Isle of Wight day trip from Portsmouth

Betsy,

Normally I would say to take the Wightlink ferry over from Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station to Ryde Pier Head then the Island Line train along the pier to central Ryde.

However this may be your only chance to fly (is the correct phrase) a passenger carrying hovercraft so why not (and use the connecting bus from either Portsmouth Station to the hoverpad). Or you could do hovercraft one way and Wightlink back?

From Ryde to Osborne House Southern Vectis run Bus #4 every hour and it only takes 25 minutes each way.

If you did Hovercraft both ways you could buy a Cross Solent Ticket- which is return hovercraft and an Isle of Wight Day Rover Bus Ticket for £38- https://www.islandbuses.info/cross-solent-tickets

As a hovercraft only day return is £33.60 that is a bargain (unless you are a senior).

That reminds me I don't ask a lady her age, but if you don't qualify for a National Rail Senior Railcard then for your month in Tunbridge Wells it may be worth looking into buying a Network Railcard. Anyone qualifies for that as long as on weekdays you travel after ten am (anytime at weekends). Most people on here don't travel enough in London and the South East to make it pay, but you might- https://www.network-railcard.co.uk/

If you went over on Wightlink you can buy through fares to the Isle of Wight from any UK station which include the Wightlink boat .

EDIT- I just had a thought, there are through fares from any station to Ryde hoverport as well- train, the connecting hoverbus and the hovercraft flight. From Arundel £41.90 Anytime Day Return or £39.50 Off Peak Day Return (£26.35 with any railcard)

Stuart, the hovercraft looks so cool! But, I’m not opposed to the ferry. Do you prefer the ferry in general? Or just that it’s cheaper?

Normally I would say to take the Wightlink ferry over from Portsmouth
Harbour Railway Station to Ryde Pier Head then the Island Line train
along the pier to central Ryde. However this may be your only chance
to fly (is the correct phrase) a passenger carrying hovercraft so why
not (and use the connecting bus from either Portsmouth Station to the
hoverpad). Or you could do hovercraft one way and Wightlink back?

I’m do glad that Osborne House is so accessible.
That ticket does very much sound like a bargain. The thing is that - wow, there’s SO much to see and do, and I can’t do everything. I definitely want to spend time at a beach, so I’d need to limit my time at Osborne House. Now I’ve read about Carisbrooke Castle, and that sounds amazing. The Garlic Farm is also right up my alley as garlic is one of the things I can’t live without, lol

From Ryde to Osborne House Southern Vectis run Bus #4 every hour and
it only takes 25 minutes each way. If you did Hovercraft both ways you
could buy a Cross Solent Ticket- which is return hovercraft and an
Isle of Wight Day Rover Bus Ticket for £38-
https://www.islandbuses.info/cross-solent-tickets As a hovercraft only
day return is £33.60 that is a bargain (unless you are a senior).

I don’t qualify, and I definitely intend to buy the SouthEast pass

Oh wow, thank you - I’ll definitely look into this! That sounds incredibly convenient!

That reminds me I don't ask a lady her age, but if you don't qualify
for a National Rail Senior Railcard then for your month in Tunbridge
Wells it may be worth looking into buying a Network Railcard. Anyone
qualifies for that as long as on weekdays you travel after ten am
(anytime at weekends). Most people on here don't travel enough in
London and the South East to make it pay, but you might-
https://www.network-railcard.co.uk/ If you went over on Wightlink you
can buy through fares to the Isle of Wight from any UK station which
include the Wightlink boat . EDIT- I just had a thought, there are
through fares from any station to Ryde hoverport as well- train, the
connecting hoverbus and the hovercraft flight. From Arundel £41.90
Anytime Day Return or £39.50 Off Peak Day Return (£26.35 with any
railcard)

I love the hovercraft and am sad that, for passengers, the technology is now all but defunct. I have also been lucky enough to travel on larger ones in the old days from England to France and regularly in Hong Kong. Especially out there it was a thrill/

To the Isle of Wight I personally prefer the ferry simply because I literally step off a train, onto the ferry, then off the ferry onto another train (and an old London underground train to boot). For me that wins on the convenience factor over having to catch a bus from train to Hovercraft.

However for the unique experience the hovercraft is worth it IMO.

It's like if I was going from Vancouver BC to Victoria BC tomorrow my first choice would be float/sea plane. It isn't the cheapest method but I don't get the chance to fly on a float plane in the UK. I've yearned to do that since I was in Vancouver on a too brief stopover. But if I was a regular traveller over there then the convenience and cheapness of the BCF ferry would win.

Some things are worth more than just a monetary comparison.

Stuart, bingo - that’s spot on. The memories I’ll have are worth more than a few extra minutes

I actually took a float plane - several - in Alaska. The first one, from Anchorage, was delayed a day due to weather (a few people has been delayed days)

It was a magical experience

The hovercraft is also much faster than the ferry so if you have time constraints it is the better option plus it's quite a unique way to travel.

