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Private boat hire transforms a boat trip from a shared experience into something entirely your own. When you charter Ellihaye from Pendennis Boat Charters, the 47-foot motor cruiser and her crew are exclusively yours for the duration. The itinerary, the pace, and the focus of the day are agreed with you in advance and delivered around your group’s requirements, not a fixed schedule.
Here is what becomes possible when the boat is yours.
Exploring the Fal Estuary Your Way
The Fal estuary is one of the most beautiful stretches of tidal water in England. From Falmouth harbour, the river extends north through the Carrick Roads into a network of wooded creeks, quiet anchorages, and waterside destinations that include some of Cornwall’s finest pubs, restaurants, and gardens. On a private charter, you determine how much time you spend at each point, where you anchor, and when you return.
Popular destinations on a private Fal charter include the Helford River and its atmospheric creeks, the Pandora Inn at Restronguet (accessible by pontoon), Trelissick Garden above the King Harry Reach, and the upper estuary where the traditional oyster boats still work their dredges under sail. None of these requires rushing past to meet a timetable.
Celebrations and Special Occasions
A significant proportion of our private charters are arranged around celebrations: milestone birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, family reunions, and retirement parties. The Ellihaye provides a genuinely distinctive setting for a celebration, with catering options using Cornish suppliers, a fully licensed bar, and the estuary as a backdrop. Photographs from a day on the Fal tend to look extraordinary.
Corporate and Client Entertainment
A day on the water removes the usual professional hierarchies and creates a genuinely different environment for client entertainment or team events. The Ellihaye accommodates up to twelve passengers and can be structured around as much or as little agenda as suits the group. Some corporate groups use the time to talk business in an unusually relaxed setting. Others simply want the shared experience to develop relationships in a way that a restaurant cannot.
Wildlife and Coastal Discovery
The Fal estuary is ecologically rich. Grey herons, kingfishers, and little egrets are regular companions on trips up the river. Grey seals haul out on rocks along the outer estuary. The Helford River approaches are a candidate Special Area of Conservation with significant marine biodiversity, and the clarity of the water in summer makes snorkelling a genuine option for groups who want it.
What Ellihaye Offers
Ellihaye is a well-equipped, comfortable vessel with a fully heated enclosed saloon, a generous aft deck for outdoor seating and dining, and a professional crew of two. She is licensed to carry twelve passengers and is fully insured for the waters we operate in. Catering, licensing, and itinerary planning are all handled by us in advance of your charter.
Contact Pendennis Boat Charters to discuss your private charter on the Fal.
