How to travel from Islay to Swanage, United Kingdom
The distance between Islay and Swanage is around 787km (489 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 15m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Islay to Swanage by ferry, train, bus and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Swanage → Islay if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Train
Fly from Islay (ILY) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth.
- Duration4h 15m
- Flight time2hrs
- Typical cost£445($525)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry and Train
Take a ferry to Oban Ferry Terminal then take the train to Haymarket then Wolverhampton and then to Bournemouth.
- Duration16h 5m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£310($365)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry and Bus
Take a ferry to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take the bus to Buchanan Bus Station then Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Bournemouth Station off Holdenhurst Rd.
- Duration16h 25m
- Departsonce daily
- Typical cost£54($64)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Islay and Swanage
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Islay to Swanage by ferry, train, bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take a ferry and then take the bus which costs around £54 ($64) and will take around 16h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £445 ($525).
The distance between Islay and Swanage is around 787km (489 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 637km (396 miles)
It takes around 16h 5m to get from Islay and Swanage by ferry and train.
The quickest way to get from Islay to Swanage is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 15m and will set you back approx £445 ($525).
The cheapest way to travel between Islay and Swanage is to take a ferry and then take the bus which will typically cost around £54 ($64) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Islay and Swanage. We recommend that you fly from Islay (ILY) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth. instead which will take 4h 15m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Islay and Swanage. We recommend that you fly from Islay (ILY) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth. instead which will take 4h 15m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Islay to Swanage. We recommend that you fly from Islay (ILY) to Southampton (SOU) then take the train to Bournemouth. instead which will take 4h 15m.
The closest major airport to Swanage is Bournemouth Airport (BOH) (BOH) which is approximately 21km (13 miles) from Swanage. Southampton Airport (SOU) (SOU) and Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) 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 Islay to Swanage. We recommend that you take a ferry to Oban Ferry Terminal then take the train to Haymarket then Wolverhampton and then to Bournemouth. instead which will take 16h 5m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Islay to Swanage is to take a ferry and then take the train which takes, on average, 16h 5m and will usually cost around £310 ($365).
Compare travel optionsbetween Islay and Swanage
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Train + 1 similar | 4h 15m | £445($525) | every 4 hours | 787km (489 miles) |
| Fly to London Heathrow (LHR), Train | 5h 35m | £465($550) | every 4 hours | 868km (539 miles) |
Ferry and Train + 1 similar | 16h 5m | £310($365) | once a week | 1,113km (692 miles) |
| Ferry, Bus and Train | 16h 10m | £140($165) | once daily | 1,013km (629 miles) |
Ferry and Bus | 16h 25m | £54($64) | once daily | 1,042km (648 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Islay and Swanage
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
South Western Railway
Airlines
Loganair
Aer Lingus
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Airports near Swanage
The following major airports near Swanage offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Bournemouth Airport (BOH)
- Distance
- 21km (13 miles) from Swanage
Southampton Airport (SOU)
- Distance
- 57km (35 miles) from Swanage
Bristol Airport (BRS)
- Distance
- 101km (63 miles) from Swanage