How to travel from Plymouth to Islay, United Kingdom
The distance between Plymouth and Islay is around 798km (496 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 10m.
6 routes found
We've found 6 different ways to get from Plymouth 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 → Plymouth if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Exeter St Davids then fly from Exeter (EXT) to Islay (ILY).
- Duration4h 10m
- Flight time2h 10m
- Typical cost£575($680)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train to Birmingham New Street, ferry
Take the train to Birmingham New Street, Preston then Haymarket and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration15h 35m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£285($335)
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 Bristol Bond St, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd then Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station and then to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration16h 30m
- Departstwice a week
- Typical cost£90($105)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plymouth and Islay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Plymouth to Islay by train, ferry, bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £90 ($105) and will take around 16h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £575 ($680).
The distance between Plymouth and Islay is around 798km (496 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 614km (382 miles)
It takes around 16h 50m to get from Plymouth and Islay by train and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Plymouth to Islay is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 10m and will set you back approx £575 ($680).
The cheapest way to travel between Plymouth and Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £90 ($105) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Plymouth and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids then fly from Exeter (EXT) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 4h 10m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Plymouth and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids then fly from Exeter (EXT) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 4h 10m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plymouth to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids then fly from Exeter (EXT) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 4h 10m.
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 Plymouth to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Edinburgh and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 16h 50m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plymouth to Islay is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 16h 50m and will usually cost around £310 ($365).
Compare travel optionsbetween Plymouth and Islay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 2 similar | 4h 10m | £575($680) | 5 times a day | 798km (496 miles) |
| Train to Bristol Temple Meads, Fly | 4h 45m | £290($345) | 5 times a day | 856km (532 miles) |
| Train to Reading, plane | 5h 55m | £615($730) | 5 times a day | 1,083km (673 miles) |
Train to Birmingham New Street, ferry + 1 similar | 15h 35m | £285($335) | once a week | 1,140km (708 miles) |
| Train and Ferry | 16h 50m | £310($365) | once a week | 1,223km (760 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 16h 30m | £90($105) | twice a week | 1,162km (722 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Plymouth and Islay
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Bus companies
Stagecoach South West
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