There are 5 ways to get from Mainland to Islay by plane, ferry, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Kirkwall (KOI) to Islay (ILY)plane KOI - ILY
5h 15m£290–1,100Ferry, bus
cheapest- Take the ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
- Take the bus from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Inverness Union Streetbus
- Take the bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Stationbus M10
- 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
18h 33m£48–163Ferry, bus, train
- Take the ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
- Take the bus from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Inverness Union Streetbus
- Take the train from Inverness 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
20h 11m£69–259Ferry, train
- Take the ferry from Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal to Aberdeen Ferry Terminalferry Nl2
- Take the train from Aberdeen 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
20h 56m£78–256Ferry, bus via Oban
- Take the ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
- Take the bus from Ferry Terminal to Bus Station Stance 3bus X99
- Take the bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Station Roadbus 976
- 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
20h 22m£77–188
Kirkwall (KOI) to Islay (ILY) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Mainland to Islay is to ferry and bus which costs £45 - £170 and takes 18h 33m.
The fastest way to get from Mainland to Islay is to fly which takes 5h 15m and costs £290 - £1,100.
The distance between Mainland and Islay is 260 miles.
The best way to get from Mainland to Islay without a car is to ferry and bus which takes 18h 33m and costs £45 - £170.
It takes approximately 5h 15m to fly from Kirkwall (KOI) to Islay (ILY), including transfers and time at the airport.
There is no direct flight from Kirkwall Airport to Islay Airport. The quickest flight takes 5h 15m and has one stopover.
Loganair offers flights from Kirkwall Airport to Islay Airport.
There are 27+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland and Islay, Scotland?
Loganair flies from Kirkwall (KOI) to Islay (ILY) twice daily.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Kirkwall to Islay via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £290–1,100
Flights from Kirkwall to Islay via Lerwick, Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £330–1,300
- Phone
- +44 344 811 0141
- Website
- scotrail.co.uk
Train from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 38m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £23–65
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £20–45
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 37m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £26–85
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 510 4007
- ride@ember.to
- Website
- ember.to
Bus from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Inverness Union Street
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 26m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £1–40
- Website
- https://www.ember.to/
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- citylink.co.uk
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £24–35
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- £10–14
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Station Road
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £15–22
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- enquiries@megabus.com
- Website
- uk.megabus.com
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £14–21
- Website
- https://uk.megabus.com
- Phone
- 01224591381
- bluebird.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com
- Website
- stagecoachbus.com
Bus from Ferry Terminal to Bus Station Stance 3
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 49m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £29–40
- Website
- https://www.stagecoachbus.com/
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–17
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- +44 845 600 0449
- info@northlinkferries.co.uk
- Website
- northlinkferries.co.uk
Ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
Ferry from Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal to Aberdeen Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £20–36
- Website
- https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/
- Low
- £20–25
- Peak
- £31–36
- 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
- 4 times a day
- 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
- 6 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
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- £4–30
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £4–7
- Car Fare
- £24–30
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