Kennacraig - Port Ellen
Ferry to Islay
Kennacraig - Port Ellen
Ferry to Islay
See ferry fares and operators from all over the world in one spot, and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking early is usually the surest way to get a good price and plenty of choice.
Discounts are available with Direct Ferries all year round. If a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied for you automatically once the right age bracket is selected in the passenger options.
Students and recent graduates can claim a 5% saving. Register with our partner Student Beans to verify eligibility, then apply your discount code at checkout.
Resident discounts also apply to a number of Spanish and Italian routes — pick the "Residents" option during search and the fare adjusts automatically. Be ready to show proof of address, such as an ID card or residency certificate, at check-in.
Requirements for travel documents change from route to route, so check what's needed ahead of time. A valid passport is usually required for Kennacraig to Port Ellen travel, plus any visa or national ID relevant to your nationality. Since the rules depend on your citizenship and destination, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is the place to check for the latest guidance and avoid delays at check-in.
To book, just add your departure port, arrival port and preferred date, and you'll see every fare and sailing on offer. You can also compare alternative routes and times to find your best match.
Look out for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket options, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that let you make changes down the line. Entering accurate details — passenger count, vehicle specs and so on — keeps the process running smoothly.
As soon as your booking is confirmed, a confirmation email will land in your inbox. What happens next with your boarding pass depends on the operator you've booked.
Some operators issue boarding passes right away, while others need you to check in at the port itself. Where it's supported, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online in advance.
You'll usually find ticket desks close to the ferry terminal. Giving yourself a little extra time before departure means you can collect tickets and check in without any stress.
Bring your confirmation email and valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, to check in. Pet owners should have vaccination and insurance documents on hand, and anyone with a resident discount should carry proof of address.
There are a few reasons departures from Kennacraig to Port Ellen might not show for your chosen date — a schedule change, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal lull are the most likely. Try another date or check alternative routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Kennacraig to Port Ellen ferry well ahead of time generally works in your favour — you'll usually find better fares and a wider choice of departures and cabins.
A few weeks ahead is usually enough notice to catch the best offers, though fares can still fluctuate with the season and remaining space.
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Kennacraig is a hamlet and port on the Kintyre peninsula in Argyll, Scotland, providing frequent crossings to the Isle of Islay. The terminal building can be found just off the A83, so follow the road north if driving from Campbeltown. There is also a bus stop located outside the terminal. Inside the main terminal are toilet facilities, a large waiting room and a vending machine offering a range of refreshments. The local peninsula is so picturesque, Paul McCartney wrote his track ‘Mull of Kintyre’ as a tribute to its beauty, so be sure to spend some time exploring the countryside.
Port Ellen is a small town on the Isle of Islay’s southern coast, an island famed for producing world-renowned whiskeys in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. As the most popular gateway to the island, the ferry terminal provides frequent crossings to and from Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula. The terminal building can be found just off the southernmost point of the A846, the island’s primary road, whilst the nearest bus stop is situated on Charlotte Street around 250 metres from the port. Named after the founder’s wife, Port Ellen is the second largest town on Islay and offers lovely views over the Oa peninsula and Kilnaughton Bay. Also, keep an eye out for the famous square-shaped Carraig Fhada Lighthouse standing in the bay’s western entrance.
