Route 3 is the Island's long south-east loop: from Newport through Rookley and Godshill to Wroxall and Ventnor, along the coast road through Bonchurch to Shanklin, then Lake, Sandown, Brading and Ryde. Southern Vectis runs it about every 30 minutes, seven days a week, and it carries on into the late evening.
That makes it the most useful single route for car-free campers in the south and east. The stops to know are Rookley The Lakes, Wroxall, Shanklin Bus Station and Railway Station, Fort Mews in Sandown, Brading Church and Whitefield Forest Park near Ryde.
Holiday park · Rookley · 5 min walk to the stop
Stop: Rookley Country Park · Rookley The Lakes stop (Rookley Country Park on some maps), then about 400m along Main Road and the park drive, 5 minutes.
Static caravans, cottages, lodges
from £22/night
ViewGlamping site · Godshill · 5 min walk to the stop
Stop: Godshill South · Godshill South stop, served by buses heading for Ventnor, then about 800m along Shanklin Road and the Godshill Park farm track. Coming from Ryde, use Godshill Griffin, about 900m away.
Shepherd's huts
from £70/night
ViewHoliday park · Wroxall · 5 min walk to the stop
Stop: Mountfield Road · Get off at Wroxall Church, then about 1km through the village and out along Rew Lane, roughly 15 minutes. A walk to plan for if you are carrying a tent.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
from £23.65/night
ViewHoliday park · Shanklin · 5 min walk to the stop
Stop: Shanklin, Bus Station · Shanklin Bus Station or Shanklin Railway Station, then about 500m, 7 minutes, partly on the old railway path towards Wroxall.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
from £16/night
ViewHoliday park · Sandown · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Stop: Fort Mews · Fort Mews stop on Avenue Road is about 75m from the entrance.
Static caravans
Prices on request
ViewPop-up campsite · Brading · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Stop: Brading Church · Brading Church stop, then about 150m along the High Street to Rowborough Lane. Summer-only field, so check dates.
Tents, motorhomes, bell tents
from £15/night
ViewGlamping site · Ryde · a couple of minutes' walk to the stop
Stop: Beaper Farm · About 100m from the Whitefield Forest Park stop on the Ryde to Brading road.
Cabins
from £214/night
ViewTouring park · Ryde · 5 min walk to the stop
Stop: Beaper Farm · Whitefield Forest Park stop (Beaper Farm on some maps), then about 350m to the gate, 5 minutes. The park's 2026 season ran to 6 October.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, lodges
from £26/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
On the winter timetable from 27 September 2026, buses leave Newport every 30 minutes from early morning (05:30 Monday to Saturday, 06:05 on Sundays) into the evening, thinning out later, with a last departure of 23:10 Monday to Saturday or 23:40 on Sundays. From Ryde the last regular bus is 23:40, or 23:55 on Sundays.
On Friday and Saturday nights extra N3 journeys run after midnight, adult fares only. The summer 2026 timetable (from 24 May) had the same 30 minute pattern with extra running time for holiday traffic. In October 2026 Ocean View Road in Ventnor is closed and buses divert, so check service updates before you travel.
An adult single is £3 under the government fare cap. From 30 August 2026 an adult 24-hour Rover is £11.70 on paper or £11.40 in the app, and tap on, tap off with a contactless card works out the best daily fare for you. The driver also sells a Rail Link ticket for combining route 3 to Ventnor with Island Line trains at Shanklin.
The Lakes Rookley is about 400m from its stop. In Shanklin, Lower Hyde is a 7 minute walk from the bus station. Around Ryde and Brading the bus passes Whitefield Forest, the Acacia Bay cabins and Sunrise Hill, all within a few minutes' walk.
Appuldurcombe Gardens is the long walk, about a kilometre from Wroxall on a country lane. Landguard is around 15 minutes from Shanklin's stops, and route 22 gets nearer.
Luggage goes at the driver's discretion, so a large rucksack is fine but a bulky tent and trolley may not be. Dogs travel free, normally up to two, at the driver's discretion and not on seats. Full-size bikes need the driver's agreement; folding bikes in a bag usually travel. E-bikes and e-scooters are not allowed.
Ryde Transport Interchange sits by Ryde Esplanade station and the hovercraft, with the FastCat from Ryde Pier Head. Route 3 also stops at Shanklin Railway Station and passes Brading, Sandown and Lake. See camping without a car for planning a whole trip by bus.
About every 30 minutes, seven days a week, between Newport and Ryde via Godshill, Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown, with fewer buses late in the evening. That is the winter 2026/27 pattern from 27 September 2026, and summer 2026 was the same.
On the winter 2026/27 timetable the last regular bus leaves Newport at 23:10 Monday to Saturday and 23:40 on Sundays. Extra N3 night buses run on Friday and Saturday nights.
Yes. Route 3 runs through Wroxall, Upper Ventnor and Ventnor town centre, then along the coast through Bonchurch to Shanklin.
The Lakes at Rookley, the Godshill Park Farm hut, Appuldurcombe Gardens near Wroxall, Lower Hyde and Landguard at Shanklin, Fort Holiday Park in Sandown, Sunrise Hill at Brading, and Whitefield Forest and Acacia Bay Woodlands near Ryde.
9 campsites are within a short walk of a stop: The Lakes Rookley, The Hut at Godshill Park Farm, Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park, Lower Hyde Holiday Park, Landguard Holiday Park, Fort Holiday Park, Sunrise Hill Campsite and Acacia Bay Woodlands (The Woodlands Retreat).
