Frequently Asked Questions
When do you operate?
We operate from Easter until October 2023 Please see our online calendar for current times as these may change weekly, more trips will be run during busier periods.
We will be starting private river trips from the 1st April 2023. If you would like to book the boat for a private river trip, please email us at info@walberswickrivertrips.com. We also hope, weather permitting, to be able to offer scheduled trips at Easter where you can book spaces on a scheduled boat trip for you and your family. As the weather can still be quite cold at this time of year, we will wait until the weather forecast at the beginning of each week before we decide which trips to run. If you are interested in a trip over the Easter period and would like us to email you the trip availability once we please email us with your name, email address and the following message - Please keep me informed of your Easter boat trip dates. Please email info@walberswickrivertrips.com
Where do you operate from?
We operate from the Walberswick Ferry hut, opposite the foot ferry on Ferry Road, Walberswick, IP18 6TJ. We are on the Walberswick side of the River Blyth.
Where do I park?
There are two car parks in Walberswick; Ferry Road Car Park and the Beach Car Park. Ferry Road Car Park is only a few minutes walk from us. If you are arriving from the Southwold side, there is parking on the Harbour Car Park and then you can walk over the Bailey Bridge (1.5 mile walk) or take the foot ferry. This is open 10:00 until 17:00 daily from Easter to October 2022.
The foot ferry costs £2.00 per adult and £1.00 per child per crossing.
In the Summer, Southwold and Walberswick car parks do get very busy so please allow ample time to park in order to arrive at the trip ten minutes before departure. As there are often a variety of groups on each trip, we are unable to wait for you if you are late.
What do I need to bring?
As our boats are open topped, it is advisable to bring waterproof and warm clothing. It can get very chilly on the river! Feel free to bring blankets for younger and older members of your group. We do have basic binoculars available for our customers to use but please do bring your own if you have some. We are happy for you to bring food and drink to keep you refreshed on the trip.
Can I bring a dog?
All of our crew are dog lovers and so we really welcome well-behaved dogs. However, please be aware there may be other dogs on board and your dog must be comfortable with this.
Do you provide life jackets?
East Suffolk Council (our licensing body) requires that all of our river trip customers wear a life-jacket whilst on-board. We have all sizes of life-jackets available from infant to large adult sizes.
How do I book?
For scheduled trips, please book in advance online. All passengers must be booked onto the trip including infants under the age of two.
You can always try to turn up on the day but we would not want you to be disappointed if the trip is already full and we are unable to offer an additional trip.
For private hire, please email us on info@walberswickrivertrips.com
Are there toilets on the boat?
Unfortunately, we do not have toilets at the hut or on the boat. The nearest public toilets are at the village hall on the green in Walberswick (5 minutes walk) or the harbour toilets on the Southwold side of the River Blyth.
How do I pay?
All advance online bookings will be paid for in full by card at the time of booking.
If you turn up in the hope of getting a trip, we are only able to accept cash for these tickets.
Ticket prices for the one-hour trip are as follows:
Adults (15 years+) £16.00
Children (2-14 years) £8.00
Under twos FREE
PLEASE NOTE: There is a £5.00 non refundable booking charge included in the price for each ticket. If you cancel your trip this £5.00 will not be refunded.
Is there a special rate for pensioners?
No, we are sorry but the rate is the same for all adults including pensioners.
Can my infant come for free?
Yes, infants under the age of two can come on board for free. However, a place does need to be booked for an infant as we are only licenced to take twelve passengers and under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency rules an infant under two is counted as a passenger and thereby takes one of the licenced spaces
What happens if there is bad weather on the day of our trip?
We will still run our river trips if the weather is inclement but we will not run our trips if we feel it is unsafe due to high winds and storms. We cannot offer refunds if customers choose not to attend due to inclement weather but the trip still goes ahead.
If we do need to cancel a trip, we will aim to notify you by text and email by 9:00 but sometimes cancellation can be at very short notice if the weather suddenly changes during the day.
If we have to cancel a trip completely we will offer to move your booking to another day or offer you a full refund. The refund will appear in your bank account within 7 days of the cancellation.