Isle of Wight by Train and Ferry
The Isle of Wight has ferries from three stations: Portsmouth Harbour, with a 22min crossing to Ryde Pier Head; Lymington Pier, with a 40min crossing to Yarmouth; and Southampton Central, with a 28min crossing to West Cowes. At Southampton Central, the terminal is 1.0 mi (about 1 to 1.5 mi on foot) from the station.
St Boniface Down, 242m, is the highest of the Isle of Wight's 6 listed hills.
Photo: Mypix, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to get to the Isle of Wight by train
The train takes you to the ferry port, and the ferry carries foot passengers, so you can walk on with a rucksack and no car.
Train and Wightlink ferry
Train to Portsmouth Harbour, 22min ferry to Ryde Pier Head
The ferry terminal is a short walk from the platform. Portsmouth Harbour station
Train and Wightlink ferry
Train to Lymington Pier, 40min ferry to Yarmouth
The ferry terminal is a short walk from the platform. Lymington Pier station
Train and Red Funnel ferry
Train to Southampton Central, 28min ferry to West Cowes
The ferry terminal is 1.0 mi (about 1 to 1.5 mi on foot) from the platform. Southampton Central station
Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off.
Train times to the ferry from London, Bristol and more
The quickest train from each city to the ferry port. Then add the crossing: 22min from Portsmouth Harbour, 40min from Lymington Pier, 28min from Southampton Central.
| From | To Portsmouth Harbour | To Lymington Pier | To Southampton Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 49min | 32min | – |
| Brighton | 1hr 24min | 2hr 24min | 1hr 51min |
| London | 1hr 35min | 1hr 50min | 1hr 19min |
| Bath | 2hr 17min | 2hr 18min | 1hr 31min |
| Oxford | 2hr 28min | 2hr 10min | 1hr 32min |
| Bristol | 2hr 32min | 2hr 33min | 1hr 46min |
Hills you can walk to from the ferry
No listed hill is within 3 miles of the Ryde Pier Head terminal, so the walking starts further onto the island.
Hills on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight has 6 listed hills, including 2 Marilyns. St Boniface Down is the highest at 242m.
Marilyns on the Isle of Wight
- St Boniface Down242m
- Brighstone Down214m
Protected places on the Isle of Wight
Protected places that lie mostly on the Isle of Wight, each with its own page.
National Landscapes
Special Areas of Conservation
Can you visit the Isle of Wight without a car?
Yes. The ferries carry foot passengers, so you can arrive with a rucksack and no car. We don't list island buses, so for anywhere further from the ferry, check local transport before you travel.
More English, Welsh and Manx islands by train and ferry
- The Isles of ScillyTrain to Penzance, 2hr 45min to 3hr ferry to St Mary's
- Isle of ManTrain to Liverpool Lime Street, 2hr 45min to 4hr 15min ferry to Douglas
Also by train and ferry: Scottish islands.