TheBarmouth Ferry provides a passenger service across theRiver Mawddach inGwynedd county, northWales. There are currently two ferry operators on the harbour. The service usually operates from April to October.
The ferry connects the town ofBarmouth withPenrhyn Point on the opposite bank of the estuary, and about two miles north ofFairbourne. There is a direct interchange withBarmouth Ferry railway station, the northern terminus of theFairbourne Railway. The crossing takes approximately five minutes.Barmouth Bridge, which carries a railway and a foot/cycle path, also crosses the estuary.
The Barmouth Ferry is an ancient service. It was originally operated by local monks, until thedissolution of the monasteries under KingHenry VIII, when the service was taken over by local fishermen.[1] In 1797 the Barmouth Harbour Trust was founded byact of parliament, as Barmouth had become the primary shipbuilding port in Wales,[2] and the trust was given responsibility for the ferry service. It franchised the operation of the ferry to various local operators.
The Barmouth Ferry continues to operate under franchise. Today services operate from around Easter until the end of October. In general, ferries operate on all the days on which theFairbourne Railway is operational, and ferries are timed, where possible, to connect with trains. The ferry boats are small open vessels, and are not suitable for operating in heavy seas or poor weather conditions.[3]