There are 9 ways to get from Cardiff to Islay by train, plane, bus, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Islay
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Islay (ILY)plane BRS - ILY
7h 26m£62–255Train, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Crewetrain
- Take the train from Crewe to Motherwelltrain
- Take the bus from Anniesland Cross to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
14h 32m£127–331Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Cardiff North Road to Birmingham - Great Charles Street Queenswaybus
- Take the bus from Newhall Street to Buchanan Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
17h 5m£67–165Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Islay
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Islay (ILY)plane BHX - ILY
9h 58m£231–408Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Glasgow Airport, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane BRS - GLA
- Take the bus from Terminal Building to Ferry Terminalbus
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry
10h 31m£80–225Train, train to Southampton Airport, fly to Islay
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Readingtrain
- Take the train from Reading to Southampton Airport Parkwaytrain
- Fly from Southampton Airport (SOU) to Islay (ILY)plane SOU - ILY
10h 38m£152–526Train, bus, ferry via Edinburgh
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Crewetrain
- Take the train from Crewe to Haymarkettrain
- Take the train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
14h 57m£174–372Train, bus, ferry #2
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Glasgow Centraltrain
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
15h 58m£294–469Bus, ferry via Manchester
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Manchester Central Coach Stationbus Cpa
- Take the bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Stationbus 181 / ...
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
17h 32m£101–285
Bristol Airport (BRS) to Islay (ILY) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £65 - £170 and takes 17h 5m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to train and fly which takes 7h 26m and costs £60 - £260.
The distance between Cardiff and Islay is 379 miles.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Islay without a car is to train and bus and ferry which takes 14h 32m and costs £120 - £340.
It takes approximately 7h 26m to get from Cardiff to Islay, including transfers.
There are 53+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Islay, Scotland?
There is no direct connection from Cardiff to Islay. However, you can take the train to Bristol Temple Meads, walk to Temple Meads Stn, take the bus to Public Transport Interchange, walk to Bristol Airport (BRS) airport, then fly to Islay (ILY). Alternatively, you can take a train from Cardiff Central to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Crewe, Motherwell, Anniesland, Anniesland Cross, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 14h 32m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £55–280
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Dublin, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £45–220
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Belfast (Aldergrove), Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- £55–280
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £75–390
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Paris Charles de Gaulle, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- £70–290
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £60–300
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £75–400
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Belfast (Aldergrove), Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- £60–300
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Dublin, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- £50–240
Flights from Southampton Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £80–400
Flights from Southampton Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £100–550
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £27–95
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £45–90
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £17–35
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £17–35
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–95
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £15–26
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–95
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £15–26
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–95
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £20–29
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–85
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £20–29
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Reading to Southampton Airport Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £23–35
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- £260–380
- Website
- Cross Country
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Crewe to Motherwell
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 51m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £80–140
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Crewe to Haymarket
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £85–150
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
- Phone
- 0800 031 8542
- Passengerassistance@lumo.co.uk.
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Crewe to Motherwell
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 14m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £40–80
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £8–16
- Website
- Lumo
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £20–40
- Website
- ScotRail
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
Bus from Anniesland Cross to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £18–35
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £18–35
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £19–40
Bus from Terminal Building to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £28–45
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £19–40
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £19–40
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £19–40
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Cardiff North Road to Birmingham - Great Charles Street Queensway
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £12–20
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Newhall Street to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £30–55
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +44 (0)3717 81 81 81
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Sophia Gardens to Manchester Central Coach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £35–85
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £40–110
- Website
- National Express
- Phone
- +44 (0)1475 650 397
- enquiries@calmac.co.uk
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
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