How to travel from Islay to Thurso, United Kingdom
The distance between Islay and Thurso is around 526km (327 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take a ferry which takes around 4h 55m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Islay to Thurso by ferry, bus, train and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Thurso → Islay if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Ferry
Fly from Islay (ILY) to Kirkwall (KOI) then take a ferry to John o Groats John O’ Groats Ferry Terminal.
- Duration4h 55m
- Flight time1h 55m
- Typical cost£470($560)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry, Bus and Train
Take a ferry to Oban Ferry Terminal then take the bus to Fort William Bus Station and then to Inverness Bus Station Stance 2 then take the train to Thurso.
- Duration11h 55m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£70($83)
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, Inverness Bus Station Stance 3 then Leirinmore Smoo Cave and then to Thurso Royal Bank of Scotland.
- Duration14h 5m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£62($73)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Islay and Thurso
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Islay to Thurso by ferry, bus, train and plane. The cheapest option is to take a ferry and then take the bus which costs around £62 ($73) and will take around 14h 5m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take a ferry and arrive in approximately 4h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £470 ($560).
The distance between Islay and Thurso is around 526km (327 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 353km (220 miles)
It takes around 11h 55m to get from Islay and Thurso by ferry, bus and train.
The quickest way to get from Islay to Thurso is to fly and then take a ferry which takes around 4h 55m and will set you back approx £470 ($560).
The cheapest way to travel between Islay and Thurso is to take a ferry and then take the bus which will typically cost around £62 ($73) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Islay and Thurso. We recommend that you fly from Islay (ILY) to Kirkwall (KOI) then take a ferry to John o Groats John O’ Groats Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 4h 55m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Islay and Thurso. We recommend that you fly from Islay (ILY) to Kirkwall (KOI) then take a ferry to John o Groats John O’ Groats Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 4h 55m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Islay to Thurso. We recommend that you fly from Islay (ILY) to Kirkwall (KOI) then take a ferry to John o Groats John O’ Groats Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 4h 55m.
The closest major airport to Thurso is Kirkwall Airport (KOI) (KOI) which is approximately 54km (34 miles) from Thurso. Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) and Stornoway Airport (SYY) (SYY) 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 Thurso. We recommend that you take a ferry to Oban Ferry Terminal then take the bus to Fort William Bus Station and then to Inverness Bus Station Stance 2 then take the train to Thurso. instead which will take 11h 55m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Islay to Thurso is to take a ferry, then take the bus and then take the train which takes, on average, 11h 55m and will usually cost around £70 ($83).
Compare travel optionsbetween Islay and Thurso
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Ferry + 1 similar | 4h 55m | £470($560) | once daily | 583km (362 miles) |
| Plane and Train | 8h 40m | £230($270) | every 20 mins | 672km (417 miles) |
Ferry, Bus and Train + 1 similar | 11h 55m | £70($83) | once a week | 526km (327 miles) |
| Ferry to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal, bus and train | 13hrs | £100($120) | twice daily | 737km (458 miles) |
Ferry and Bus | 14h 5m | £62($73) | once a week | 829km (515 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Islay and Thurso
Bus companies
West Coast Motors
Scottish Citylink
The Durness Bus
Airlines
Loganair
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
John O'Groats Ferries
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
LNER
Airports near Thurso
The following major airports near Thurso offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
- Distance
- 54km (34 miles) from Thurso
Inverness Airport (INV)
- Distance
- 122km (76 miles) from Thurso
Stornoway Airport (SYY)
- Distance
- 169km (105 miles) from Thurso