THE BEST ROUTES

Getting to Islay
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By Car
Plane
Public Transport
Cycle
Hire a vehicle

Cross onto the Isle from the ferry terminal at Kennacraig.

The ferry terminal at Kennacraig is about 2½ hours from Glasgow; you should aim to be there 45 minutes before the boat leaves as spaces may be allocated to standby vehicles during busy periods.  Ferries leave 4 times a day on weekdays and the timetable can be seen on the Calmac Website  

Note: There are different sailings on Wednesdays and the winter timetable differs from the summer.  The ferry takes 2 hours to Port Askaig or 2 hours and twenty minutes to Port Ellen.  You can eat on board and there are places for dogs to sit.

Fly in from Glasgow.

There is a plane twice daily from Glasgow to Islay. This is often busy, so booking in advance is advisable. Visit the Logan Air website

Come by bus or the passenger ferry.

Buses leave regularly from Buchannan Street Bus Station (just next to Queen Street train station) and join up with the ferries at Kennacraig. There is also a bus on Islay that connects with most ferries and will take you onwards on the Island.

There is also currently a passenger ferry operating from Tayvallich at the head of Loch Sween to Jura; this runs during the summer only.

See the Isle from your saddle.

‍Islay is an excellent place to visit on a bicycle.  Among the many routes to take, it is possible to go via Arran and then cross from Lochranza to Claonaig.  A short ride over the hill takes you to Kennacraig.  A return (slightly more arduous) might be from Tarbet to Portavadie then over to Colintraive, across to Bute and back via Rothesay to Wemyss Bay.

Getting around the Isle when you're here.

Once on Islay you may wish to hire a car; this may prove more convenient than bringing your own over.  Cars can be collected from the airport, ferry terminal or almost anywhere else on the Island.  Visit the Islay Car Hire website