How to travel from Edinburgh to Islay, United Kingdom
The distance between Edinburgh and Islay is around 220km (137 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.
4 routes found
We've found 4 different ways to get from Edinburgh to Islay by train, bus, ferry and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Islay → Edinburgh if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Glasgow Queen Street and then to Paisley Gilmour Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY).
- Duration2h 40m
- Flight time45min
- Typical cost£230($275)
Multiple operators
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration8h 10m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£50($59)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Buchanan Bus Station and then to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration6h 45m
- Departstwice daily
- Typical cost£44($52)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Edinburgh and Islay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Edinburgh to Islay by train, bus, ferry and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £44 ($52) and will take around 6h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £230 ($275).
The distance between Edinburgh and Islay is around 220km (137 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 187km (116 miles)
It takes around 6h 45m to get from Edinburgh and Islay by train, bus and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £230 ($275).
The cheapest way to travel between Edinburgh and Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £44 ($52) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Edinburgh and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Queen Street and then to Paisley Gilmour Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 2h 40m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Edinburgh and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Queen Street and then to Paisley Gilmour Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 2h 40m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Edinburgh to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Queen Street and then to Paisley Gilmour Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 2h 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 Edinburgh to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Anniesland then take the bus to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 6h 45m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to take the train, then take the bus and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 6h 45m and will usually cost around £47 ($56).
Compare travel optionsbetween Edinburgh and Islay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane | 2h 40m | £230($275) | 5 times a day | 220km (137 miles) |
Train and Ferry + 1 similar | 8h 10m | £50($59) | once a week | 324km (201 miles) |
| Train, Bus and Ferry | 6h 45m | £47($56) | twice daily | 293km (182 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 6h 45m | £44($52) | twice daily | 295km (183 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Edinburgh and Islay
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Bus companies
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