Ferry To From Islay Jura | Visit Islay

More about Islay & Jura

Ideal for:

Food & drink Culture

World-famous whiskies

Step off the Islay ferry and into the world of single malt whisky. There are eight working distilleries on Islay, including the big names like Laphroaig, Bowmore and Ardbeg. It's also a world of birds - over a hundred different species breed on the island. In the winter at Loch Gruinart you'll find thousands of migrant barnacle geese, and the RSPB reserve The Oa - pronounced 'oh' - is a haven for golden eagles, choughs and peregrine falcons.

Islay has excellent beaches, from Saligo bay on the Atlantic coast to the Singing Sands in the south. A boat trip might bring you close to minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks and seals. If you prefer to stay on land, Islay has plenty to keep you entertained - from music festivals and castle ruins to handcraft studios.

The wilderness of Jura

Get the council-run ferry to Jura from Islay, and you can have a go at climbing the famous Paps. Or if you're feeling adventurous, plan your trip around the fell race and run over all three. When you've caught your breath, you might see a golden or a white-tailed eagle over the moorland.

For more information on Islay and Jura visit Explore Argyll and Islay and Jura's websites.

How to get here

Get the ferry to Islay from Kennacraig on Kintyre, landing at Port Ellen (2 hours 20 minutes) or Port Askaig (from 1 hour 55 minutes). Vehicle reservations are recommended.

Buy Tickets

Looking for the best form of travel to and from our ports? Traveline can help you find the way that best suits you for making your journey using the most up to date information from around the UK for all transport companies.

We have also listed some travel information below that you may find useful:

Getting to Kennacraig

Kennacraig is on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula, just south of Tarbert. To get there, you can take a route over the mainland, or catch a ferry to one of the islands and hop over to the Kintyre peninsula that way.

Mainland routes

By bus

There's a bus to Kennacraig from Glasgow, which takes 3 hours 30 minutes. Visit Citylink for more details on tickets and pricing.

By car

Kennacraig is roughly 100 miles from Glasgow, and the drive takes you past Loch Lomond, and down the coast of Loch Fyne.

Helpful tips for driving on Islay and Jura

Island routes

Ferry to Bute

You can break up the journey to Kennacraig by catching the ferry to Bute, then to Colintraive, and on to Tarbert, and drive south. You'll get three ferries, and a particularly scenic route:

Wemyss Bay to Rothesay - 35 minute journey
Rhubodach to Colintraive - 5 minute journey
Portavadie to Tarbert - 25 minute journey

Ferry to Arran

If you don't like the idea of the long drive round the mainland, split the journey up with a ferry to Arran, then drive north to get the ferry from Lochranza to Cloanaig, and drive on to Kennacraig. These are the ferries to get: