Getting to the Isle of Wight and Around
Access to the island is across the Solent, a stretch of sea between the UK mainland and the island, by regular ferry, hovercraft or fast-cat from the mainland.
Many of the ferries carry cars, but this can be expensive, the alternative is to travel by foot passenger and use buses and trains on the island but this will limit access to more rural locations and beaches.
Car ferry travel tickets are for car plus four passengers and depending on the size of your party, bringing a car may actually work out cheaper than the passenger ferry. Hovercraft and fast cat fares are comparable, but the Hovercraft does not run very late and does not connect as easily with the trains.
There is a single public service railway line on the island, with a limited service running from Ryde Pier Head (connections with Portsmouth ferry) to Sandown, for local bus service to Dinosaur Isle, and Shanklin, for connecting buses to Ventnor. It is run by Island Line, and through tickets can be booked from any manned UK station.
Cycling on the Island is a fantastic way to get around and keep green. The Island has over 200 miles of cycle ways much of which can be enjoyed by families off road.
