How to travel from Cardiff to Islay, United Kingdom
The distance between Cardiff and Islay is around 713km (443 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 35m.
6 routes found
We've found 6 different ways to get from Cardiff to Islay by bus, ferry, train and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Islay → Cardiff if you're planning a return trip.
Train to Bristol Temple Meads, Fly
Take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Islay (ILY).
- Duration3h 35m
- Flight time2hrs
- Typical cost£235($280)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Abington then Buchanan Bus Station and then to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration11h 15m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£66($78)
Multiple operators
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Crewe then Haymarket and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration13h 60m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£235($275)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cardiff and Islay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Cardiff to Islay by bus, ferry, train and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £66 ($78) and will take around 11h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £235 ($280).
The distance between Cardiff and Islay is around 713km (443 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 515km (320 miles)
It takes around 11h 15m to get from Cardiff and Islay by bus and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 35m and will set you back approx £235 ($280).
The cheapest way to travel between Cardiff and Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £66 ($78) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Cardiff and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 3h 35m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Cardiff and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 3h 35m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Cardiff to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Reading and then to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 4h 40m.
The closest major airport to Islay is Glenegedale Airport (ILY) (ILY) which is approximately 10km (6 miles) from Islay. Glasgow Airport (GLA) (GLA) and Belfast International Airport (BFS) (BFS) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Cardiff to Islay. We recommend that you take the bus to Abington then Buchanan Bus Station and then to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 11h 15m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 11h 15m and will usually cost around £66 ($78).
Compare travel optionsbetween Cardiff and Islay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Bristol Temple Meads, Fly + 3 similar | 3h 35m | £235($280) | 5 times a day | 713km (443 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 4h 40m | £585($695) | 5 times a day | 955km (593 miles) |
| Train to Bristol Temple Meads, plane | 4h 60m | £620($735) | 5 times a day | 897km (558 miles) |
| Train, Plane, Bus and Ferry | 7h 35m | £115($135) | once daily | 803km (499 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 11h 15m | £66($78) | once a week | 857km (532 miles) |
Train and Ferry | 13h 60m | £235($275) | once a week | 930km (578 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Cardiff and Islay
Train operators
Transport for Wales
First ScotRail Service
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Bus companies
Stagecoach West Scotland
Scottish Citylink
Airlines
Loganair
Airports near Islay
The following major airports near Islay offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Glenegedale Airport (ILY)
- Distance
- 10km (6 miles) from Islay
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
- Distance
- 109km (68 miles) from Islay
Belfast International Airport (BFS)
- Distance
- 122km (76 miles) from Islay