There are 9 ways to get from Cardiff 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 to Bristol Airport, fly to Islay
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Islay (ILY)plane BRS - ILY
6h 16m£327–404Bus, ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Cardiff North Road to Birmingham - Great Charles Street Queenswaybus
- Take the bus from Newhall Street 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 40m£68–161Train, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Crewetrain
- Take the train from Crewe to Motherwelltrain
- Take the bus from Anniesland Cross to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
14h 32m£121–333Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Islay
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Islay (ILY)plane BHX - ILY
10h 3m£229–416Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Glasgow Airport, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane BRS - GLA
- Take the bus from Terminal Building to Ferry Terminalbus
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry
10h 36m£78–229Train, train to Southampton Airport, fly to Islay
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Readingtrain
- Take the train from Reading to Southampton Airport Parkwaytrain
- Fly from Southampton Airport (SOU) to Islay (ILY)plane SOU - ILY
10h 49m£146–534Train, bus, ferry via Edinburgh
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Crewetrain
- Take the train from Crewe to Haymarkettrain
- Take the train from Haymarket 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
14h 57m£172–359Train, bus, ferry #2
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Glasgow Centraltrain
- 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
15h 55m£288–459Bus, ferry via Birmingham
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Birmingham Coach Stationbus 111 / ...
- Take the bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Stationbus 590 / ...
- 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 2m£106–291
Bristol Airport (BRS) to Islay (ILY) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £65 - £170 and takes 17h 40m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Islay is to train and fly which takes 6h 16m and costs £320 - £410.
The distance between Cardiff and Islay is 379 miles.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Islay without a car is to train and bus and ferry which takes 14h 32m and costs £120 - £340.
It takes approximately 6h 16m to get from Cardiff to Islay, including transfers.
There are 52+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Islay, Scotland?
There is no direct connection from Cardiff to Islay. However, you can take the train to Bristol Temple Meads, walk to Temple Meads Stn, take the bus to Public Transport Interchange, walk to Bristol Airport (BRS) airport, then fly to Islay (ILY). Alternatively, you can take a train from Cardiff Central to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Crewe, Motherwell, Anniesland, Anniesland Cross, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 14h 32m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £26–95
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £26–95
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–35
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–35
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–90
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- [email protected]
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
Bus from Anniesland Cross to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £18–35
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £18–35
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 Terminal Building to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £28–45
- 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 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 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
- +44 (0)1475 650 397
- [email protected]
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
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 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 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 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 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 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
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