Ferryside: Ferry, Coastal Nature and History

Historically, Ferryside served locals, traders and pilgrims as a crossing over the River Tywi on their way west. This history can be explored alongside nature and coastal themes: the ferry service, the wintering grounds of wading birds and the maritime past offer different perspectives on the place.

Cross the River Tywi on the Glansteffan Ferry

The Glansteffan Ferry crosses the River Tywi between Ferryside and Llansteffan. In Ferryside, the departure area is on the shore; access is via the railway crossing. The departure point may change depending on conditions, and the crossing is also subject to tides and conditions. Check departure times before travelling so you can plan this part of your trip accordingly. Bicycles may be carried subject to available space, with a maximum of five per crossing.

Coastal landscape and paths

The mudflats and salt marshes in Ferryside Bay are an important area for thousands of overwintering wading birds. These include knots, sanderlings and black-tailed godwits. These examples show which bird species are associated with this habitat and give the coast a distinctive natural perspective, especially in winter.

The Cliff Path near Ferryside forms part of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path. At the shore of Salmon Scar, stones that are the remains of a lost village become visible at low tide. According to local historical interpretation, this village was St Ishmael itself. The combination of landscape and local history offers a different way to experience the coastal area than looking at today’s ferry service.

Fishing and coastal foraging

Ferryside was historically a fishing village and a centre of the shellfish-gathering industry in Carmarthen Bay. Shellfish are still gathered here today, and traditional seine nets are used for fishing. Local regulations and the availability of these activities may vary.

On a guided coastal foraging trip in Ferryside, participants learn to find cockles, clams, oysters and sea plants such as sea plantain. Arrange your participation with a suitable local guide. If everything goes to plan, participants can prepare and eat their own zero-waste, organic lunch on a handcrafted Solva Stone on the beach. This requires an available guide and suitable conditions, so lunch is not guaranteed as a fixed part of the experience.

Churches and local events

St Thomas’s Church in Ferryside was built in 1875–1876 in the Victorian Gothic style. St Thomas’s holds the annual “Hymns on the Beach” service. Confirm the specific dates locally if you wish to include the service in your travel plans.

At St Ishmael in Ferryside, visitors are offered free coffee, tea, water and prayer stones every day. Check the practical details again before your visit. The two churches thus represent different aspects of a stay: one combines architectural history with an annual service, while the other offers a daily form of hospitality.

Memories of the lifeboat service

Memorial plaques stand in front of the entrance to the former lifeboat station. The lifeboat memorial commemorates the rescue of ten people from the wreck of the Teviotdale of Glasgow on 16 October 1886. The history of sea rescue goes back further: the first lifeboat arrived in Ferryside in 1835 to help vessels in the shallow waters and among the shifting sandbanks of Carmarthen Bay. Together, the memorials illustrate a specific rescue operation and the lifeboat’s earlier purpose.

Discover more destinations: Cross Hands, Llangunnor, Llangadog, Llandovery, Llanwrda, Whitland, Garnant, Pencader

For the broader travel overview: Carmarthenshire.