There’s something rather magical about crabbing at Fowey Town Quay or Caffa Mill — it’s the kind of place where you feel part of Cornish seaside tradition, with charming streets, tranquil waters, and the odd ferry gliding by. Town Quay has been Fowey’s official site for imported and exported goods for centuries, and back in the medieval period it was home to the Havener’s Court — an office set up by the Black Prince to collect shipping dues and settle maritime disputes. A bit of history under your feet while you’re waiting on a crab line.
Shore crabs, best at low tide
Main Car Park, Hanson Drive — see note below
Baby-changing at Town Quay & Caffa Mill
Fowey has its own crabbing code
The Crabbing Experience
The most popular spots are the shore-linked pontoons at Town Quay & Albert Quay — easy access and usually the busiest. If they’re crowded, the Passage Street Slipway is a good alternative; I’ve crabbed there myself when the pontoons were rammed and it was much quieter, with a few decent catches rather than a bucket-load. For a slightly different setting, Caffa Mill is a pleasant riverfront spot a short walk upriver.
Fowey Harbour’s Crabbing Code
Crab catching is officially allowed from the shore-linked pontoons, but boats take priority and you’re expected to keep clear of other harbour users — Fowey is a working harbour as much as a tourist spot. The full Crabbing Code is worth a quick read before you go, mainly so you know where lines are and aren’t welcome.
Gear & Bait
Several retailers around the quay sell crab lines, buckets, and bait — usually bacon bits or fish heads — so it’s not a problem if you arrive without gear.
Nearest shops for gear and bait –
Just Jonah (Toy shop) 36 Fore Street, PL23 1AQ
Readymoney Beach Shop, Readymoney Cove, PL23 1BG
Parking — the Tricky Bit
Parking is honestly the weak point of a Fowey trip. The small car park right by the quay is closed from May to October, which rules it out for most of the season. That leaves the Main Car Park on Hanson Drive (PL23 1ET) as the main option — 269 spaces, but it’s a 5–10 minute walk downhill into town (and a less fun walk back uphill with kids and gear). A shuttle bus runs during the main holiday season, which helps but isn’t fast or massively convenient.
Get there early. If you turn up just after lunch in peak season, you’ve got next to no chance of finding a space.
Nearby Treats
Fowey makes it easy to combine crabbing with a proper day out. The Fowey Aquarium is worth a visit, and when it’s open, Mardy Bakery and Patisserie is the spot for lunch or a pastry treat. There are baby-changing facilities at both Town Quay and Caffa Mill.
Safety & Accessibility
The quay area itself is mostly flat and pushchair-friendly, but Fowey as a town is built on a slope, so expect some ups and downs depending on your route — the town has signposted flatter routes if you’re pushing a pram.
Final Thoughts
Fowey Estuary is rated the #1 thing to do in town on Tripadvisor, and it’s easy to see why — estuary calm, crab lines wiggling, hills rising around you, ferries gliding past. Just sort your parking plan before you go, and read the harbour’s crabbing code so you know where you stand.