Ryde Pier is a fascinating historic structure. It's the UK's oldest pier and the second-longest seaside pier in the country.

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Ryde Pier 774 x 434

Ryde Pier

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This route links Portsmouth Harbour &#8211; with great rail, bus and coach connections and moments from <a href="https://gunwharf-quays.com/">Gunwharf Quays shopping outlet</a>, and Ryde &#8211; a beautiful seaside town on the north-east coast of the Island.  
<a href="https://www.southwesternrailway.com/destinations-and-offers/island-line">Island Line trains</a> run directly into our Ryde Pier Head port and there’s a bus station and taxi rank at the other end of the pier, so it’s ideal for onward travel around the whole Island.

A great way to enjoy the Island by foot, bike or train, with great rail connections

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Wight Ryder I is one of two Wightlink FastCats on our Portsmouth to Ryde route. Find out all about her.

Wight Ryder I

The first of our high-speed FastCats, Wight Ryder I can get you across the Solent in just 22 minutes.

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Wight Ryder II is one of two Wightlink FastCats on our Portsmouth to Ryde route. Find out everything there is to know about her.

Wight Ryder II

Our second high-speed FastCat, getting you across the Solent in just 22 minutes.

Wightlink Fastcat catamaran at Ryde Pier Head

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Ryde is a beautiful seaside town on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. Our port sits at the end of the historic Ryde Pier, which is also home to an Island Line train station.
This route is our quickest crossing for foot passengers, with a journey time of just 22 minutes on our FastCats, <a href="https://lab.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/ferries/wight-ryder-i">Wight Ryder I</a> and <a href="https://lab.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/ferries/wight-ryder-ii">Wight Ryder II</a>.
A new walkway has now opened along the pier, allowing pedestrians to walk up and down the structure separately from cars and bicycles using the vehicle lane. Parking is available at the end of the pier &#8211; see the prices below.
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Fishing on Ryde Pier
Ryde Pier is a great place to spend a few hours fishing. You can buy daily and annual fishing permits from the car park machines on the pier – just use the yellow button to find the option you want, then the green button to find out the price and make payment.
Wightlink staff and the parking patrol officers will ask to see your permit when they’re on their rounds.
Please fish responsibly and don’t leave any litter behind when you go home.

Our Seagull Café outlet is ideal for a quick stop off before you board the FastCat, with a selection of locally-sourced hot and cold food and drink.

Charge your electric vehicle with a 7.2kw charging unit.

Purchase tickets at the port with your contactless device or debit or credit card using the ticket vending machine.

Purchase or amend tickets at our port at the Customer Service Point. Please note, you can&#8217;t purchase any of our frequent traveller passes at our ports and we no longer accept cash payments.

Toilets and baby-changing facilities are available at the port while you wait for your ferry crossing.

If you have limited mobility and you can’t use standard accessible toilets, we have a much larger and fully-equipped <a class="anchor__Anchor-sm6m7i-0 jhRUNz" href="https://www.wightlink.co.uk/tickets/accessible-travel#changing-places" rel="noopener">Changing Places toilet</a> on site.

Ryde Pier Head

Based in the beautiful seaside town on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight, our Ryde Pier Head port connects with Portsmouth on the mainland. Get info on facilities, public transport links, parking and more.

Ryde Pier Head FastCat passenger ferry port

Car parking at the port is available and if you intend to use the car park regularly you can <a href="https://www.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/parking/permit">save with a 30-day Parking Permit</a>.
There is a weight restriction of three tonnes and a height restriction of 2.25 metres for all vehicles using the pier as well as a 10mph speed limit, which also applies to cyclists.
Drivers exceeding this limit will be issued a fixed penalty notice of £80 and/or face exclusion from Wightlink property and vessels.

Free motorcycle parking within dedicated bays

7.2kw charging point for electric vehicles

Up to 30 minutes (pick up/drop off)

Up to two hours

Up to 16 hours

Up to 24 hours

Over 24 hours (per day or part thereof)

Evening (16:00 - 05:00)

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One of the most popular Isle of Wight destinations, Ryde is a pretty seaside town in the north of the Island. Our port sits at the end of the historic Ryde Pier, with our high-speed FastCats linking you to Portsmouth on the mainland.

Customer Building with lounge and Seagull Café serving hot and cold food and drink

Charging point (7.2kw) for electric vehicles

Customer Service Point for ticket purchases and amendments

Foot passengers need to check in at least 15 minutes before departure.
<a href="https://www.wightlink.co.uk/travel-advice/travelling-on-foot#checking-in">The check in experience</a>

We offer frequent, round-the-clock sailings.
<a href="https://wightlink.lab.sidigital.co/plan-your-journey/timetables">Timetables</a>

Our handy Wightlink Explorer tool will show everything that&#8217;s going on in the area.
<a href="https://lab.wightlink.co.uk/explorer">Start exploring</a>

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Located within Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station, and a moment’s walk from a nearby bus interchange, this is our quickest crossing for foot passengers with a journey time of just 22 minutes. Our FastCat catamarans, Wight Ryder I and Wight Ryder II, operate on this route.

