Holiday park · Colwell Bay · 5 min walk to the stop
Linstone Chine Holiday Village (Brambles Chine and Cliff End)
Stop: Golden Hill Fort
Chalets
- No dogs
- Near beach
from £90/night
ViewThe Island Coaster: Ryde to Yarmouth the long way round, and the campsites on the route
The Island Coaster is a summer bus that follows the coast from Ryde to Yarmouth. It goes through St Helens, Bembridge, Whitecliff Bay and Sandown to Shanklin, then over the cliffs through Bonchurch to Ventnor. After Whitwell, Niton and Blackgang it runs the length of the Military Road past Brighstone and Brook to Freshwater Bay, Totland and Alum Bay.
It did run in 2026, daily from 28 March to 26 September. It is a day-out bus rather than an everyday one: buses head west in the morning and come back east in the afternoon. The season is now over. Check islandbuses.info in spring 2027 for next year's dates.
Touring park · Freshwater · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Heathfield Farm Camping
Stop: Brambles Corner · Colwell Brambles Corner stop, about 150m from the entrance on Heathfield Road.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
- Dogs welcome
- Near beach
from £28/night
View
Campsite · Freshwater · 5 min walk to the stop
Freshwater Camp Equipment Trust Campsite
Stop: Freshwater Fire Station
Pre-pitched tents
- Near beach
- Glamping
from £112.50/night
ViewSmall certificated site · Freshwater · 5 min walk to the stop
The Bungalow CL
Stop: Southdown Road
Members only · join the Caravan and Motorhome Club to stay
Caravans, motorhomes
- Dogs welcome
- Near beach
Prices on request
ViewHoliday park · Brighstone · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Brighstone Holiday Centre
Stop: Brighstone Holiday Camp · Brighstone Holiday Centre stop on the Military Road, about 100m from the entrance.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, chalets
- Dogs welcome
- Near beach
from £18/night
ViewFarm campsite · Brighstone · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Grange Farm
Stop: Grange Chine · Brighstone Grange Chine stop on the Military Road, about 120m from the farm.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, pods, static caravans
- Dogs welcome
- Near beach
- Glamping
from £23/night
ViewFarm campsite · Chale · 5 min walk to the stop
Chine Farm Caravan and Camping Park
Stop: Atherfield Holiday Centre · Yafford Chine Farm stop on the Military Road, about 250m in a straight line from the camping field.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
- Near beach
Prices on request
ViewSmall certificated site · Chale · 10 min walk to the stop
Paradise Cottage CS
Stop: Southdown
Members only · join the Camping and Caravanning Club to stay
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
- Dogs welcome
- Near beach
from £10/night
View
Small certificated site · Niton · 10 min walk to the stop
Downsview CL
Stop: Kingates
Members only · join the Caravan and Motorhome Club to stay
Caravans, motorhomes
- Dogs welcome
- Adults only
from £28/night
View
Holiday park · Shanklin · 5 min walk to the stop
Lower Hyde Holiday Park
Stop: Shanklin, Bus Station
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
- Dogs welcome
- Pool
- Near beach
- Glamping
from £16/night
ViewHoliday park · Shanklin · 5 min walk to the stop
Landguard Holiday Park
Stop: Landguard Manor · Shanklin Landguard Manor stop, about 250m from the park on Landguard Manor Road.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
- Dogs welcome
- Pool
- Near beach
from £16/night
View
Holiday park · Bembridge · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
Stop: Whitecliff Bay · Whitecliff Bay stop, about 200m from the park on Hillway Road. Route 8 stops here all year.
Tents, static caravans, lodges
- Dogs welcome
- Pool
- Near beach
from £13/night
ViewGlamping site · Bembridge · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Kingswood Bembridge (glamping)
Stop: Manor Adventure
Bell tents
- Near beach
- Glamping
Prices on request
View
Holiday park · St Helens · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Old Mill Holiday Park
Stop: Guildford Road
Static caravans, lodges, cabins
- No dogs
- Near beach
- Glamping
from £65.71/night
View
Small certificated site · St Helens · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Fakenham Farm CS
Stop: Nodes Point
Members only · join the Camping and Caravanning Club to stay
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
- Dogs welcome
- Near beach
from £15/night
View
Holiday park · St Helens · 5 min walk to the stop
Nodes Point Holiday Park
Stop: Nodes Point · St Helens Nodes Point stop, about 400m from the park on Nodes Road.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, safari tents, static caravans
- Some dogs
- Pool
- Near beach
- Glamping
from £12/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
How often it ran in 2026
The 2026 timetable had two patterns, shown by a coloured calendar. On busy dates there were three buses west, from Sandown at 08:45 and from Ryde at 09:00 and 10:00. They came back from Yarmouth at 14:55, 15:55 and 16:55. On quieter dates there was one bus from Sandown at 09:15 and one from Ryde at 09:25, with one back from Yarmouth at 16:30.
Ryde to Yarmouth took about two hours and 50 minutes, so most people rode a section. A closed-top bus was used.
Tickets
The Coaster is not part of the Government's £3 fare cap, and concessionary passes are not accepted. Rover 1 and 2 day tickets and Freedom 7, 30 and 90 day tickets were valid. For 2026, a 24 Hour Rover + Breezer cost £15.50 on the app or £16.20 on paper for an adult, and an Over 60 paper ticket was £9.70. Single fares were sold by the driver.
Campsites you can reach
Its biggest value for campers is the Military Road between Chale and Brook, where no other bus runs. Brighstone Holiday Centre, Grange Farm and Chine Farm sit beside it. The road has fast traffic, so get off at the stop nearest your gate.
See campsites near Compton Bay and campsites near Blackgang Chine.
Luggage, dogs and bikes
Up to two dogs normally travel free on Southern Vectis buses, off the seats. Luggage is carried where it is safe. Folding bikes are allowed if there is room. Electric bikes and scooters are not allowed.
Where it connects
It starts at Ryde Transport Interchange, by the hovercraft and Ryde Esplanade station, and ends at Yarmouth bus station by the Lymington ferry. Out of season, use route 7 or route 12 in the West Wight and routes 3 and 6 in the south.
Questions people ask
Is the Island Coaster running in 2026?
It ran daily from 28 March to 26 September 2026 and has now finished for the year. Check islandbuses.info in spring 2027 for next year's dates.
Does the Island Coaster go along the Military Road?
Yes. Between Chale and Freshwater Bay it runs the Military Road, with stops at Atherfield, Chine Farm, Grange Chine, Brighstone Holiday Centre, the Isle of Wight Pearl, Brook and Compton Bay.
Can I use a bus pass on the Island Coaster?
No. Concessionary passes are not accepted and the £3 fare cap does not apply. Rover, Rover + Breezer and Freedom tickets are valid, or you can buy a single from the driver.
Which campsites can you reach on island Coaster?
23 campsites are within a short walk of a stop: Linstone Chine Holiday Village (Brambles Chine and Cliff End), Heathfield Farm Camping, The Bay Colwell, Stoats Farm Caravan and Camping, Freshwater Camp Equipment Trust Campsite, The Bungalow CL, Brighstone Holiday Centre and Grange Farm.