Two foot-passenger services land at Ryde. Wightlink's FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour takes about 22 minutes to Ryde Pier Head. Hovertravel's hovercraft from Southsea takes under 10 minutes and lands on the beach by Ryde Esplanade. Neither carries vehicles: drivers, caravans and motorhomes use the Fishbourne car ferry, a few miles west.
No campsite is in walking distance of the pier with a full pack. The nearest, Retro Staycations on Ashey Road, is about 4 km and 55 minutes away. Ryde is still the best place to start a car-free camping trip, because Island Line trains and most island buses leave from the Esplanade.
Glamping site · Ryde · 2.2 miles
The closest site to the pier: about 4 km on Ashey Road, roughly 55 minutes on foot, or a 6-minute drive. Raised fire pits allowed.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, pods, airstreams
from £16/night
ViewCampsite · Fishbourne · 2.6 miles
Tents
Prices on request
ViewTouring park · Ryde · 2.6 miles
Routes 2 and 3 from Ryde Transport Interchange pass the gate on Brading Road, and between them they run about every 15 minutes. There is a pitch rate for walkers and cyclists without a vehicle.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, lodges
from £26/night
ViewGlamping site · Ryde · 2.7 miles
Cabins
from £214/night
ViewCampsite · Havenstreet · 2.8 miles
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £20/night
ViewFarm campsite · Wootton Bridge · 2.9 miles
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £22/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 3 miles
Lodges
from £61.07/night
ViewHoliday park · Wootton Bridge · 3 miles
Lodges, treehouses
Prices on request
ViewCampsite · Havenstreet · 3 miles
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
Prices on request
ViewHoliday park · St Helens · 3.4 miles
Lodges, static caravans
Prices on request
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
Island Line trains start at Ryde Pier Head, beside the FastCat, and run down the pier to Ryde Esplanade, Ryde St John's Road, Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin. Smallbrook Junction, for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, is served on steam days. The 2026 timetable has about three trains every two hours, roughly every 40 minutes, and the run to Shanklin takes about 27 minutes.
Sunrise Hill Campsite, a summer field at Brading, is a few minutes' walk from Brading station. If you miss the train, walking the pier to the Esplanade takes about 10 minutes.
Buses leave from the interchange on the Esplanade, at the landward end of the pier. Routes 2 and 3 each run about every 30 minutes along Brading Road to Brading, Sandown and Shanklin, passing the gate of Whitefield Forest Touring Park. Route 8 goes via Seaview and St Helens to Bembridge, roughly hourly in the October 2026 timetable. It serves Nodes Point, Old Mill and Fakenham Farm.
Route 9 runs about every 10 minutes to Binstead, Wootton and Newport, for Kite Hill Farm at Wootton Bridge. Route 4 runs hourly to Wootton Bridge, Osborne House and East Cowes.
Wightlink's FastCat runs about every 30 minutes in the middle of the day and hourly otherwise. In the 2027 timetable, the first boat leaves Portsmouth Harbour at 05:10 on weekdays and 07:15 at weekends. The last leaves at 22:45. The last boat back from Ryde Pier Head is 23:10. Portsmouth Harbour terminal is inside Portsmouth Harbour railway station. Check in at least 15 minutes before sailing.
Hovertravel stops earlier. In summer 2026 (6 April to 1 November), the first weekday hovercraft left Southsea at 06:50. A 20:30 last departure ran only from 6 July to 31 August, with earlier last crossings at other times. In winter, from 2 November, the last leaves Southsea at 18:45. Time a late arrival for the FastCat.
Wightlink has no luggage limit, but you must carry your own bags on and off, which matters on the long pier. Bikes go free on the FastCat in its bike store but must be booked in advance. Dogs can go anywhere on a FastCat but not on seats. See taking a tent on the ferry and camping with dogs.
The nearest is Retro Staycations on Ashey Road, about 4 km from Ryde Pier. Whitefield Forest Touring Park is on Brading Road, on bus routes 2 and 3. The St Helens and Seaview parks, including Nodes Point, Old Mill and Fakenham Farm, are on route 8.
Yes. Arrive at Ryde on the FastCat or hovercraft, then take Island Line to Brading for Sunrise Hill, or a bus from Ryde Transport Interchange. Routes 2 and 3 pass Whitefield Forest, and route 8 serves St Helens.
No. The Wightlink FastCat to Ryde Pier Head and the Hovertravel hovercraft are foot passengers only. Cars, caravans and motorhomes from Portsmouth use Wightlink's car ferry to Fishbourne.
The last Wightlink FastCat leaves Portsmouth Harbour at 22:45 in the 2027 timetable. The last hovercraft from Southsea is earlier: 20:30 in July and August 2026, and 18:45 in winter.
Yes. Wightlink lists on-site car parking at Ryde Pier Head, at the island end of the pier where the FastCat berths.
Retro Staycations, about 2.2 miles away as the crow flies.
Retro Staycations, from £16 a night for two adults, is the lowest price we can find over the next year. Prices change with the season and the day of the week, so put your dates into the calculator on this page.
7 of the 10: Retro Staycations, Whitefield Forest Touring Park, Acacia Bay Woodlands (The Woodlands Retreat), Kite Hill Farm Caravan & Camping Park, Woodside Coastal Retreat, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat and St Helens Coastal Resort.
Yes: Woodside Coastal Retreat and Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat.
Yes, at Retro Staycations, The Woodland Retreat and Acacia Bay Woodlands (The Woodlands Retreat). Most want fires in a raised pit, not on the ground.
