How to travel from Barnstaple to Carlisle, United Kingdom

The distance between Barnstaple and Carlisle is around 586km (364 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 35m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Barnstaple to Carlisle by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out CarlisleBarnstaple if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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plane
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Train to Exeter St Davids, plane

Take the train to Exeter St Davids then fly from Exeter (EXT) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    £320($380)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Exeter St Davids then Birmingham New Street and then to Carlisle.

  • Duration6h 20m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £175($205)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
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bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Brunel Street and then to Carlisle.

  • Duration9h 55m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £30($36)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

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car
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Drive

Drive to Carlisle.

  • Duration6hrs
  • Distance586km (364 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Barnstaple and Carlisle

There are several options for getting from Barnstaple to Carlisle by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £30 ($36) and will take around 9h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £320 ($380).

The distance between Barnstaple and Carlisle is around 586km (364 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 431km (268 miles)

It takes around 6h 20m to get from Barnstaple and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Barnstaple to Carlisle is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 35m and will set you back approx £320 ($380).

The cheapest way to travel between Barnstaple and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £30 ($36) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Barnstaple and Carlisle. It typically takes around 6h 20m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Barnstaple to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Exeter St Davids and Birmingham New Street. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 6h 20m.

Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Barnstaple and Carlisle. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 6h 20m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Barnstaple and Carlisle. It typically takes around 9h 55m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Barnstaple to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Brunel Street, New St Station and Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 9h 55m.

Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Barnstaple and Carlisle. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 9h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Barnstaple to Carlisle. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Carlisle. instead which will take 5h 10m.

The closest major airport to Carlisle is Newcastle International Airport (NCL) (NCL) which is approximately 80km (50 miles) from Carlisle. Teesside International Airport (MME) (MME) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Barnstaple and Carlisle. The distance is around 586km (364 miles) by road and it will take around 6hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Barnstaple to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 6h 20m and will usually cost around £175 ($205).

How do I get from Barnstaple to Carlisle

Compare travel optionsbetween Barnstaple and Carlisle

Transport options from Barnstaple to Carlisle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane + 4 similar
4h 35m
£320($380)
5 times a week824km (512 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane4h 45m
£210($245)
5 times a week676km (420 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane5hrs
£185($215)
every 2 hours883km (549 miles)
Train and Plane5h 10m
£200($235)
every 2 hours875km (544 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane5h 15m
£180($210)
once daily717km (446 miles)
Train + 1 similar
6h 20m
£175($205)
every 2 hours637km (396 miles)
Train via Exeter St Davids8h 50m
£170($200)
every 3 hours711km (442 miles)
Bus
9h 55m
£30($36)
6 times a week624km (388 miles)
Drive
6hrs
£100($120)
on demand586km (364 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Barnstaple and Carlisle

Train operators

Airports near Carlisle

The following major airports near Carlisle offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

NCL
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
International Airport
Distance
80km (50 miles) from Carlisle
MME
Teesside International Airport (MME)
Domestic Airport
Distance
105km (66 miles) from Carlisle
EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
120km (75 miles) from Carlisle