Wightlink Ferries
Wightlink runs three Isle of Wight routes and more than 140 sailings a day: the Portsmouth–Fishbourne car ferry (about 45 minutes), the Lymington–Yarmouth car ferry (about 40 minutes) and the FastCat passenger ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head (22 minutes).
Wightlink Routes
| Route | Crossing Time | Vehicles | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth → Fishbourne (Isle of Wight) | 45m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Portsmouth → Ryde (Isle of Wight) | 22m | Foot passengers only | Book |
| Lymington → Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) | 40m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Portsmouth Harbour → Ryde (Isle of Wight) | About 22m | Foot passengers only | Book |
Wightlink sailing patterns
- Portsmouth → Fishbourne (Isle of Wight)
Roughly hourly from Portsmouth between 07:20 and 20:00, plus night sailings (01:00–06:00 on most days) and late-evening sailings up to 23:59 on some days (timetable 28 September – 1 November 2026).
Wightlink publishes separate timetables for 2 November – 17 December 2026 and for Christmas and New Year.
Source: Wightlink Portsmouth–Fishbourne timetable, checked 2026-10-02
- Portsmouth → Ryde (Isle of Wight)
Hovercraft every 30–60 minutes through the day: on 4 November 2026 Hovertravel’s timetable showed 17 crossings from Southsea between 06:50 and 18:45 and from Ryde from 06:30. Weekday FastCats leave Portsmouth Harbour hourly 05:15–18:15, then 19:20, 20:20, 21:45 and 22:45 (Wightlink 2026 timetable).
Hovertravel’s summer timetable runs 6 April – 1 November 2026 and it adds extra flights at peak times; Wightlink adds half-hourly FastCats on selected holiday and summer dates.
Source: Hovertravel live timetable and Wightlink 2026 Portsmouth Harbour–Ryde timetable, checked 2026-11-04
- Lymington → Yarmouth (Isle of Wight)
2 November – 20 December 2026: from Lymington 06:05, then mostly hourly on the hour 09:00–20:00 (06:50 and 07:50 on some days; fewer evening sailings Tuesday–Thursday); from Yarmouth mostly hourly at five past the hour, 06:55–21:05
Wightlink says foot passengers must book in advance on this route.
Source: Wightlink Lymington–Yarmouth timetable, checked 2026-11-04
- Portsmouth Harbour → Ryde (Isle of Wight)
Regular FastCat sailings through the day, 364 days a year; Wightlink shows exact times through its live timetable search
Wightlink advises foot passengers to book in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before sailing; allow 10 minutes to connect with trains.
Source: Wightlink Portsmouth – Ryde route page and timetables page, checked 2026-10-28
Vessels on these routes: Victoria of Wight, St Clare, St Faith, Wight Ryder I, Wight Ryder II, Wight Light, Wight Sky, Wight Sun
Wightlink Network Map
4 routes on FerryConnect; 2 carry vehicles.
Ports Wightlink Sails From
Onboard Passenger Amenities
🚗 Vehicle Regulations
The Portsmouth–Fishbourne and Lymington–Yarmouth car ferries take vehicles from motorcycles to lorries as well as foot passengers. Vehicles check in at least 30 minutes, but no more than an hour, before sailing. The FastCat is foot passengers only.
🐕 Pet & Animal Travel Policy
Pets travel free; tell Wightlink when booking online. Keep pets on a lead or in a suitable container. On the car ferries pets stay in the dedicated pet-friendly lounges; on the FastCats they can go anywhere on board. Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas.
FastCat: Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde
For foot passengers the quickest Wightlink crossing is the FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, taking 22 minutes. The Portsmouth terminal is inside Portsmouth Harbour railway station, and at Ryde Pier Head the Island Line train runs on to Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin. In the 2026 timetable, weekday FastCats leave Portsmouth Harbour hourly from 05:15 to 18:15, then at 19:20, 20:20, 21:45 and 22:45, with extra half-hourly sailings on selected holiday and summer dates. Foot passengers check in 15 minutes before departure.
Pets on Wightlink
Pets travel free on every Wightlink ferry. On the Portsmouth–Fishbourne and Lymington–Yarmouth car ferries they must stay in the dedicated pet-friendly lounges and off the seats; on the FastCats (Wight Ryder I and II) they can go anywhere on board. Keep them on a lead or in a suitable container.
Charging an electric car
Wightlink has EV chargers at its ports: two 50 kW rapid chargers inside the port at Portsmouth Harbour, one 50 kW rapid charger at Lymington and a 7.2 kW charger at Ryde Pier Head.
Wightlink FAQs
How long is the FastCat from Portsmouth to Ryde?
Wightlink’s FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head takes 22 minutes. Weekday sailings in 2026 run hourly from 05:15 to 18:15 and then at 19:20, 20:20, 21:45 and 22:45.
Do dogs travel free on Wightlink?
Yes. Pets travel free on all Wightlink ferries; let Wightlink know when you book online.
Which Wightlink route is quickest?
For foot passengers, the FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde (22 minutes). With a car, Lymington–Yarmouth takes about 40 minutes and Portsmouth–Fishbourne about 45 minutes.
Checked 2026-10-02 against: Wightlink: routes · Wightlink: timetables · Wightlink: Portsmouth Harbour port · Wightlink: Ryde Pier Head port · Wightlink: travelling with your pet. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.