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Sandbanks Ferry
Timetable, tolls and practical information for the Sandbanks Ferry crossing between Sandbanks and Shell Bay, with scheduled departures, payment guidance and ferry tracking where available.
Sandbanks Peninsula Editorial
Service status
Check before travelling
Check current ferry status before travelling. We do not have a machine-readable live status feed from the operator.
Next from Sandbanks
11 minutes
Next scheduled departure · timetable only
Next from Shell Bay
1 minute
Next scheduled departure · timetable only
Crossing time
~4
minutes typical
Scheduled times come from the published timetable and do not confirm that the ferry is currently operating. Departure calculator
Ferry crossing map
Terminals at Sandbanks (Poole) and Shell Bay (Studland). The dashed line is the short harbour-mouth crossing — not a live GPS track.
Interactive map of the Sandbanks and Shell Bay ferry terminals at the mouth of Poole Harbour. Scroll zoom is disabled — use the map controls.
Map loads when you scroll here or choose Load map.
- Sandbanks terminal — BH13 7QN
- Shell Bay terminal — BH19 3BA
Sandbanks Ferry timetable
The Sandbanks Ferry runs daily between Sandbanks and Shell Bay, normally every 20 minutes from each side, with a crossing of about 4 minutes. Times below match the operator’s published pattern (verified August 2026).
From Sandbanks
Every 20 minutes
00 · 20 · 40
On the hour, twenty past, and twenty to the hour
- First ferry
- Last ferry
From Shell Bay
Every 20 minutes
10 · 30 · 50
Ten past, half past, and ten to the hour
- First ferry
- Last ferry
Timetables are a guide only and are subject to shipping movements, essential maintenance and other operational factors. During busy periods a shuttle service may operate to clear queues.
Christmas Day uses a special half-hourly service (08:00–18:00 from Sandbanks). See the official ferry timetables (opens in a new tab).
| Terminal | Minutes past each hour | First / last |
|---|---|---|
| Sandbanks | 00 · 20 · 40 | 07:00 – 23:00 |
| Shell Bay | 10 · 30 · 50 | 07:10 – 23:10 |
When is the next Sandbanks Ferry?
A timetable calculator only — not a booking tool, and not a confirmation of capacity or live operation.
Next scheduled departure
11 minutes · Following ferry: 12:40
Sandbanks Ferry prices
Published single-crossing tolls from the official ferry site (last checked August 2026). Vehicle passengers travelling in the vehicle are included; foot boarders pay the pedestrian rate.
| Category | Toll | How to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian (Sandbanks → Studland) | £1.18 | Cashless at point of travelPedestrians travel free from Studland to Sandbanks. |
| Pedestrian (Studland → Sandbanks) | Free | Cashless at point of travelFree in this direction. |
| Bicycle | £1.18 | Cashless at point of travelPer single crossing. Cashless at the point of travel. |
| Motorcycle | £1.18 | Online / app (ANPR)Per single crossing. Paid online via ANPR (not at a booth). |
| Car / van | £6.26 | Online / app (ANPR)Up to 3,500 kg maximum operating weight. Includes passengers in the vehicle. |
| Goods vehicle | £12.52 | Online / app (ANPR)Over 3,500 kg operating weight; maximum 20,000 kg laden. Includes VAT at the applicable rate. |
| Bus / coach | £12.52 | Online / app (ANPR)18 or more seats including driver; max two axles and 20,000 kg laden. Tri-axle coaches are not accepted. |
Vehicles towing are charged double the normal toll.
ANPR and how to pay
From 1 July 2026, all vehicle tolls — including motorcycles — are paid online or via the Sandbanks Ferry app using Automatic Number Plate Recognition. There are no barriers; traffic is free-flowing. Cameras at the Shell Bay terminal record vehicle registration marks as you approach and leave.
- Pay up to 30 days before travelling, or before midnight on the day after your crossing.
- Pay as a guest with your registration, or open an account with tokens (up to five vehicles) for frequent crossings.
- Pedestrians and cyclists pay by card or contactless at the point of travel (cashless). They are not covered by vehicle ANPR.
- If a vehicle toll is unpaid within the published window, the registered keeper may receive an Unpaid Toll Notification with the toll plus administration costs (initially published as £24.52).
Advanced bookings are not required or accepted — turn up and cross. Ferry Office help is available on the Studland side (01929 450203). Full detail: ANPR vehicle toll payments (opens in a new tab).
Sandbanks Ferry terminal
The Sandbanks end of the chain ferry, at the tip of the peninsula by the harbour mouth. Approach by Banks Road / Ferry Way; nearby parking is limited and often busy in peak season.
Satnav: BH13 7QN. See parking in Sandbanks, the Sandbanks guide and beaches for nearby context.
Shell Bay Ferry terminal
The Studland side of the crossing at Shell Bay on the Isle of Purbeck. Continues toward Studland village, Swanage and the wider Purbeck coast — Shell Bay is not part of Sandbanks.
Satnav: BH19 3BA. From here the road continues toward Studland, Swanage and the wider Isle of Purbeck.
When is the Sandbanks Ferry busiest?
The operator notes that queuing can occur at busy periods and that a shuttle service may run to clear queues. Demand is typically higher in summer, at weekends, on bank holidays and on fine beach days — we do not publish invented waiting-time estimates.
What happens if the Sandbanks Ferry is closed?
If the crossing is unavailable, road traffic must travel around Poole Harbour — typically via Poole and Wareham toward Corfe Castle and the Studland approach. That road alternative is substantially longer than the short ferry crossing; traffic varies, so we do not publish a fixed detour time. Check official ferry status, then use a navigation app for the current road route.
