With this passenger ferry as its only link to the outside world, the self-governing island of Sark remains a backwater of old-fashioned living. The 45-minute journey from Guernsey’s St Peter Port is particularly scenic, passing the island of Herm en route. Transport on Sark is a choice of bicycle and horse-and-cart, so island life is particularly peaceful, but it isn’t poor: several islanders are nominal company directors, so standards of living are high. Runs all year, five times daily in summer. Adult, £14; child, £6 (01481 724059, www.sarkshipping.info).

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This quirky circuit takes in many island-scapes, from the sandy flatlands of Canna to the brooding mass of Rum. Each island has a story: Rum was once forbidden territory, Eigg’s residents did a buy-out and Muck is still owned by one family. Run by MV Lochnevis, the trip lasts about eight hours, returning to Mallaig. Daily except Sundays. Non-landing cruise, £16 (08000 665000, www.calmac.co.uk).

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This very scenic foot ferry across the Fal Estuary hit the headlines a few years ago when two turnstones, christened Fred and Freda by the skipper, started to hitch a lift out on the first boat to feed along the shoreline at St Mawes, and then hitched back again at the end of the day. They chose well, because this 20-minute crossing on proud wooden ferryboats links bustling Falmouth with St Mawes’ quiet fishing harbour. Runs daily all year, 9am- 5.15pm; adult, £5, child, £3.50 (www.kingharryscornwall.co.uk).

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This rowing boat service across the Blyth Estuary is one of the last few remaining human-powered ferries still working along the British coast. Dani Church is the first woman and the fifth generation of her family to take up the task of the short crossing that links two elegant destinations: the genteel resort of Southwold and the artistic enclave of Walberswick. Runs weekends Easter to May, then daily Whitsun to September, 10am-5pm, 90p (01502 478615, www.explorewalberswick.co.uk).

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The car-ferrying chain ferry across the mouth of Poole Harbour to the Isle of Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast is a bit of a Tardis among ferry crossings, transporting customers from the densely urbanised to the surprisingly rural in just four minutes. On the Swanage side, the first beach – Studland – is famous for nudists, and there’s a great walk out to Old Harry Rocks, with views of the Isle of Wight. Runs daily all year, 7am-11pm, £1 each way per pedestrian, £3.50 per car (01929 450203, www.sandbanksferry.co.uk).

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Readers of a certain vintage will remember Gerry and the Pacemakers and their ‘Fer-ry…cross the Mer-sey’. There are now tunnels for trans-Mersey traffic, but the much-loved stumpy-funnelled ferries in question still plough back and forth between Birkenhead, Seacombe and Liverpool’s UNESCO-listed waterfront by the Royal Liver Building. Runs daily all year, 7.20am-7pm; crossings take ten minutes; adult, £1.60, child, £1.30 (0151 330 1444, www.merseyferries.co.uk).

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The romance of going over the sea to Skye is not completely lost, despite the fact that over 90 per cent of visitors use the new(ish) bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh. The only remaining turntable ferry in the UK (six cars) still operates the short crossing between the mainland village of Glenelg and the island hamlet of Kylerhea. The ferry is now community-owned and run, and seals and otters can be seen playing in the fast-moving narrows. Runs daily Easter to October, 10am-6pm; £12 per car (www.skyeferry.co.uk).

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A floating platform lashed to a tug, the Dartmouth to Kingswear Lower Ferry works in a great setting. The steam engines on the Dartmouth Railway puff along the Kingswear side in summer, and the grand buildings of the Royal Naval College rear up on the Dartmouth side. To see both, you need to be out on the water – and the ferry is the easiest way. Runs daily all year, 7am-10.55pm; £4 per car, foot passengers, £1.10 (01803 861234, www.southhams.gov.uk).

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Caldey Island is a 20-minute crossing from Tenby, served by a shuttle system of converted fishing boats. Caldey Abbey is home to Cistercian monks, who make perfume and chocolate, and sell it in the monastery shop. The atmospheric former priory church of St Illtyd has touching messages on the wall, such as ‘To mom. I hope you are safe’. Runs daily Easter to October, 10am-5pm; adult, £11 return, child, £6 (01834 842402, www.caldey-island.co.uk).

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Three open boats shuttle back and forth from Salcombe to Portlemouth almost continually in the summer months, taking a couple of minutes to whisk foot passengers across to a lovely beach with a rather trendy café (lovingthebeach.co.uk). There’s a chilled-out appeal to Portlemouth and it’s a great place to watch part-time yachties make a mess of manoeuvres in the creek. Runs all year, 8am-6pm (later in summer), £1.30 (01548 842061).

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