There are 4 ways to get from Edinburgh 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, fly
best- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Fly from Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Islay (ILY)plane GLA - ILY
3h 3m£99–232Bus, ferry via Edinburgh - Regent Road
cheapest- Take the bus from Edinburgh - Regent Road to Glasgowbus
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotelbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
9h 50m£27–82Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotelbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
9h 46m£33–88Train, ferry
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Obantrain
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminalferry
- Take the ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
10h 27m£47–172
Edinburgh to Islay by bus and ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to bus and ferry via Edinburgh - Regent Road which costs £27 - £85 and takes 9h 50m.
The fastest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to train and fly which takes 3h 3m and costs £95 - £240.
The distance between Edinburgh and Islay is 129 miles.
The best way to get from Edinburgh to Islay without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 9h 46m and costs £30 - £90.
It takes approximately 3h 3m to get from Edinburgh to Islay, including transfers.
There are 48+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Edinburgh, Scotland and Islay, Scotland?
There is no direct connection from Edinburgh to Islay. However, you can take the train to Glasgow Queen Street, walk to Dundas Street, take the line 500 bus to Terminal Building, walk to Glasgow Airport (GLA) airport, then fly to Islay (ILY). Alternatively, you can take a bus from Princes Street to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Buchanan Bus Station, Argyll Arms Hotel, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 9h 46m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Glasgow Airport to Islay
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £85–200
- Phone
- +44 344 811 0141
- Website
- scotrail.co.uk
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £13–35
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
- Standard
- £13–18
- 1st Class
- £23–35
Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £22–50
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
- Standard
- £22–30
- 1st Class
- £30–50
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- £3–7
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Edinburgh - Regent Road to Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- £4–7
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- citylink.co.uk
Bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £9–14
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £14–20
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
- 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
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- £7–60
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £7–11
- Car Fare
- £50–60
Ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £4–30
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £4–7
- Car Fare
- £24–30
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