Portbahn Islay
Getting to the Isle of Islay
Travel to Islay is not straightforward. You don't come to the Scottish islands if you want easy - you come because of the adventure and for an experience you can't get on the mainland. We now live on Jura, but lived on Islay for a few years before that. We know every sailing from Kennacraig, every delay and every disruption - and we know exactly why guests tell us the ferry crossing was one of the highlights of their trip.
Ferry: 2 hours from Kennacraig · Flight: 25 minutes from Glasgow · Book 12 weeks ahead
Explore
Our guide on getting to and from Islay
Arrival
Arriving on Islay
Stepping off the ferry at Port Askaig or Port Ellen, you are properly somewhere else now. Here is what to expect on arrival — ports, late arrivals, cancellations, and your first steps on the island.
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Ferry
Ferry to Islay
CalMac operates two routes from Kennacraig — to Port Askaig in the north and Port Ellen in the south. Book ahead for summer sailings and Fèis Ìle.
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Flight
Flights to Islay
The flight suits a specific kind of trip. A whisky group travelling without a car, a couple where speed matters more than cost, someone squeezing Islay into a longer Scottish itinerary. For most guests - families especially, or anyone planning to explore the island properly - the ferry makes far more sense. It's cheaper, you take your car, and the crossing itself is genuinely one of the best parts of arriving on Islay. But when the flight fits, Loganair covers the route from Glasgow in 25 minutes.
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On-Island
Getting Around Islay
Scotland's drink-drive limit is 50mg/100ml — and for a full distillery day on Islay, not driving is the only sensible approach. Taxis, bikes, and walking paths cover everything you need.
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Planning
Planning Your Trip to Islay
There's no wrong season on Islay — but each is genuinely different. This guide covers when to visit, Fèis Ìle, how long to stay, and how to plan your crossing.
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Car-Free
Travelling to Islay Without a Car
Although having a car makes it a lot easier to get around Islay, many people still travel as foot passengers or with a bicycle. Take the Citylink bus from Glasgow Bus Station (and airport) to the ferry terminal at Kennacraig, then CalMac ferry to Islay. For cyclists, the Glasgow–Arran–Kintyre route is a hugely overlooked and beautifully scenic way to arrive here. Between April and September there's also the Jura Passenger Ferry — a small seasonal service from Tayvallich to Craighouse on Jura, worth knowing about if you're routing via Jura or combining the islands. In this guide we've put together all the main ways to get from Glasgow to Islay without a car and who you need to contact or book with to organise.
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