Can you camp on the Isle of Wight without a car?

Yes. Foot ferries, the Island Line train and the Southern Vectis buses make it easy, and 43 of the campsites we list are close to a bus route.

Which ferry is best for foot passengers going camping on the Isle of Wight?

For Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin, take the FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head and change onto the Island Line train, or the hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde. For Cowes take the Red Jet from Southampton, and for the West Wight take the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry.

Where does the Isle of Wight train go?

The Island Line runs from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, calling at Ryde Esplanade, Ryde St John's Road, Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown and Lake. The separate Isle of Wight Steam Railway runs from Smallbrook Junction to Wootton on its operating days.

Are there buses to Isle of Wight campsites?

Yes. Southern Vectis buses reach almost every village, with seasonal open-top routes such as the Needles Breezer and the Island Coaster in spring and summer. Each campsite page on this site says whether it is near a bus route.

What is the easiest way to camp on the Isle of Wight without carrying a tent?

Book glamping near a bus route. 16 of the campsites we list have glamping and are close to a bus, and some rent pre-pitched tents with cooking kit included.

Camping on the Isle of Wight Without a Car: Buses, Trains & Foot Ferries

In short: the Isle of Wight is one of the easiest places in England to camp without a car. Fast foot ferries cross from Portsmouth, Southsea and Southampton in half an hour or less, the Island Line train runs from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, and Southern Vectis buses reach almost every village. 43 of the campsites we list are close to a bus route, and if you don't want to carry a tent, 16 of them have glamping.

Crossing as a foot passenger

Foot passengers have more choice than drivers, and the fares are much lower. Three fast crossings run only for passengers, and the car ferries take foot passengers too.

The Solent crossings. The FastCat, the hovercraft and the Red Jet carry foot passengers only; the three car ferries take foot passengers as well. Crossing times are approximate.car ferryfoot passengers only

Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head (Wightlink FastCat). Portsmouth Harbour station is beside the terminal, and the Island Line train leaves from the other end of the crossing at Ryde Pier Head, so this is the easiest route by rail. The FastCats have bike racks.
Southsea to Ryde (Hovertravel). The hovercraft lands at Ryde Esplanade, next to the railway station and the bus station.
Southampton to West Cowes (Red Funnel Red Jet), for Cowes, Gurnard and the north coast. The chain ferry across the Medina links West and East Cowes.
Lymington to Yarmouth (Wightlink car ferry), for the West Wight. Lymington Pier station is beside the terminal, and Yarmouth's bus station is a short walk from where the ferry docks.

The car ferries from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Southampton to East Cowes also take foot passengers, which can suit a campsite near Wootton or East Cowes. Our ferry guide covers luggage and bikes.

Buy a through ticket. Rail tickets to Island Line stations can include the FastCat crossing, and the ticket gates at Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head accept rail tickets. Check when you book.

The Island Line train

The Island's only main-line railway runs about eight and a half miles from Ryde Pier Head down the east side of the Island to Shanklin, calling at Ryde Esplanade, Ryde St John's Road, Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown and Lake. It's the quickest way to reach Sandown Bay, and several campsites are a short walk from a station:

Sunrise Hill, a summer pop-up a few minutes' walk from Brading station.
Adgestone, between Sandown and Brading, under a mile from Sandown station.
Lower Hyde and Landguard on the edge of Shanklin, both within about half a mile of Shanklin station.
Ninham and Willow Brook on the farm above Shanklin, under a mile from the station. Ninham has pitches set aside for guests arriving on foot or by bike.

Smallbrook Junction only opens when the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is running and has no road access. The steam railway itself runs from there through Ashey and Havenstreet to Wootton on its operating days, which makes it a good day out but not everyday transport.

How far each campsite is from its nearest Island Line station (Ryde to Shanklin). Steam railway stops are left out, since they only open on its running days.

The buses

Southern Vectis runs almost all the Island's buses, with Newport at the centre of the network and routes out to the towns, the coast and most villages. The main routes run all year. Day and multi-day rover tickets cover the whole network, which makes it easy to get to a walk start and back from somewhere else.

In spring and summer, Southern Vectis adds open-top and tourist routes. The Needles Breezer runs from Yarmouth to Alum Bay and the Needles, and the Island Coaster runs from Ryde along the east and south coasts, past Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Blackgang, then over the Military Road to Freshwater Bay, the Needles and Yarmouth. Dates and timetables change each year, so check the current ones before you plan around them.

Campsites close to a bus route.43 campsitesother campsites

Some campsites with a bus at or near the gate, from our data:

Heathfield Farm in Freshwater, with buses from the entrance and the village under a mile away.
The Orchards at Newbridge, where a bus stops at the entrance.
Kite Hill Farm at Wootton Bridge, with buses to Newport and Ryde from near the entrance.
Whitefield Forest near Ryde, on a bus route past the gate, with a cheaper per-person rate for walkers and cyclists arriving without a vehicle.
Fakenham Farm in St Helens, where buses pass the gate and the beach is five minutes' walk.
Trooper's View at Shorwell, a summer pop-up with a bus stop at the gate.

Carrying your kit

Without a car, everything you bring has to go on your back or in your hands from the ferry to the pitch, and often onto a bus as well. A few things make it easier:

Pack light. A two-person backpacking tent, a light sleeping bag and one small stove are enough for a summer week. Leave the airbed pump and the gazebo at home.
Buy food on the Island. The towns have supermarkets and many campsites sell basics, so you only need to carry the first night's supper. See campsites with a shop.
Pick a site near where you arrive. 36 campsites are within about three miles of a ferry port: see campsites near the ferry.
Ask about car-free rates. Camp Wight at Ningwood has a cheaper eco-travel pitch for guests who arrive by bike, on foot or by bus, and several sites have hiker pitches. See our cheap camping guide.

Walking or cycling round the Island is the other way to do it: the Coastal Path and the Round the Island cycle route both pass plenty of campsites. See walking the Coastal Path, cycling round the Island and the route planner, which picks a campsite for each night.

Glamping: camping without the kit

If carrying a tent puts you off, book something that's already pitched. Glamping on a bus route means you arrive with a weekend bag and find the beds made, or at least the shelter up.

Camp Wight has rent-a-tents that come with chairs, a stove, a kettle and a fire pit; you bring sleeping kit.
Island Riding Centre on the edge of Newport has safari tents sleeping up to eight, with a bus stopping nearby.
Tapnell Farm near Yarmouth is served by a seasonal bus in summer and is about 20 minutes' walk from Freshwater the rest of the year.

Our glamping guide explains each type, or browse every glamping site.