There are 6 ways to get from Manchester 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 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Stance 57
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry TerminalCm9
12h 20m£40–98Train, ferry
- Take the train from Manchester Oxford Road to Preston
- Take the train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Take the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminal
- Take the ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry TerminalCm9
13h 5m£54–262Train, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Manchester Oxford Road to Haymarket
- Take the bus from Haymarket Station to Station Road978
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminal
- Take the ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry TerminalCm9
13h 25m£63–190Train to Birmingham Airport, fly
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Islay (ILY)BHX - ILY
8h 35m£275–469Bus, ferry via Manchester Central Coach Station
- Take the bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Station181
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry TerminalCm9
13h 20m£51–124Train, train to Glasgow Airport, fly
- Take the train from Manchester Oxford Road to Preston
- Take the train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Fly from Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Islay (ILY)GLA - ILY
5h 46m£113–337
Manchester to Islay by bus and ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £40 - £100 and takes 12h 20m.
The fastest way to get from Manchester to Islay is to train and fly which takes 5h 46m and costs £110 - £340.
The distance between Manchester and Islay is 345 miles.
The best way to get from Manchester to Islay without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 12h 20m and costs £40 - £100.
It takes approximately 12h 20m to get from Manchester to Islay, including transfers.
There are 44+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Manchester, England and Islay, Scotland?
There is no direct connection from Manchester to Islay. However, you can take the bus to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Stance 57, take the bus to Argyll Arms Hotel, take the line 448 bus to Ferry Terminal, walk to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal, then take the ferry to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal. Alternatively, you can take a train from Manchester Oxford Road to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Preston, Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street, Oban, Oban Ferry Terminal, and Colonsay Ferry Terminal in around 13h 5m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £40–240
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Belfast (Aldergrove), Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £45–240
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Derry, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £45–250
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Amsterdam Schiphol, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £70–380
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Islay via Dublin, Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £60–240
Flights from Glasgow Airport to Islay
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £80–200
- Phone
- +44 800 200 6060
- enquiries@northernrailway.co.uk
- Website
- northernrailway.co.uk
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £6–17
- Website
- https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 345 600 1671
- tpecustomer.relations@tpexpress.co.uk
- Website
- tpexpress.co.uk
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 37 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–17
- Website
- https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/
Train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £26–95
- Website
- https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Haymarket
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 8m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £30–75
- Website
- https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 345 528 0253
- Website
- avantiwestcoast.co.uk
Train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–110
- Website
- https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £55–140
- Website
- https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 330 060 0500
- enquiry@sleeper.scot
- Website
- sleeper.scot
Train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £60–80
- Website
- https://www.sleeper.scot/
- Sleeper Berth Classic
- £210–230
- Sleeper Seat
- £60–80
- Sleeper Berth Club Solo
- £260–300
- Phone
- +44 344 811 0141
- Website
- scotrail.co.uk
Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- £20–45
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 47m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £25–75
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- enquiries@megabus.com
- Website
- uk.megabus.com
Bus from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station Stance 57
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £17–24
- Website
- https://uk.megabus.com
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- citylink.co.uk
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £14–20
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Haymarket Station to Station Road
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 2m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £19–26
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £28–50
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
- 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 15m
- 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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