Guests at the official launch of the new Place Ferry enjoy the trip from St Mawes to Place

New look for St Mawes to Place Ferry

The St Mawes to Place Ferry crossing along the Roseland peninsula has a new ferry and landing stage to aid walkers on their journey along the South West Coast Path.

The Livingstone was officially launched on 10 June by the secretary and founder of the South West Coast Path Association Eric Wallis MBE and Julia Livingstone, whose late husband was a trustee of Cornwall Ferries and the great great grandson of the famous explorer of the same name. Also in attendance was Tim Light, the Managing Director of Cornwall Ferries.

Over the winter months the Cornish built Cygnus 19 underwent a full refit by Fawley Marine and it now runs on waste chip fat. Place and chips has now taken on a new meaning.

Tim Light said: “Like many companies in Cornwall the environment and sustainability is extremely important to us and our visitors. It’s great that we have the support of the local businesses who will supply us with the waste chip fat, including St Mawes hotel.

“Thanks must also go to the Grant-Dalton family for allowing us to fix the new pontoon to their land, which will enable us to carry the ever increasing number of passengers more efficiently.”.

The improvement of the landing stage was co-ordinated by the South West Coast Path Team as part of a wider project entitled ‘Unlocking our Coastal Heritage’ with funding supplied from a Rural Development Programme for England grant issued by the EU and DEFRA.

Mark Owen, National Trail Officer for the South West Coast Path said: “The new pontoon is one of a number of improvements being made along the length of the Coast Path and we’re delighted that the new Place ferry pontoon is among the first projects to be completed in time for the holiday season.”.

The new ferry service will encourage more people to take a short walk along the South West Coast Path to explore the Roseland peninsula.

In 1990 when the Place Passenger Ferry service started it carried 1,700 people between May and the end of Sept. Since then passenger numbers have steadily increased and in 2009 it carried 15,500 passengers and now operates from Good Friday to the last day of October with limited service over the Christmas and New Year holiday.

This is considered one of the essential Coast Path ferries as when it isn’t running, walkers are faced with a nine mile diversion around the Percuil Creek, much of which is along roads. The trip from Falmouth to Place is a popular one for day walkers, as it gives access to a very attractive circular walk passing St Anthony Head (one of the historic sites to be improved as part of this project), and avoids a long car journey around the estuary.

Visit the Cornwall Ferries website for full details of all routes and times of service on their ferry network.