Dittisham is one of those villages that stops you in your tracks the moment you arrive — and the crabbing from the pontoon in front of the Ferry Boat Inn is as good as the setting. The pub is bright pink and impossible to miss, the pontoon is right in front of it, and on a summer’s day it’s packed with families all pulling up shore crabs. The local joke is they ship the crabs in for the summer to make sure there’s always plenty — there does seem to be an implausibly reliable supply.
Pontoon in front of the Ferry Boat Inn
Very limited — roadside only
Ferry to Dartmouth or Dittisham
Google Maps listing
🎣 The Crabbing Itself
The pontoon in front of the Ferry Boat Inn is where everyone congregates, and it earns its reputation — loads of shore crabs, lots of families, and a genuinely lovely spot to spend a couple of hours. Drop a line over the edge and you’re unlikely to be waiting long. Dittisham sits downstream on the River Dart from Stoke Gabriel, so if you’re planning a Devon crabbing trip this stretch of the river can easily cover both spots in a day.
🚗 Parking
Parking is the one honest downside here — Dittisham is a small village with no dedicated car park, just roadside spaces at the front and on the surrounding roads. They go fast. Get there early or you’ll be walking further than expected, and don’t plan to arrive mid-morning on a sunny bank holiday and stroll to a space.
⛵ Making a Full Day of It
The ferry connection is what elevates Dittisham from a quick stop to a proper day out. Take the ferry to Dartmouth or across to Dittisham from the other bank and you’ve got one of the best stretches of river in Devon to explore. Combine the crabbing at the pontoon with a Dartmouth visit and you’ve got a genuinely memorable day out.
🦺 Safety and Accessibility
The pontoon is flat and accessible once you’re on it, though it moves with the water so keep a steady foot with little ones. Keep children within reach near the edge — the river here is tidal and the drop is direct into the water.
📝 Final Thoughts
Dittisham is one of those spots that’s easy to love — a pink pub, a working pontoon, reliable crabs, and a beautiful river setting. Just sort the parking before you go and build it into a bigger day with the ferry. One of the most characterful spots on the list.