A new hovercraft route is being trialed this summer – and has already proved popular with travellers.

A number of extra dates have been added for crossings this summer, meaning even more passengers can make their way to a sun-drenched UK island from just £12.

Hovercraft with British flag livery moving across water.
A new hovercraft has been introduced this summer, with visitors able to visit a popular UK island in just 15 minutes Credit: Alamy
Shanklin beach on the Isle of Wight, with a thatched cottage, boats on the sand, and cliffs in the background.
Owing to the popularity of the new crossing, a number of extra dates have been added through the summer Credit: Getty

A brand new hovercraft route has been introduced connecting Hampshire to the Isle of Wight.

In just 15 minutes, travellers can journey from Lee-on-the-Solent to Ryde, soaring across the waters at speeds of 46mph and hovering 1.5m above the Solent.

Run by Hovertravel – the world’s oldest and longest-running hovercraft operator – the new route to the Isle of Wight is currently being trialled over the summer.

The crossings take place on the travel operator’s two-craft fleet: the Island Flyer and the Solent Flyer.

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For those looking to book onto the high-speed crossing, an adult return ticket (16+) will set you back £24.

Seniors (60+) can snap up a crossing for £18.00 and children’s tickets (aged between 5-15 years) will cost £12.

Infants aged between 0 and 4 ride free on the hovercraft.

Crossings were originally planned for June 28, August 22 and September 5, but a number of extra dates have now been added thanks to the popularity of the new service.

Travellers can now book onto crossings on July 23, August 7 and August 21.

Departures take place twice a day, at both 10am and 3.25pm.

Return routes back from Ryde leave the island at 9.30am and 2.30pm.

Dates had also been extended to today, July 9, but at the time of publishing this article, The Sun found that the journeys could no longer be booked.

Hovertravel was established in 1965 and still provides the fastest way to cross the Solent, between Southsea in Portsmouth and Ryde.

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