Isle of wight ferry advice

[CovidCorvid]

I'm going to be staying at Brockenhurst and would like to visit Osborne house near Cowes. I do have a car to either drive to Lymmington or Southampton. But I'd rather go over as a foot passenger and leave my car on the mainland.

I'm not sure how easy it is to get from Yarmouth to Cowes. So thinking it might be better to drive to Southampton even though it's further? As then I guess I can walk from the ferry to Osborne House?

Is it worth spending more and taking the fast ferry to West Cowes and if so can I cross the river to East Cowes? Or is the slower, cheaper ferry to East Cowes OK?

East Cowes terminal is closer to Osborne House (about a 30min walk) as opposed to West Cowes (about a 45min walk). The floating bridge between West and East Cowes was out of action when I went in September, not sure if it's back up and running yet.

I got the slow ferry when I went last year and it took about an hour all in.

The most direct would be to go on the Red Funnel car ferry as a foot or car passenger which arrives at East Cowes and getting the bus up to Osborne ( or walking its only about a mile but up hill) .

The ferry from West to East Cowes over the river is very erratic atm but there is a foot passenger launch service when it not running but to go around by bus would mean going into Newport and changing ..

Same from Yarmouth as you'd have to get two buses .. Taxi would be really expensive from Yarmouth

Thanks. Southampton and the ferry to east cowes it is.