The Sandbanks chain ferry
A chain ferry is guided and propelled along fixed chains laid across the channel — here spanning the narrow mouth of Poole Harbour between Sandbanks and Shell Bay. The current vessel is Bramble Bush Bay, in service since 1994, and often appears on AIS displays as SANDBANK FERRY.
- Vessel
- Bramble Bush Bay
- MMSI
- 232012443
- IMO
- 9072070
- Call sign
- MSLM2
- Length (approx.)
- 242 ft
- Car capacity (nominal)
- 48
Identifiers verified against operator media facts and public AIS / shipping references (August 2026). The crossing remains one of the defining links between the Sandbanks peninsula and the Purbeck coast.
A short history of the crossing
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company was formed in 1923 to connect the growing coastal resorts of Bournemouth and Poole with Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck. The Sandbanks–Shell Bay chain ferry has carried vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians across the harbour mouth ever since, shortening what would otherwise be a long road journey around the harbour. Bramble Bush Bay is the fourth vessel on the route, introduced in 1994.
Sandbanks Ferry FAQs
What time does the Sandbanks Ferry start?
On a normal day the first scheduled departure from Sandbanks is 07:00 and from Shell Bay 07:10. Christmas Day uses a special half-hourly timetable starting later — check the official ferry site.
What time is the last Sandbanks Ferry?
The last scheduled departure from Sandbanks is normally 23:00, and from Shell Bay 23:10. Always confirm with the operator before late travel.
How often does the Sandbanks Ferry run?
Normally every 20 minutes from each terminal throughout the day. During busy periods a shuttle may operate to clear queues. Timetables are a guide and can be affected by shipping movements and maintenance.
How long does the Sandbanks Ferry take?
The crossing typically takes about 4 minutes between Sandbanks and Shell Bay.
How much is the Sandbanks Ferry?
Published single-crossing tolls include pedestrians Sandbanks to Studland at £1.18 (free Studland to Sandbanks), bicycle and motorcycle at £1.18, and car/van at £6.26. Vehicles towing are charged double. Always confirm current tolls on the official ferry tolls page.
How do I pay for the Sandbanks Ferry?
From 2026-07-01, vehicle tolls (including motorcycles) are paid online or via the Sandbanks Ferry app using ANPR — there are no barriers. Pedestrians and cyclists pay by card or contactless at the point of travel. Pay as a guest or with an account at the official payment page.
Can I pay for the Sandbanks Ferry after crossing?
Yes for vehicles: you can pay up to 30 days before travelling, or before midnight on the day after your crossing. The operator recommends paying in advance where possible.
Does the Sandbanks Ferry use ANPR?
Yes. Automatic Number Plate Recognition has been live for vehicle tolls from 1 July 2026. Cameras record crossings at the Shell Bay terminal; traffic is free-flowing with no barriers.
Can pedestrians use the Sandbanks Ferry?
Yes. Pedestrians pay £1.18 from Sandbanks to Studland and travel free from Studland to Sandbanks, by cashless payment at the point of travel.
Can cyclists use the Sandbanks Ferry?
Yes. Bicycles are charged £1.18 per single crossing, paid cashless at the point of travel (not via vehicle ANPR).
Can motorhomes use the Sandbanks Ferry?
Vehicles are charged according to the published tariff for the nearest similar class (for example car/van up to 3,500 kg operating weight, or goods rates above that). Confirm classification and any towing charges on the official tolls page before travel. Advanced bookings are not accepted.
Can dogs use the Sandbanks Ferry?
Dogs commonly travel with pedestrians and in vehicles on this crossing. Follow crew instructions and any on-site notices; we do not publish separate dog-specific rules beyond the operator’s own guidance.
Where does the Sandbanks Ferry go?
It links the Sandbanks peninsula (Poole) with Shell Bay on the Studland side of the harbour mouth — the quick route toward Studland village, Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck.
Does the Sandbanks Ferry go to Studland?
It lands at Shell Bay, which is the Studland / Isle of Purbeck side of the crossing. From there the road continues toward Studland village and beyond. Shell Bay is not part of Sandbanks.
Where is the Sandbanks Ferry now?
The vessel Bramble Bush Bay broadcasts AIS (often displayed as SANDBANK FERRY, MMSI 232012443). This guide does not rebroadcast live coordinates in V1; use the linked external AIS tracker for the latest reported position.
Can I track the Sandbanks Ferry live?
Public AIS reception exists for the ferry. We link to an external tracker rather than scraping third-party map sites. A scheduled departure time is not the same as a live GPS position.
What happens if the Sandbanks Ferry is closed?
Road traffic must travel around Poole Harbour (typically via Poole and Wareham toward Corfe Castle / Studland). That route is substantially longer than the short ferry crossing; allow generous time and check official ferry status before you set out.
Does the Sandbanks Ferry run all year?
Yes — daily throughout the year except that Christmas Day uses a special half-hourly timetable. Always treat published times as a guide and check the operator for disruptions.
Does the Sandbanks Ferry run in bad weather?
Crossings can be affected by weather, tides, shipping movements or maintenance. The timetable alone does not confirm current operation — check the official Sandbanks Ferry website for status before travelling.
Who operates the Sandbanks Ferry?
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company, trading as The Sandbanks Ferry. The company was formed in 1923. Official site: sandbanksferry.co.uk.
Trust note
Timetable and fare information last checked August 2026 against the official Sandbanks Ferry website. Always check the official ferry service before travelling.