If you’ve spent any time in Falmouth, you’ll have noticed that the harbour puts a certain amount of distance between places that look close together on a map. Driving around the creek from Flushing to Falmouth town takes significantly longer than crossing it. Walking down to the quay and taking the water taxi takes about as long as it takes to walk to the quay.
Falmouth Water Taxi runs a regular service between key points on the harbour – Custom House Quay, Flushing Quay, Greenbank, the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Trefusses, and Penryn River – and it’s one of those local services that, once you’ve used it, you wonder why you ever did anything else.
Where It Goes
The core routes connect the main quays and moorings around Falmouth Harbour. Custom House Quay is the central point in Falmouth town, well positioned for the high street, pubs, and restaurants. Flushing Quay serves the village of Flushing directly across the water – a place that, on foot or by road, requires a full circuit around the creek head.
Greenbank and the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club are also served, along with Trefusses and the Penryn River. For anyone on a mooring or aboard a visiting yacht, the water taxi is often the most straightforward way to get ashore and back.
Prebook for the Best Price
Falmouth Water Taxi offers lower fares when you prebook compared to turning up and hopping on. A single between Trefusses and Greenbank, for example, is £4.00 prebooked and £5.00 on the day. Return tickets are also available and must be used within the same week of issue.
The Penryn River route is slightly longer and priced accordingly – £7.00 single, £11.00 return, whether prebooked or not. Season passes are available for regular users, which makes a lot of sense if you’re commuting or living aboard.
Good to Know
The water taxi operates during regular hours, with out-of-hours services available by arrangement (a surcharge may apply). Children need to be accompanied by an adult, and season passes are non-transferable. The boat takes up to four passengers per season ticket pass.
You can also hail the taxi on VHF Channel 12, which is useful if you’re on a boat and want to arrange a pickup without coming ashore first.
A Simpler Way to Move Around the Harbour
Falmouth Harbour has always been shaped by the water, and it makes sense to move around it that way. The water taxi is quick, it’s reasonably priced, and it cuts out the kind of driving that doesn’t feel much like a trip to Cornwall at all. Whether you’re a local commuter, a visiting sailor, or someone spending a few days in the area, it’s worth keeping the number to hand.
Book ahead or find out more at falmouth-watertaxi.co.uk, or call on 07593 906143. You can also reach the service on VHF Channel 12.
