There are 5 ways to get from Inverness to Islay by bus, ferry, train, 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.
Bus, ferry
best- Take the bus from Inverness Union Street to Oban Bus Stationbus Ember
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
8h 20m£22–102Bus, ferry via Glasgow
- Take the bus from Bus Station Stance 3 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
12h 5m£56–144Train, ferry
- Take the train from Inverness to Perthtrain
- Take the train from Perth to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Obantrain
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
- Take the ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
13h 16m£96–263Train, train to Glasgow Airport, fly to Islay
- Take the train from Inverness to Perthtrain
- Take the train from Perth to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Fly from Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Islay (ILY)plane GLA - ILY
6h 8m£148–338Bus to Oban Airport, fly to Colonsay
- Take the bus from Inverness Union Street to Oban Airportbus
- Fly from Oban Airport (OBN) to Colonsay (CSA)plane OBN - CSA
6h 56m£42–256
Inverness to Islay by bus, foot, and ferry
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Inverness to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £22 - £110 and takes 8h 20m.
The fastest way to get from Inverness to Islay is to train and fly which takes 6h 8m and costs £140 - £340.
The distance between Inverness and Islay is 166 miles.
The best way to get from Inverness to Islay without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 8h 20m and costs £22 - £110.
It takes approximately 8h 20m to get from Inverness to Islay, including transfers.
There are 53+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Inverness, Scotland and Islay, Scotland?
There is no direct connection from Inverness to Islay. However, you can take the bus to Oban Bus Station, walk to Oban Ferry Terminal, then take the ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Buchanan Bus Station, Argyll Arms Hotel, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 12h 5m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Glasgow Airport to Islay
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £95–220
- Website
- hebrideanair.co.uk
Flights from Oban Airport to Colonsay
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- When
- Thursday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- £26–210
Flights from Oban Airport to Colonsay
- Ave. Duration
- 25 min
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £26–210
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Inverness to Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £45–75
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Perth to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £24–40
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- £35–60
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Inverness to Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £45–75
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Perth to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £24–40
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Inverness to Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 2m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- £35–55
- Website
- London North Eastern Railway Limited (LNER)
Train from Inverness to Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 2m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- £35–55
- Website
- London North Eastern Railway Limited (LNER)
- Phone
- +44 330 060 0500
- Website
- Caledonian Sleeper
Train from Inverness to Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 38m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £26–40
- Website
- Caledonian Sleeper
Train from Inverness to Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 38m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £26–40
- Website
- Caledonian Sleeper
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 510 4007
- ride@ember.to
- Website
- Ember
Bus from Inverness Union Street to Oban Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £12–17
- Website
- Ember
Bus from Inverness Union Street to Oban Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 11m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £11–17
- Website
- Ember
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £20–30
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £30–60
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £30–60
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £15–30
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £15–30
- Phone
- +44 (0)1475 650 397
- enquiries@calmac.co.uk
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £10–85
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £10–15
- Car Fare
- £65–85
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- £7–60
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- 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
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £4–7
- Car Fare
- £24–30
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