The Higher Ferry Public Slipway sits on the North Embankment in Dartmouth, alongside the Higher Car Ferry crossing of the River Dart. It is the main — and effectively only — public launch point in Dartmouth itself, and is usable at all states of the tide.

The ramp is popular with a wide range of users, from RIB and dinghy sailors to kayakers, and is also a convenient spot for launching tenders to reach moorings further up the river.

Harbour dues are payable to the river team on the water or at the Harbour Office. The slipway sits adjacent to Coronation Park, where trailer storage is possible, though car parking nearby is limited.

Users should be aware of the Higher Ferry's wire-guided cables, which can have sufficient slack on an ebb tide to allow the ferry to drift downstream and overlap with the slipway area.