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
2h 45m£390–1,200Ferry, bus via Inverness
cheapest- 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 Inverness Union Street to Oban Bus Stationbus
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
15h 39m£38–123Ferry, bus
- Take the ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
- Take the bus from Scrabster Vehicle Terminal to Inverness Union Streetbus
- Take the bus from Inverness Union Street to Oban Bus Stationbus
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
15h 16m£49–141Ferry, train, bus
- 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 bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
19h 9m£101–226Ferry, bus via Glasgow
- Take the ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
- Take the bus from Scrabster Vehicle Terminal to Inverness Union Streetbus
- Take the bus from Bus Station Stance 3 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 6m£82–189
Kirkwall (KOI) to Islay (ILY) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Mainland to Islay is to ferry and bus via Inverness which costs £35 - £130 and takes 15h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Mainland to Islay is to fly which takes 2h 45m and costs £390 - £1,200.
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 15h 16m and costs £45 - £150.
It takes approximately 2h 45m 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 2h 45m and has one stopover.
Loganair offers flights from Kirkwall Airport to Islay Airport.
There are 52+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland and Islay, Scotland?
Loganair flies from Kirkwall (KOI) to Islay (ILY) 6 times a week.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Kirkwall to Islay via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- £390–1,200
Flights from Kirkwall to Islay via Lerwick, Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- £460–1,400
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 37m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–100
- Website
- ScotRail
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 510 4007
- ride@ember.to
- Website
- Ember
Bus from Scrabster Vehicle Terminal to Inverness Union Street
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 26m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–20
- 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 Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £12–17
- Website
- Ember
Bus from Scrabster Vehicle Terminal to Inverness Union Street
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 26m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–20
- Website
- Ember
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
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 Bus Station Stance 3 to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £30–60
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £30–60
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
- Phone
- 0345 241 8000
- Website
- Stagecoach North Scotland
Bus from Ferry Terminal to Bus Station Stance 3
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 49m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £2
- Website
- Stagecoach North Scotland
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact 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
- £19–29
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +44 845 600 0449
- info@northlinkferries.co.uk
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
Ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
Ferry from Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal to Aberdeen Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £20–36
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £20–25
- Peak
- £31–36
Ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
Ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
- 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
- Twice 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
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice 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
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- 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




















