Ferry cross the Tamar...
Torpoint's long-standing claim to fame is the ferry service that connects Cornwall to Devon. There has been a crossing of the Hamoaze linking the town to Plymouth since 1791, pre-dating the Tamar Bridge by nearly two centuries.
Torpoint developed rapidly in the late 18th century as Devonport Dockyard expanded, bringing with it a need for housing for workers and their families. Victorian ingenuity led to the creation of a chain-link service in 1831, a system still in use today for the 650 metre crossing. Up to three ferries now provide a round-the-clock service accommodating around 73 cars on the six-minute crossing.
The fortunes of the Dockyard may have dwindled, but the town still holds its charms for commuters and visitors. Take the "ferry cross the Tamar" and you are minutes away from the Rame Peninsula and a number of delightful seaside and country villages..
We love...
Spectacular Whitsand Bay with its amazing views of the sea. The risk of invasion by sea led to the building of Tregantle Fort at one end and Polhawn Battery at the other. Now the bay is a Site of Special Scientific Interest with the deliberate sinking of HMS Scylla in 2004 to create an artificial reef for divers.
Don't miss...
Antony House, the 18th century mansion which was the location for Tim Burton’s film Alice in Wonderland. The house is welcoming, but it is the gardens with their collection of modern sculptures, beautiful woodland and garden walks and panoramic views of the river that stay in the memory.