Dorset to St Peter Port
Poole to Guernsey ferry
Leave Dorset after lunch and step off in St Peter Port for the evening - the quickest way to the islands
- 3 hours on the Voyager, Brittany Ferries' high-speed catamaran
- 4 sailings a week for most of the year, 2 in winter, up to 6 in the school summer holidays
- Check-in at least 45 minutes before departure at Poole, 90 minutes with a pet
- Fast-ferry times flex with tide and weather
Table of Contents
The crossing at a glance
Poole - Guernsey is the sprinter of the Channel Islands network: Brittany Ferries' high-speed catamaran Voyager covers the run in 3 hours, leaving Dorset after lunch and landing you in St Peter Port with the evening ahead. Since the 2025 operator split Guernsey's UK services run under Brittany Ferries, and this is the quick half of the offer - the conventional ship sails from Portsmouth.
For most of the year the Voyager sails four times a week, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays; winter brings two sailings a week, and in the school summer holidays the boat runs daily except Wednesdays. Fast-ferry caveat first: times flex with tide and weather more than the mainland routes do, so check the timetable for your date and treat your booking confirmation as the final word.
Getting to Poole and checking in
The ferry port sits on Poole Harbour at New Harbour Road, Hamworthy, BH15 4AJ, central on the south coast and easy to reach from London, the Midlands and the West Country. Passengers must check in at least 45 minutes before departure - at least 90 minutes if you are travelling with a pet. The terminal has a café from 06:00, showers and a shuttle bus that carries foot passengers to the ship; dogs on a lead are allowed in the port area but not inside the terminal building. Poole Harbour Commissioners run the passenger car park directly opposite the foot passenger hall, an automated pay-on-foot system paid by card before you exit.
On board
The Voyager is a fast catamaran capable of 42 knots, with room for 850 passengers and 235 cars: airline-style seating, a café, bars, a small boutique, Wi-Fi and an outside deck, and a crossing short enough that no cabin exists or is needed. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is banned throughout the ship. In a swell the ride is livelier than on a conventional ferry - if the forecast is rough and your stomach disagrees with fast boats, the Portsmouth ship is the steadier choice. Cards work on board in pounds, and Guernsey's own pound-pegged notes circulate alongside sterling on the island.
Vehicles, bikes and pets
Cars and motorbikes are carried, booked by real dimensions; larger motorhomes fit better on the conventional Portsmouth ship. Pets travel with advance booking and only with a vehicle - Brittany Ferries does not carry pets for foot passengers, cyclists or motorcyclists. Because Guernsey lies inside the Common Travel Area, a direct UK crossing needs no EU animal health certificate; that paperwork only becomes relevant if you continue to St Malo. All passengers need valid photo ID, and Brittany Ferries asks for a passport.
Arrival at St Peter Port and onward travel
The Voyager berths at White Rock, St Peter Port, GY1 2LL - Guernsey's one ferry terminal, on the New Jetty directly below the town. Castle Cornet guards the harbour mouth, the High Street climbs behind the quay, and the terminal offers Wi-Fi, a café, left luggage and long- and short-stay parking. The island fans out within twenty minutes' drive, and the harbour is the springboard for the smaller islands: seasonal boats reach Herm and Sark, and Brittany Ferries continues from St Peter Port to Jersey and St Malo - see the Channel Islands guide. For the return, motorists should arrive 90-120 minutes ahead (check-in closes 60 minutes before sailing) and foot passengers 70 minutes ahead (check-in closes 40 minutes before).
Tickets, fares and changes
Fares move with season and demand, foot passenger tickets price well below the car On a route with a handful of sailings a week, booking early matters more than on the mainland crossings - and read the change and cancellation terms of your ticket type, because weather retiming is part of island life. The prices page compares the network.
Poole - Guernsey
The fast boat to Guernsey
Poole - Guernsey is the fastest UK-to-islands crossing of all: Brittany Ferries runs it with the high-speed catamaran Voyager in 3 hours, an afternoon departure from Dorset that lands you in St Peter Port for the evening. For most of the year there are four sailings a week, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays; in winter it drops to two, and in the school summer holidays the boat runs daily except Wednesdays.
Cars and foot passengers both travel, and since the 2025 operator split Guernsey's UK services run under Brittany Ferries. The steady alternative is the conventional ship from Portsmouth, up to six times a week.
- Departure
- Poole Harbour, Dorset
- Arrival
- St Peter Port, Guernsey
- Crossing
- 3 h, high-speed ferry
- Operator
- Brittany Ferries
Next departures
FAQ Poole - Guernsey
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Poole - Guernsey crossing.
How long does the crossing take? +
3 hours on the Voyager - the regular pattern is an afternoon departure from Poole at 14:15 arriving in Guernsey at 17:15, and a morning return leaving St Peter Port at 10:00. Channel Islands schedules move with tide and weather, so treat the time in your booking confirmation as the authoritative one and check the timetable for your date.
How often does the ferry run? +
For most of the year Brittany Ferries sails four times a week - Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. In the winter months that drops to two sailings a week; in the school summer holidays the Voyager runs every day except Wednesdays, up to six sailings a week. December is normally outside the season.
When do I need to be at the port? +
At Poole, passengers must check in at least 45 minutes before departure, and at least 90 minutes before if you are travelling with a pet. Leaving St Peter Port, check-in closes 60 minutes before departure for motorists (arrive 90-120 minutes ahead) and 40 minutes before for foot passengers (arrive 70 minutes ahead).
Can I take my car and my dog? +
Yes to the car - cars and motorbikes travel on the Voyager, booked by size. Pets are carried with advance booking but only with a vehicle: Brittany Ferries does not take pets for foot passengers, cyclists or motorcyclists. Guernsey is inside the Common Travel Area, so a direct UK crossing needs no EU animal health certificate; the vehicles and pets guide has the rules.
Can I travel on foot, and what is the alternative? +
Yes - foot passengers are welcome, and Poole works well car-free: a shuttle bus takes you from the terminal to the ship, and St Peter Port lands you below the town centre. The conventional alternative is Portsmouth - Guernsey, the steadier ship for rough-weather days and larger vehicles; the Channel Islands guide compares both.
Ready for the fast boat to Guernsey?
Check the departures for your date and continue to the booking step.