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
6h 13m£236–351Bus, ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Cardiff North Road to Birmingham - Great Charles Street Queenswaybus
- Take the bus from Newhall St 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
16h 39m£60–140Train, 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 31m£135–316Train 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
10h 3m£337–525Train 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 33m£73–223Train, 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
11h 2m£140–486Train, 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
15h 1m£179–343Train, bus, ferry #2
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Edinburgh Waverleytrain
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street Low Leveltrain
- 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
16h 24m£260–434Bus, ferry via Birmingham
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Birmingham Coach Stationbus 111 / ...
- Take the bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Stationbus 590 / ...
- 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
18h 27m£97–261
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 £60 - £140 and takes 16h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to train and fly which takes 6h 13m and costs £230 - £360.
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 31m and costs £130 - £320.
It takes approximately 6h 13m to get from Cardiff to Islay, including transfers.
There are 23+ 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 Bristol Temple Meads, take the shuttle to Bristol Airport, 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 31m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £24–110
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- £24–110
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 27m
- When
- Sunday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- £55–290
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- £80–430
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Dublin, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £50–240
Flights from Bristol Airport to Islay via Belfast (Aldergrove), Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- £55–290
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £50–280
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- £75–400
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Belfast (Aldergrove), Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- £55–280
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Jersey, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- £70–290
Flights from Southampton Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £70–360
Flights from Southampton Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- £95–550
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £45–110
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £17–35
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 54m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–95
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £19–28
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–80
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Reading to Southampton Airport Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £21–35
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Edinburgh Waverley
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 24m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- £230–330
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £50–90
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +44 345 528 0253
- Website
- avantiwestcoast.co.uk
Train from Crewe to Motherwell
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 51m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £80–140
- Website
- https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
Train from Crewe to Haymarket
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £85–140
- Website
- https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 330 060 0500
- enquiry@sleeper.scot
- Website
- sleeper.scot
Train from Crewe to Motherwell
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 34m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £55–100
- Website
- https://www.sleeper.scot/
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £11–19
- Website
- https://www.sleeper.scot/
- Phone
- +44 344 811 0141
- Website
- scotrail.co.uk
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £20–40
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £19–35
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
- Phone
- 0800 031 8542
- Passengerassistance@lumo.co.uk.
- Website
- lumo.co.uk
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £7–14
- Website
- https://www.lumo.co.uk/
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- citylink.co.uk
Bus from Anniesland Cross to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £15–22
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £16–23
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Terminal Building to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £16–22
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.fr
Bus from Cardiff North Road to Birmingham - Great Charles Street Queensway
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £10–17
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Newhall St to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £28–50
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Sophia Gardens to Birmingham Coach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £20–50
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £55–140
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
- Phone
- +44 (0)1475 650 397
- enquiries@calmac.co.uk
- Website
- calmac.co.uk
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide





















































