The Chain Ferry in Late 2026
The Sandbanks Ferry links the end of the peninsula to Studland. It leaves Sandbanks on the hour, at 20 past and at 20 to the hour from 7am to 11pm. It has been cashless since 1 April 2026 and has used number-plate recognition since 1 July 2026.
| Vehicle | 2026 toll |
|---|---|
| Car or van up to 3.5 tonnes | £6.26 |
| Goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, up to 20 tonnes | £12.52 |
| Any vehicle towing a trailer | Double the vehicle toll |
The last sailing before the 2026 refit is Sunday 1 November, with about seven weeks out of service and the return date due in December. During the refit, a move to Studland or Swanage goes the long way round by road, which the ferry normally saves for a 25-mile return trip, and we price it that way.
Blocks Along Banks Road
Of 81 recent sales on the peninsula that we looked at in Land Registry records, 42 were flats and 28 were detached houses. Blocks such as Fairwinds and Shore Point on Brownsea Road and The Mariners and Blue Waters on Panorama Road change hands often. Ask the managing agent about lift size, booking hours and where a van can stop. For these we plan a flat move around the lift booking, with the van stopped at the front and the larger pieces wrapped before they reach the corridor.
Summer Traffic and the Road In
From the Poole side, the way in is the B3369 Sandbanks Road through Lilliput. Beach days bring heavy traffic onto the peninsula, so we avoid summer weekend afternoons where we can, and an early start is often the easiest slot. The nearest station is Parkstone, about 4km away, with no public transport linking the two. If yours is a bigger house move from the mainland side, our Canford Cliffs and Lilliput page covers the roads just north of the spit.