JC, yep…though I almost wish it wasn’t so fast as it sounds like so much fun!

Thank you!!

The hovercraft is also much faster than the ferry so if you have time
constraints it is the better option plus it's quite a unique way to
travel

my first choice would be float/sea plane

You can take one in Denmark :-) Copenhagen-Aarhus or sightseeing either city.

https://www.seaplanes.dk/en

Gosh that's interesting. I had no idea that route existed. I'm not interested in sightseeing flights to nowhere but as transport from A to B.

That would be exactly my kind of day trip from Copenhagen if I ever had a spare day there- flight out, and ferry/bus back via Odden or vv. I know it's more expensive than taking the easy train route, but that really isn't the point.

For some reason that has just reminded me of another Hovercraft route I missed taking before it closed decades ago (and still kick myself hard for missing)- the Copenhagen Airport to Malmo route.

though I almost wish it wasn’t so fast as it sounds like so much fun!

back to the Isle of Wight - you not only don't spend very long on the beach to beach trip, you don't see much from your seat - there is usually quite a lot of spray on the windows and they have sea salt deposits... but it is a good experience overall.

I like going slowly on Wightlink, but I also have my car under my arm.

Nigel, that’s what I’m after - good experiences!

I’d love your thoughts on the below (anyone else as well), even if you’re not familiar with the restaurant.

So I was going to go to this restaurant on Saturday night as I’d be in Portsmouth for the day, then spend Sunday on IOW.

https://www.robertthompson.co.uk/rt-cafe-grill

However, I realized I messed up my days…I’m arriving in Arundel (staying 3 nights) on Saturday, April 26th. It’s just too much travel to get to RT on that day. They ARE open for Sunday Lunch (12-4pm), though

So my options are:

Go to Portsmouth on Sunday as planned, and go to RT via ferry or Hover for the last seating for Sunday lunch ( a very early dinner)

Monday - day on IOW

OR

go to IOW on Sunday instead (Portsmouth on Monday), and have lunch at a typical time (say anytime between 1-–3)

That would give me the rest of the day to relax at a beach (possibly spend a couple of hours at Osborne House if I get there early enough). Of course, as long as lunch would be my main meal of the day, I could have lunch later, and still fit in OH first, beach later

Thoughts?

Thanks!!

back to the Isle of Wight - you not only don't spend very long on the
beach to beach trip, you don't see much from your seat - there is
usually quite a lot of spray on the windows and they have sea salt
deposits... but it is a good experience overall. I like going slowly
on Wightlink, but I also have my car under my arm.

I can't tell you anything about the restaurant, BUT-
On the Sunday if you leave Arundel at 0853 the first official connection arrives at Ryde Hoverport at 1040. You should make the 1050 bus to Osborne House arrive 1115. Leave Osborne House at 1428, back at Ryde at 1455. The last available time for lunch is at 1530- that fits well.
The first ferry connection is at 0923, arrive Ryde 1137. In that case I would do lunch first (at lunchtime) then the 1350 bus to Osborne.

Last Hovercraft back over is at 1915.

Last ferry (catamaran) back over for the 22 minute sailing is as late as 2310 assuming you are staying in Portsmouth that evening.

Hi Stuart

Thanks!

Just to get to the last thing first - I’m not staying in Portsmouth, I’m staying in Arundel for the 3 nights (April 26-28)

It’s funny, but Trainline shows the 8:53 from Arundel as the earliest train, but South Western shows earlier. In fact, regardless, they’re both all buses pretty much since work is clearly being done.

Given the bus replacing the train on Sunday, which I’d prefer not to deal with, it might be easiest for me to spend Sunday in Portsmouth (HMS Victory, Mary Rose, strolling) and then go for the late lunch …

But as I think about it, as much as I want to go to this restaurant, I don’t think it’s worth tying myself in knots to do it

I might go to Shanklin & then to Ventnor…I’d really like to spend time on/near beaches, maybe walk…just enjoy the time I do have

Thanks!

I can't tell you anything about the restaurant, BUT- On the Sunday if
you leave Arundel at 0853 the first official connection arrives at
Ryde Hoverport at 1040. You should make the 1050 bus to Osborne House
arrive 1115. Leave Osborne House at 1428, back at Ryde at 1455. The
last available time for lunch is at 1530- that fits well. The first
ferry connection is at 0923, arrive Ryde 1137. In that case I would do
lunch first (at lunchtime) then the 1350 bus to Osborne. Last
Hovercraft back over is at 1915. Last ferry (catamaran) back over for
the 22 minute sailing is as late as 2310 assuming you are staying in
Portsmouth that evening.

I have treasured memories of riding on one of the huge cross-Channel hovercraft from Calais to Dover, back in the (I think) 1990s. What wonderful beasts they were!

