There are 9 ways to get from Cardiff to Islay by train, bus, ferry, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, bus, ferry
best- 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£112–302Bus, ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Cardiff North Road to Birmingham - Jennens Roadbus
- Take the bus from Millennium Point 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£67–158Train 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£220–418Train, 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 56m£159–325Train, 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 55m£247–420Bus, 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
19h 2m£91–204Train 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 36m£76–227Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Islay
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Islay (ILY)plane BRS - ILY
5h 16m£325–402Train, 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 49m£141–521
Cardiff to Islay by train, bus, and ferry
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £65 - £160 and takes 17h 5m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to train and fly which takes 5h 16m and costs £320 - £410.
The distance between Cardiff and Islay is 514 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 £110 - £310.
It takes approximately 14h 32m to get from Cardiff to Islay, including transfers.
There are 52+ 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 Crewe, take the train to Motherwell, take the train to Anniesland, walk to Anniesland Cross, take the bus to Ferry Terminal, walk to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal, then take the ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Cardiff North Road to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Millennium Point, Buchanan Bus Station, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 17h 5m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £26–95
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £26–95
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–75
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–75
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- 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 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
Bus from Terminal Building to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £28–45
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- 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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