ROW BOAT HARBOUR FERRY RIDE
For over 60 years the Weymouth Harbour ferry has been carrying holiday makers and residents from one side of the fishing port to the other.
The fee is now around a £1 and 50p for children but its an experience that many treasure with parents bringing their children and in turn their children bringing the grandchildren for this unique harbour crossing service.
At busy times there can be up to four ferrymen and at the moment they are men but who is to say that a woman could certainly take up a licence and join the boys too!
The Weymouth Harbour ferry boats at peak holiday times they can be busy all day!
Events like the London 2012 Olympic games, at carnival or seafood festival they are kept busy throughout the day.
The trip does take a couple of minutes over the water each way but can save a 15 minute walk around the harbour and if the lifting bridge is open then even much longer.
The Weymouth harbour ferry boat loaded for a crossing.
Now the ferrymen do not have to dodge the wash of any large passenger ships such as the Channel Islands ferries as that car ferry service finished a couple of years ago now.
How long such rowing services will continue is any body’s guess but while its still there do give it a go even if its just one way!
The traditional clinker built wooden boats are a delightful spectacle and are snapped by visitors now mainly on their phones but how many will be dropped in the excitement who knows?
Its certainly one of the things to do whilst in the town as its does save a walk to the Nothe Fort a fortress built to defend the port from Napoleon and the Stone Pier a popular place to sea fish or go crabbing from.
