Steam & Cruise
Full day excursion. Steam & Cruise is the perfect day out if you have children as it has ultimate flexibility - you decide what train and cruise to go on!
Note: We hope to have the paddlesteamer Kingswear Castle in service in late May-early June in 2025.
Tickets include:
- Train
- Ferry
- Cruise
Full day excursion. The Steam & Cruise is the perfect day out if you have children as it has ultimate flexibility - you decide what train and cruise to go on! (Includes Dartmouth-Kingswear passenger ferry.)
A Typical Day's Itinerary
- Train from Paignton - 30 minute train journey to Kingswear
- Ferry from Kingswear - 10 minute ferry crossing to Dartmouth but allow 30 minutes beforehand
- Cruise from Dartmouth - 60 minute cruise to Dartmouth
- Ferry from Dartmouth - 10 minute ferry crossing to Kingswear but allow 30 minutes beforehand
- Train from Kingswear - 30 minute train journey to Paignton
- Arrive back in Paignton
Book your Steam & Cruise tickets now - Buy Tickets
The River Cruise departs Dartmouth (where the foot passenger ferry drops you off) daily at 11:15, 12:30, 13:45, & 15:30.
Travel on the steam railway from Paignton to Kingswear, then cross the River Dart on our foot passenger ferry to Dartmouth, where you board one of our boats for a circular River Cruise (approximately 1hr duration) around the river and estuary. The cruise takes you to the mouth of the river passing Kingswear & Dartmouth Castles, Dittisham village, Britannia Royal Naval College and Greenway House – home to the late Dame Agatha Christie. Tell the children to keep their eyes peeled for the varied wildlife that can be seen – Dolphins, Seals, Herons, Egrets, Buzzards and Kingsfisher if you're quick enough!
On your return to Dartmouth there'll be time to look around, go shopping and have some lunch before going back to Kingswear for your return steam train ride to Paignton. Or if it suits, back to Kingswear for an earlier train to Paignton. All inclusive ticket.
All trips begin by train from Paignton if you are purchasing online. At Kingswear board the foot passenger ferry to Dartmouth. Choose the harbour cruise from Dartmouth that suits you and your party. Back to Kingswear for the return journey to Paignton. This tour can be done in reverse i.e. have your cruise in Dartmouth first followed by your return train trip to Paignton.
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Reviews
- Nostalgic - We included a cruise on our trip and spent an hour on the paddlesteamer (the captain pointing out some interesting features and telling a few stories along the way). This was a very enjoyable day and worth every penny.
- Excellent trip out - On recommendation from our hotel in Torquay we booked this and we were not disappointed. Steam train then ferry over to Dartmouth + a lovely river cruise for an hour included. We will visit again.
- At last! - Went by steam train and ferry to Dartmouth on the last day of our holiday. Beautiful. Lovely journey on the steam train and the ferry was also a very pleasant trip. Spent a couple of hours in Dartmouth before repeating the journey. So glad I have managed to do it at last!