River Exe Cruise

Discover the Tranquil Beauty of the River Exe

Step on board for a relaxing, award-winning cruise through the calm waters of the River Exe. As a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, the estuary is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife and stunning Devon scenery. Whether you are looking for a peaceful afternoon escape or a value-for-money family outing, our modern, all-weather vessels and friendly crew provide the perfect setting to see the South West from a brand-new perspective.

Cruise Duration: 1hour 15mins
Departure Point: Exmouth Marina
Adult Price: £9.50 | Child Price (ages 15 or under): £6.50
Groups (15+ adults): £8.50
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Trip Description FAQs Recent Reviews Group Bookings Gallery

Trip Description

A Timeless Devon Tradition

For over 50 years, our River Exe Cruises have been at the heart of what we do here at Stuart Line Cruises. This scenic journey takes you through the calm, sheltered waters of the Exe Estuary, offering panoramic views of the rolling Devon hills and the historic coastline. It is a fantastic way to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty of the region, all while being looked after by our close-knit and friendly team.

Comfort and Wildlife in Every Season

One of the best things about the River Exe is that it changes with every season. From the lush greenery of summer to the world-renowned arrival of migratory birds in the winter, there is always something new to see. Our boats are purpose-built for your comfort, featuring heated lower saloons with large windows for excellent viewing, as well as open-top decks for when you want to feel the fresh river breeze.

Expert Insight and a Friendly Welcome

As a family-run business, we believe the best trips are the ones where you feel right at home. Throughout your cruise, our captain provides live, informative commentary, sharing the rich maritime history of the area and pointing out the diverse bird life that calls the estuary home. With a fully licensed bar on board, the crew will be on hand to serve a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, you can sit back, relax, and let the scenery glide by.

Why Join Us on the River Exe?

Great Value for Money: An affordable, high-quality experience that’s perfect for families, couples, and groups.
The Friendliest Crew in Devon: Experience the warm hospitality and expert knowledge that has made us one of the region’s top-rated attractions.
All-Weather Cruising: Enjoy the river in total comfort, rain or shine, thanks to our heated saloons and modern facilities.
Dog-Friendly Fun: We love welcoming four-legged friends on board, and they travel for free!
Accessible Discovery: Our vessels are designed to be accessible for manual wheelchair users, ensuring everyone can enjoy the magic of the river. Please contact us before booking to check on suitability with tides.

FAQs

The Cruise Experience

Question: What will I see on the River Exe Cruise? Answer: You will enjoy a scenic 1 hour 15 minute tour of the River Exe Estuary, a site of international importance for wildlife. Highlights include views of the historic Powderham Estate, the village of Starcross, and the unique sandbanks that host thousands of birds and local seals.

Question: Is there a commentary on the boat? Answer: Yes. Our Skipper provides a live & informative commentary throughout the trip. They will share stories about the history of the river, and help you spot the various wildlife along the shoreline.

Question: How long is the River Exe Cruise? Answer: The cruise typically lasts 1 hour 15 minutes. This is an ideal length for families and those looking for a relaxing introduction to the beauty of the South Devon coast without committing to a full-day trip.

Question: Is the cruise a one-way or a return journey? Answer: The River Exe Cruise is a circular journey, meaning you will depart and return from Exmouth Marina.

Booking & Suitability

Question: Do I need to book in advance for the river cruise? Answer: We always recommend booking in advance via our website to guarantee your preferred time, especially during the summer holidays. However, we do often have space for "walk-on" passengers at our Exmouth Marina booking office on the day.

Question: Is the River Exe Cruise suitable for children? Answer: Absolutely! It is one of our most family-friendly trips. The water is very calm, the duration is perfect for shorter attention spans, and children love watching the other boats and looking for seals.

Question: Are dogs allowed on the River Exe Cruise? Answer: Yes. Well-behaved dogs on leads are very welcome on board our River Exe Cruises free of charge.

Accessibility & Facilities

Question: Is the boat wheelchair accessible? Answer: Yes. We pride ourselves on being accessible to all. Our vessels can accommodate standard manual wheelchairs, and our crew are highly experienced in assisting passengers with mobility requirements to board safely.

Question: What happens if it rains? Answer: We sail rain or shine. Our boats feature large, undercover heated lower decks with panoramic windows, ensuring you stay warm and dry while enjoying 360-degree views of the estuary.

Question: Is there a bar and toilets on board? Answer: Yes. Every vessel is equipped with clean toilet facilities and a fully licensed bar serving local ales, hot and cold drinks, and light snacks.

Question: Can I pay by card on the boat? Answer: Yes, we accept card payments. However, as mobile signals can occasionally dip while on the water, we recommend bringing some cash as a backup for the bar.

Recent Reviews

Stuart Line Cruises

4.8

Based on 511 reviews

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Roo

22:26 02 Feb 26

Such a great day! Went on the winter birds cruise today and it was brilliant. The person doing the commentary on the birds (sorry I forgot their name) was super knowledgeable and the trip was all round fantastic, the small bar is also very reasonably priced! Saw a peregrine falcon chasing a flock of avocets - absolutely majestical! Cant recommend highly enough, the work they are doing for nature and conservation of the river mouth is really awesome. Hats off.

Mark

21:47 05 Dec 25

Had another fabulous BirdWatching Cruise on 02/12/25 with a day of clear blue skies and a fabulous array of wonderful wildlife on the Exe. As per previous trips the crew and guide were excellent and made for 3 hours of a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. The hot chocolate and pasty was most welcome and I can’t recommend these cruises enough and they offer terrific value as well.

Mel P.

17:16 03 Dec 25

We had a fabulous guided bird watching trip today. The weather was superb as was The Pride of Exmouth, all the staff and our bird guider for the trip. Stuart Lines really do think of everything to make sure everyone has a great experience . 5 stars from us. Thank you

Derek M.

