USEFUL INFORMATION BUSES: The Island’s bus provider is Southern Vectis. These buses travel to all corners of the Island, with stops right at, or very near, the ferry terminals. They offer a variety of ticket types including group and period fares. There are two major bus stations on the Island - in Newport and Ryde. The Newport bus station is the bigger of the two and has a built-in tourist information centre. Paying for the bus is easy; the buses accept cash and contactless payments via card or mobile phone. For some of the best views on the Island, check out the open top buses on the Needles & Downs Breezer tours. islandbuses.info
CARS: Most of the Island is made up of narrow country roads (all accompanied by amazing views!) so for safety and enjoyment, take it easy when driving them. While not prohibitive, the narrow roads are a challenge for larger vehicles, so it is highly advisable to plan your arrival and departure from the Island during daylight hours if you’re bringing a motorhome or towing a caravan. You may also encounter horse riders and cyclists on Island roads.
TRAINS: The Island’s main train line operates between Ryde and Shanklin. The train stops at: Ryde Pier head, Ryde Esplanade (where the bus station is), Ryde St John’s Road, Smallbrook Junction (connecting with Isle of Wight Steam Railway), Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin. Tickets for the Island Line can be purchased online or via ticket machines at the stations. For times and more information see southwesternrailway.com/IslandLine 130
| ISLE OF WIGHT GUIDE 2022 EDITION
TAXIS: The Island has several taxi services available, which tend to operate locally around the bigger towns and areas. There’s no Uber network on the Island at the time of writing, but there is a recently launched app called Go Taxi which looks to offer a similar service. It’s crucial to book taxis in advance on the Island, as they get very busy, especially when demand increases at peak visitor season. The Island also has several water taxi terminals – with popular departures from Cowes, Bembridge and Yarmouth.
ELECTRIC TRAVEL: There are lots of places to hire bicycles, including e-bikes, through providers such as wightcyclehire.co.uk. You’ll also find e-scooters available to hire in some of the main towns, which are available through the Beryl app. Driving an electric vehicle? You’ll find several charging points around the Island - for charge point locations, visit iow.gov.uk
EMERGENCY CONTACTS: HOSPITAL (UTC and A&E): Address: St Mary’s Hospital, Parkhurst Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5TG Tel: 01983 822099 DENTIST: Call NHS 111 if you have a dental emergency and they will advise on the next steps and nearest dental practice. EMERGENCY VET (Out of Hours) Tel: 01983 550135
