How to travel from Swanage to Islay, United Kingdom
The distance between Swanage and Islay is around 789km (491 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 10m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Swanage 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 → Swanage if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Islay (ILY).
- Duration4h 10m
- Flight time2hrs
- Typical cost£740($875)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Wolverhampton then Haymarket and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration16h 20m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£250($295)
Multiple operators
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23 then Glasgow and then to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal.
- Duration16h 35m
- Departsonce daily
- Typical cost£54($64)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swanage and Islay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Swanage to Islay by train, ferry, bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £54 ($64) and will take around 16h 35m. 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 £740 ($875).
The distance between Swanage and Islay is around 789km (491 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 637km (396 miles)
It takes around 16h 20m to get from Swanage and Islay by train and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Swanage to Islay is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 10m and will set you back approx £740 ($875).
The cheapest way to travel between Swanage and Islay is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £54 ($64) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Swanage and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 4h 10m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Swanage and Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Islay (ILY). instead which will take 4h 10m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Swanage to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) 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 Swanage to Islay. We recommend that you take the train to Wolverhampton then Haymarket and then to Oban then take a ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. instead which will take 16h 20m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swanage to Islay is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 16h 20m and will usually cost around £250 ($295).
Compare travel optionsbetween Swanage and Islay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 2 similar | 4h 10m | £740($875) | 5 times a day | 789km (491 miles) |
| Train to Woking, Fly | 5h 45m | £465($550) | 5 times a day | 870km (541 miles) |
| Train to Clapham Junction, Fly | 6hrs | £655($775) | 5 times a day | 953km (592 miles) |
Train and Ferry | 16h 20m | £250($295) | once a week | 1,096km (681 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 16h 35m | £54($64) | once daily | 1,042km (648 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Swanage and Islay
Airlines
Loganair
Aer Lingus
Ferry operators
Caledonian MacBrayne
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
South Western Railway
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
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