21:02 19 Nov 25

I attended an excellent Stuart Line guided bird watching cruise from Exmouth to Topsham and back. The Pride of Exmouth was in superb condition, the ornithologist's commentary and interaction with visitors was great, the crew members were helpful and friendly, the range of refreshments was excellent and the bathroom facilities were better than any I've seen on similar boats. Exmouth and the River Exe are beautiful places to visit at any time, but the thousands of migratory birds (and a few seals) are an added attraction always worth seeing over the winter. The cruise was not expensive and better than good value for money.

I have no hesitation in recommending a trip with Stuart Line Cruises if you want to enjoy a relaxing experience in beautiful surroundings.

Michael C.

21:04 12 Nov 25

Had a wonderful cruise down the river Exe today on the Pride Of Exmouth which is run by Stuart Line Cruises.
Very lucky to find something to do that's open or still operating in the winter. Adult price was less than £10 absolute bargain. The cruise itself was around one and half hours.
On board there is a heated cabin and an open air deck above. Toilets are also on board as is a little gift section by the cafe which has a licenced bar.
As its winter we indulged in a hot mince pie and mulled wine. A big thankyou to all the great staff and the captain. All in all great value for money with an outstanding professional company.

Henry J.

19:24 08 Oct 25

Stuart Line were absolutely fantastic! From the moment we contacted the office to the actual event, the team could not have done any more for us. Amanda in the office is an absolute gem to work with.
On the day, the boats arrived for our wedding on time, they were clean and the staff were impeccable! They were playing the music we'd requested and the whole journey was seamless. Our guests had a fabulous time and very much enjoyed the prosecco we purchased through Stuart Line.
The bees knees of wedding transport! I would give more stars if I could!

Elaine H.

11:32 30 Sep 25

We booked a short trip on the Tudor Rose to scatter my husband's ashes at sea, and his mum's ashes too. We were well looked after by Will and Kev who made sure we knew what we were doing and were so friendly. We had 4 small children with us, who loved the trip and it was so much nicer than an ordinary funeral. We scattered the ashes with petals and roses and the children blew bubbles - a lovely way for them to say goodbye to their grandad who loved the sea and boats and especially Budleigh Salterton. We then raised a glass to Geoff and Buddy and the children had ice-cream. We were lucky with the weather too, a great tribute and fitting way to remember them both.
Thank you Will and Kev, and Amanda who helped us to make the arrangements. I can't recommend Stuart Line Cruises highly enough.

A Google U.

11:32 30 Sep 25

David P.

18:03 20 Sep 25

Had a wonderful cruise along the coast complete with cream tea. Scones were already loaded with cream and jam yes, but I can,t see how you could do it yourself on bouncing boat at sea. Very informative commentary. All crew were very happy and helpful. Can,t wait to visit again for another trip. Thanks for a lovely afternoon! I even got a September sun tan

Georgina C.

20:36 03 Sep 25

Second time we did a trip and it was as good as the first.
Very easy to book and very organised. The captain gave us a good commentary on the way out. The facilities on board are good. There is a bar serving hot and cold drinks and snacks (crisps/choc bars). You can go and get them yourselves or wait for someone to come and take your order.
We were on the upper deck which was outside and were given blankets and umbrellas as the weather was a bit changeable. You could also go inside where it was dry and warmer.
I really recommend them for a lovely day out.

Joanne R.

11:33 07 Aug 25

We booked a private Cruise for the Exetraordinary Women WI Summer Party and had the most amazing evening. The booking process with Amanda was so smooth and professional and nothing was too much trouble. The catering options were very good and we went for the BBQ. It was all cooked fresh on the boat and was excellent with great quality burger, sausage and salad. There were even leftovers so people could have seconds. The vegetarian option was just as good and everyone was so pleased for the price. The bar staff were very efficient and the bottles of wine came out chilled all night - perfect.
Overall we had an amazing night and are looking to book next year as it was such a success and would certainly recommend them for a great evening cruise.

Maria C.

20:15 04 Aug 25

Great day out.
Be warned. They prepare the cream tea before and serve it already loaded with jam and cream. I asked for mine to have only a little cream and I would like to do it myself. The response I got from the member of staff was that they don’t have time to serve it like that. I explained nicely that I’m a bit fussy but she did get a bit frustrated. I did get the spare scone with just jam on and it was absolutely delicious. Our party of four had a great time and loved it.
Customer service was just a bit rude by one member with my requirements.

Group Bookings

Stuart Line Cruises would like to extend a very warm welcome to group organisers, tour operators and couriers. Allow us to share with you some fantastic excursion ideas, which are specially designed for groups of 15 people or more with suggested itineraries at special discounted rates.

Stuart Line Cruises is an award-winning, family-run business, operating on the River Exe and along the East Coast and South Devon coastlines, from the traditional seaside town of Exmouth, in Devon.

Now running over 50 years, we passionately believe that the River Exe and nearby coastlines of the Jurassic Coast and English Riviera are unrivaled in terms of history, beauty and wildlife and cannot wait to share them with you.

If you are interested in taking this cruise as part of a group, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming you.

Gallery

Fancy a Devon Cream Tea with your Boat Trip?

Add a freshly-baked fruit scone from our favourite local bakery and our locally-sourced clotted cream and strawberry jam – our Devon Cream Tea is one your tastebuds will not argue with!

The cream teas are served the Devon way with heaps of fresh clotted cream on the bottom and finished off with an indulgent dollop of scrumptious strawberry jam – all accompanied with a cup of freshly brewed tea or coffee – a match made in Devon!

Add your optional Cream Tea at the time of booking below on selected Cruises.

Gluten-free options are available. Please let us know by calling or emailing if you require this option.