Ferry View, Sandquay Road, Dartmouth, Devon, TQ6 9PH
RNLI Dart Lifeboat Station
Industrial heritage
Place photograph
2.4
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Historic
Feel
Why it's Wildland
2.4A working Dartmouth lifeboat station with roots in a contentious local debate in 1876—and a new home at Ferry View.
This is a modest heritage stop rather than a landscape destination. Its appeal is the connection between Dartmouth’s working waterfront and the RNLI’s long local history, including the station’s move to Ferry View at the end of 2025.
Historic
Find your way
Open mapFerry View, Sandquay Road, Dartmouth, Devon, TQ6 9PH
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The experience
A brief, access-dependent heritage stop focused on the RNLI’s Dartmouth station and its history. Public visits are not confirmed; contact the station before making a special trip.
Things to do
Explore the station’s origins
If a visit or tour is arranged, ask about the 1876 proposal for a Dartmouth lifeboat station and the debate over where it should be based.
Under 1 hour
Ask about the move to Ferry View
The station moved to a new home at Ferry View at the end of 2025. Check with the RNLI whether visitors can view the building or arrange a behind-the-scenes tour.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
A brief RNLI history stop
- 01
Contact the station in advance to ask whether visitors can access the site.
- 02
If access is confirmed, visit the Ferry View station and focus on its connection to Dartmouth’s lifeboat history.
Verified history
The proposal to station an RNLI lifeboat at Dartmouth was raised on 16 March 1876 by the captain of HMS Britannia, whose naval cadets were organising a lifeboat fund. Local officials initially rejected the idea as unnecessary and questioned whether a suitable site could be found. After public discussion and visits to nearby coastal communities, the RNLI approved a lifeboat for Dartmouth on 6 July 1876. The station moved to its new Ferry View home at the end of 2025.
Hidden details
The proposed station site was once the Dartmouth Boat Club site — The RNLI’s search for a station site led to the Dartmouth Boat Club at Sandquay. The club agreed to move its building back, and the RNLI bought the site from Raleigh Estates in June 1877.
When to go
· No specific time is supported by the available sources. Confirm access before travelling.
The available information gives no seasonal visiting guidance.
No site-specific weather guidance is available.
What to look for
If access is arranged, look for the station building at Ferry View and learn how the RNLI’s Dartmouth station developed from the 1876 proposal. Do not assume the working boathall or crew areas are open to visitors.
The story
Industry
Best time to go
Year-round, subject to access arrangements.
No seasonal or time-of-day information is available. Contact the station ahead of visiting to check whether access or a tour is possible.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The station is operational, but public access and visits are not confirmed. Check with the RNLI before visiting; do not enter restricted areas. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
A wheelchair-accessible car park is listed in the source data. Confirm availability and any restrictions before travelling.
Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
Source data lists a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance. Confirm current access arrangements with the station.
Cost
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Check before visiting
Water
River
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around RNLI Dart Lifeboat Station
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
