How to travel from Loch Ness to Islay, United Kingdom
The distance between Loch Ness and Islay is around 254km (158 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 55m.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from Loch Ness 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 → Loch Ness if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Perth and then to Glasgow Queen Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY).
- Duration5h 55m
- Flight time45min
- Typical cost£245($290)
Multiple operators
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Fort William Bus Station and then to Oban Station Road then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration7h 10m
- Departstwice a week
- Typical cost£30($35)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Loch Ness and Islay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Loch Ness to Islay by bus, ferry, train and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £30 ($35) and will take around 7h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £245 ($290).
The distance between Loch Ness and Islay is around 254km (158 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 198km (123 miles)
It takes around 7h 10m to get from Loch Ness and Islay by bus and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Loch Ness to Islay is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 55m and will set you back approx £245 ($290).
The cheapest way to travel between Loch Ness and Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £30 ($35) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Loch Ness and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Perth and then to Glasgow Queen Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 5h 55m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Loch Ness and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Perth and then to Glasgow Queen Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 5h 55m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Loch Ness to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Perth and then to Glasgow Queen Street then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 5h 55m.
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 Loch Ness to Islay. We recommend that you take the bus to Fort William Bus Station and then to Oban Station Road then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 7h 10m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Loch Ness to Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 7h 10m and will usually cost around £30 ($35).
Compare travel optionsbetween Loch Ness and Islay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane | 5h 55m | £245($290) | 5 times a day | 462km (287 miles) |
Bus and Ferry + 1 similar | 7h 10m | £30($35) | twice a week | 254km (158 miles) |
| Bus to Fort William, Bus Station, ferry | 7h 50m | £48($57) | twice daily | 352km (219 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Loch Ness and Islay
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
West Coast Motors
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
LNER
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