can anyone advise me of to the iow in couple of weeks usually go from Portsmouth but this time we are going from Southampton can you tell me is the ferry terminal easy to find and well sign posted and what the access roads are like thanks
Come in down the M271, Left at the end & follow signs to Dock Gates 8 and 4. It will involve a RH turn (very slight) at lights from Millbrook Road to Mountbatten Way.
Just AFTER the Dock Gate 8 roundabout(& well before 4!) you'll find Town Quay on the RHS.
It may be quiet, it may be v busy, depending on day of week & whether there are Cruise ships in. Doesn't seem complicated to me, but I know it all quite well.
The roads are all dual carriageway at least - & the speed cameras work!
Hi, not been to I.O.W for awhile but found southampton docks easy to find and well signed, it was coming out of the docks on return that we got lost just take your time to watch for signs on return leg make a note of the route you need to look for.
The Red Funnel terminal isn't within the docks but just past the DeVere Hotel between the old Pier/Mayflower Park (now Kutis restaurant) and Town Quay (near Margueritas and Maxims Casino on the corner). It is clearly signposted. Can be manic at busy times allow plenty of time just in case.
Easy to find just check Southampton dock cruise schedule it tells you how many liners are in that day the busy times are from 11 to 3 when everyone is trying to board the cruise ships we have cruise twice this year from Southampton and both times there has been 4 cruise ships in plus roadworks so check and allowe plenty of time. At easter they were working on the road outside of red funnel but that should be finished by now.
Sennen
Quote: Originally posted by Rizzo on 06/7/2014
The Red Funnel terminal isn't within the docks but just past the DeVere Hotel between the old Pier/Mayflower Park (now Kutis restaurant) and Town Quay (near Margueritas and Maxims Casino on the corner). It is clearly signposted. Can be manic at busy times allow plenty of time just in case.
Nice place Kutis.
Horrible chavvy place Margueritas
I've lived in Southampton all my life (over 56 years) and been to the IoW loads of times but always prefer to go via Lymington to Yarmouth as the Red Funnel from Southampton as the crossing time can take an hour or more, plus navigating Southampton's traffic lights and roundabouts if your a 1st time visitor to Southampton.
A lot will depend on where your coming from to get to the Red Funnel terminal in Southampton?
If your coming from the north it won't take much longer to get to the Wightlink ferry in Yarmouth if you plan your route and its a much prettier route to Lymington though the New Forest as the scenery adds to the holiday, and the crossing time is much quicker.
Obviously it will also depend on where you want to get to on the IoW? for East Wight then Southampton would be better, for West Wight then it would be Lymington.
------------- Rain is only a pain it ya tent leaks. After 40 years still looking for the perfect tent
I was also born in Southampton and lived there for about 33 years before moving to MK. The trouble with the Lymington and Portsmouth routes is that they are usually much more expensive than Red Funnel. There is also nothing better of a warm summer afternoon that a cruise down Southampton Water to Cowes in my view.
The last time I visited Southampton docks was when I worked on cruise ships in the 1960's...I think it might have changed a bit since then
Both Portsmouth and Southampton are a nightmare for new visitors although a good satnav should get you there. I think I would choose the Lymington route too if I could.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 08/7/2014
Big Fred
I was also born in Southampton and lived there for about 33 years before moving to MK.
I understand that David. However I'm looking at it from a visitors point of view negotiating Southampton's traffic Before arriving at the Red Funnel terminal.
As a Sotonian yourself you know your way around and the short-cuts and the One-way systems but imagine a 1st time visitor towing a caravan...
I'd need more than the hour or more crossing time relaxing to get over the nightmare that is the traffic system in Southampton
I see paul12 is coming from Essex so he'll prob use the M25 which at the moment is a nightmare (as it always is) so I'd assume he'll use the M3 or A3 depending on whether he goes clockwise or anticlockwise on M25.
------------- Rain is only a pain it ya tent leaks. After 40 years still looking for the perfect tent