Itinerary Planner

Explore Victoria's Island by bus

This journey is by bus, but with the occasional walk. 

Suggested Day Excursion. Please check ferry times before travelling.

Depart Portsmouth on the foot passenger service (Portsmouth Harbour)

Regular train services from London, Brighton and across the south all stop at Portsmouth Harbour.

Check ferry, train and bus times before you depart.

Arrive Ryde Pier Head

Follow the signs from the ferry to Ryde Pier Head train station

Wait for the train on the platform or you can choose to walk down the Victorian Pier – offering wonderful views of the town of Ryde. 

Arrive at Ryde Esplanade

Turn to the right at the end of the pier. A 5 minute walk away you will reach the Prince Consort Building, now a private residence. It was built as a private place for the Queen, because the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, would not allow female visitors - whether they were royal or not.

Make your way back to Ryde Esplanade where the bus station is located. 

Find the bus that goes to Sandown.

Bus departs Ryde

Enjoy the views as the bus makes its way out of the Victorian town of Ryde towards Sandown. 

Bus arrives at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary.

Keep an eye out for the signs. The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary is situated facing the beach, in an old Victorian fort, so is easy to spot. The bus will stop opposite the sanctuary.

Enter the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary

As you enter the car park for the sanctuary, you can’t help but notice the fort. The fort was constructed during Queen Victoria’s reign, and was built in response to a perceived French invasion.

Spend some time in the sanctuary, which features pocket sized primates to powerful predators. Even from the inside you can see some of the feature of the fort.

Depart Wildheart Animal Sanctuary

When you come out of the sanctuary, turn right and walk up the esplanade, you can see Sandown pier in the distance. Victorian visitors used to arrive at the end of the pier by paddle steamers, to start their holidays on the Isle of Wight.

Arrive at Sandown Pier

Take time to walk along the pier and imagine what it must have been like for Victorian visitors.

Depart Sandown Pier

Exit the pier and walk up Pier Street, opposite the pier. There is a slight gradient to this road. Once you get to the top of the road, turn left and wait for the bus to Shanklin.

Depart Sandown for Shanklin Old Village

Arrive at Shanklin Old Village

Take a walk through the quaint old village in Shanklin, where you will thatched buildings and a number of eating out places.

Continue on through Shanklin and follow the signs to Shanklin Chine. This is quite a long walk, with a big gradient in some parts, as the chine leads down to Shanklin Beach.

Arrive at Shanklin Chine

The young Princess Victoria visited Shanklin Chine aged 14 with her mother in 1833. Entry was via Fisherman’s Cottage (open as a pub today) where local fisherman and smuggler William Colenutt charged an entrance fee. According to legend the then Princess Victoria helped herself to a prawn on the way in!

Depart Shanklin Chine

You are now down on the seafront at Shanklin. Now is a good time to enjoy a bite to eat at

Depart Fisherman’s Cottage

Turn left when you leave Fisherman’s Cottage and make your way up the esplanade. After about a 10 minute walk, you will see the Shanklin Cliff Lift, to take you back up to the top.

Arrive at Shanklin Cliff Lift

The first cliff lift on the site was built in 1892 and would have been used by Victorian visitors.

Arrive at the top of the cliff

Once at the top, follow the signs into Shanklin town. The bus station is situated at the Co-op store in the centre of town.

Arrive Shanklin bus station.

Catch the bus towards Ryde. Get off at Ryde bus station and wait for a train to Ryde Pier Head, or take a walk up the pier to enjoy the evening air. In winter it can be chilly, so be sure to wrap up warm.

Depart Ryde

Check ferry times before planning your trip. Times are subject to change.

Arrive Portsmouth