellers face an additional nineteen miles around the head of the estuary via Gweek, and although it wouldn’t be an unpleasant experience for those who are not governed by the clock, for those with more pressing tasks it would be a wearisome trudge, be it on foot or in a motorised vehicle.

The river itself reveals its true character best from the water, and Helford River Boats has created an experience that allows visitors to explore its many stories. Each day, a ninety-minute river tour departs aboard a vessel with a pedigree all its own: a Rotork SeaTruck landing craft designed by Sir James Dyson. Practicality lies at the centre of its design. Passengers board directly from Helford Passage beach, making access straightforward for those who may find conventional pontoons challenging.

Once underway, the tour unfolds as a gently undulating moving portrait of the estuary. Seventeen locations feature along the route, each carrying its own history. Skippers share tales of smuggling, maritime trade and wartime activity, drawing attention to creeks, wooded banks and hidden corners that played their part in Cornwall’s past. The result is an engaging account of a river that has witnessed far more than its tranquil appearance might suggest.

For those who prefer to set their own course, Helford River Boats offers a range of ways to experience the water independently. Single and tandem sit-on kayaks are available for hire, giving visitors the freedom to explore secluded reaches of the estuary at paddle pace. Paddleboards can also be hired when conditions are suitable, providing another perspective on the river’s intricate shoreline. The company also has a fleet of self-drive motor boats. Available by the hour, these craft allow visitors to indulge their curiosity further afield, discovering wooded creeks, sheltered anchorages and waterside landmarks at their leisure, with comprehensive safety briefings ensuring that even a novice can head out with confidence.

Supporting all of this is a prime network of seasonal swing moorings and beach moorings at Helford Passage, serving rowing boats and small inflatables.

In conclusion, Helford River Boats sits at the heart of Britain’s most southerly river, operating a ferry crossing that has linked communities for at least a thousand years while offering visitors the chance to explore these remarkable waters by tour boat, kayak, paddleboard or self-drive motorboat. Valued by walkers, writers and artists, the Helford is a landscape of ancient oak woodland reaching to the sea, Roman oyster beds and hidden creeks, where the estuary’s history, natural beauty and enduring character are best experienced from the water itself. Helford River Boats can provide this experience.

Helford River Boats
01326 250770
www.helfordriverboats.co.uk