How to travel from Holyhead to Islay, United Kingdom
The distance between Holyhead and Islay is around 657km (408 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 6h 35m.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from Holyhead to Islay by train, ferry, bus and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Islay → Holyhead if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Chester and then to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY).
- Duration6h 35m
- Flight time45min
- Typical cost£310($370)
Multiple operators
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Chester then Haymarket and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration13h 15m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£185($220)
Multiple operators
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Bangor Bus Station C, Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St then Glasgow and then to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration16h 15m
- Departsonce daily
- Typical cost£50($59)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Holyhead and Islay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Holyhead to Islay by train, ferry, bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £50 ($59) and will take around 16h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 6h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £310 ($370).
The distance between Holyhead and Islay is around 657km (408 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 290km (180 miles)
It takes around 13h 15m to get from Holyhead and Islay by train and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Holyhead to Islay is to take the train and then fly which takes around 6h 35m and will set you back approx £310 ($370).
The cheapest way to travel between Holyhead and Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £50 ($59) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Holyhead and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 6h 35m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Holyhead and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 6h 35m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Holyhead to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 6h 35m.
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 Holyhead to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Chester then Haymarket and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 13h 15m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Holyhead to Islay is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 13h 15m and will usually cost around £185 ($220).
Compare travel optionsbetween Holyhead and Islay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane | 6h 35m | £310($370) | 5 times a day | 657km (408 miles) |
Train and Ferry | 13h 15m | £185($220) | once a week | 834km (518 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 16h 15m | £50($59) | once daily | 808km (502 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Holyhead and Islay
Train operators
Transport for Wales
First ScotRail Service
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Bus companies
Arriva Cymru
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