It seems the last surviving monster hovercraft (that's the same model I took - a "Mountbatten class" hovercraft) can be seen at The Hovercraft Museum, which appears to be close to your route. Limited opening hours, though (looks like weekends only). I'd be very tempted to check the place out.

Found a cool video of a hovercraft crossing from back in the day. Amazing! Gone But Not Forgotten - The Cross Channel Hovercraft

David,

That sounds and looks so cool!

I decided to spend 2 nights in IOW, so I may have time for this…not sure I will, but I’m going to look into it

Thanks !

It seems the last surviving monster hovercraft (that's the same model
I took - a "Mountbatten class" hovercraft) can be seen at The
Hovercraft Museum, which appears to be close to your route. Limited
opening hours, though (looks like weekends only). I'd be very tempted
to check the place out. Found a cool video of a hovercraft crossing
from back in the day. Amazing! Gone But Not Forgotten - The Cross
Channel Hovercraft

To me South West Trains show the first connection to the Isle of Wight being at 0915, arriving one hour later at 1140. So I have done some investigation.
That day trains from London are terminating at Arundel with the bus just shuttling down to Barnham, as the work is at the junction where the Arundel line meets the coast line.
So the 0848 bus from Arundel arrives at Barnham at 0913 (the connecting train from Three Bridges having arrived at Arundel at 0838).
The train from Barnham to Portsmouth arrives from Bognor Regis at 0914, reverses at Barnham, and departs at 0926. It arrives at Portsmouth and Southsea at 1008. The Hoverbus leaves at 1012, arrives at the Terminal at 1019 for the 1030 flight.
South West Trains say to leave at 0915, Barnham arrive 0935, depart 1008 Portsmouth and Southsea arrive 1047, depart on the Hoverbus at 1112, arrive at the Terminal at 1119 for the 1130 flight.
As Wengen K would say SWT are wasting a lot of your time with inefficient connections.

By the way to get to Lee on Solent you would stay on the train to Portsmouth Harbour. Just outside the station is the ferry across to Gosport (passage time 4 minutes, runs every 15 minutes), bus #5 every hour on Sundays, every 30 minutes weekdays, takes 27 minutes.
There was a big Royal Naval Air Station at Lee, and there is a CWGC war memorial there to almost 2,000 named members of the Fleet Air Arm who were lost in WW2 and have no known grave.
After closure of the RNAS the runway was found to be packed with explosives, in a wartime plan to blow up the runway in the event of an invasion by the Germans. That was a big job to remove the explosives safely. It wouldn't have stopped the Germans but would have rendered the airfield unusable.

From Tunbridge Wells it is pretty easy to catch a train to Thanet Parkway station to go and see the remains of the old cross Channel Hovercraft pad at Pegwell Bay. While there you can see the replica Viking ship Hugin. It records the first arrival of Danes/Anglo-Saxons (essentially, but not quite Vikings as they were later) in England. This wasn't an invasion but an invitation to land, hence the caution on the use of the term Viking. It is also where St Augustine landed, so is the start of the Kent Camino to Canterbury Cathedral which he founded. So an interesting place.
The Belle Vue Tavern is a good place to eat- an old smugglers place which also hosted the later Queen Victoria and her mother before she became Queen.

Stuart, thanks for the info!

Now that I’m staying 3 nights on IOW, I can amend my plans…Sunday stay in Arundel, Monday Portsmouth, and Tuesday/Wednesday on IOW…..

That’s fascinating stuff - thank you!

I’m fascinated with Viking history (even if it’s not exactly Viking, doesn’t matter - I love this stuff)

Would that me the same train from TW to Broadstairs?

Thank you!!!

Betsy, Yes essentially yes it's the same train as the one to Broadstairs. I'm assuming that for Broadstairs you are changing at Tonbridge into a Charing Cross to Ramsgate classic train then again at Ramsgate for the two stops to Broadstairs.
Thanet Parkway is 1 hour 20 minutes from Tonbridge by classic train or a few minutes less from London St Pancras on HS1.

You may be changing for Broadstairs at Ashford International into the HS1 train direct to Broadstairs (which calls at Thanet Parkway).

Stuart; thanks!

I just plugged in a date to see, and yes - change at Tonbridge and Ramsgate

Thanks!

Betsy, Yes essentially yes it's the same train as the one to
Broadstairs. I'm assuming that for Broadstairs you are changing at
Tonbridge into a Charing Cross to Ramsgate classic train then again at
Ramsgate for the two stops to Broadstairs. Thanet Parkway is 1 hour 20
minutes from Tonbridge by classic train or a few minutes less from
London St Pancras on HS1. You may be changing for Broadstairs at
Ashford International into the HS1 train direct to Broadstairs (which
calls at Thanet Parkway).