Our Clipper Café outlet is ideal for a quick stop off before you board the FastCat, with a selection of hot and cold food and drinks.
Please note: From Easter, this café will be temporarily closed while we make some improvements, which will include the introduction of Island Roasted coffee. Throughout the work, a temporary pop up café will be in operation.

Purchase or amend tickets at our port using the Customer Service Point. Please note, you can&#8217;t purchase any of our frequent traveller passes at our ports and we no longer accept cash payments.

Wightlink Ferries

A moment’s walk from Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station and a nearby bus interchange, our Portsmouth Harbour port connects you with Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Get info on facilities, public transport links and parking.

Portsmouth Harbour FastCat passenger ferry port

Car parking is available opposite <a href="https://www.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/ports/portsmouth">Wightlink’s Portsmouth car ferry port in Gunwharf Road</a>, which is about a 10 minute walk away from the FastCat port.
You can pay for your parking of up to three days using the <a href="https://myringgo.co.uk/">RingGo</a> app on your phone or you can use the designated ticket machines to pay by card. You can extend your session through your phone if you plan on staying a little longer.
If you plan to use our car park regularly, you can <a href="https://www.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/parking/permit">save with a 30-day Parking Permit</a>.

Two POLAR network, 50kw rapid charging points for electric vehicles (found within the port, not in the car park)

RingGo payments, credit and debit cards accepted

Up to 20 minutes (pick up/drop off)

Up to three hours

Up to five hours

Up to eight hours

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Portmouth Harbour exteropr

You’ll find our Portsmouth Harbour port within Portsmouth Harbour railway station, making it ideal if you’re coming down by train. Our FastCat service takes you from here to Ryde on the Isle of Wight in just 22 minutes.

Customer Building with lounge and Clipper Café outlet, serving hot and cold food and drinks

Nearby parking is available at our Portsmouth Gunwharf car ferry port   

Foot passengers need to check in 15 minutes before departure.
<a href="https://wightlink.co.uk/travel-advice/travelling-on-foot">Find out what it&#8217;s like to travel with us on foot</a>

Portsmouth to Ryde is our quickest route for foot passengers, getting you to and from the Isle of Wight in just 22 minutes on one of our FastCats.

Portsmouth - Ryde FastCat Isle of Wight ferry route

If you’re travelling on foot, Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head is our quickest route, crossing the waters between the Isle of Wight and mainland in just 22 minutes.  
Our reliable, high-speed FastCat catamarans serve this route and come with spacious passenger lounges, bicycle racks and a sun deck, perfect for taking in the views during the day.
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Ticket gates
We have introduced ticket gates at both our Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head ports.
Similar to gates you see at many train stations, they will accept rail tickets (except Interrail tickets) with barcodes or QR codes as well as Wightlink paper tickets, passes and online tickets on smart phones.
If you’re travelling using a rail ticket with a magnetic strip, these will need to be scanned manually by our port staff, as will adults travelling with children.

This two mile amble from Ryde Pier to Quarr Abbey is perfect for all the family.

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Ryde to Quarr Abbey walking route

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Ryde Sea Cadets WITC

Meet the Ryde Sea Cadets who call the Isle of Wight home

Inspirational Islanders: Ryde Sea Cadets

Inspirational Islanders

The eight mile amble from Ryde Pier, the second longest in Britain, to the floating bridge at Cowes offers plenty of contrasts.

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Ryde to Cowes walking route

Save on cross-Solent travel with a Railcard

A South Western Railway train sits alongside a Wightlink ferry at the port in Lymington

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Train Isle of Wight ferry railcard hero

You can save up to a third on your Wightlink ferry travel if you have a railcard. Find out how to book and travel as part of a discounted train journey.

A South Western Railway train stopped at Lymington Pier station, with a Wightlink ferry visible in the background

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Lymington train

Railcard savings on Isle of Wight ferry travel

Which railcards get a discount on our ferries?

Join in the celebration of diversity and equality at Isle of Wight Pride in Ryde!

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Isle of Wight Pride

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This June marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings; the largest invasion ever assembled that landed 156,000 Allied troops by sea and air on five beachheads in Normandy, France.

How the Isle of Wight ferries helped to win the war

Isle of Wight

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Ryde harbour aerial hero

Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight and is the ideal getaway destination. Find out where to stay, where to eat and what you can get up to when you visit.

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