How to travel from Barnstaple to Loch Ness, United Kingdom

The distance between Barnstaple and Loch Ness is around 933km (580 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5hrs.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Barnstaple to Loch Ness by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Exeter St Davids and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Inverness (INV).

  • Duration5hrs
  • Flight time1h 30m
  • Typical cost
    £235($275)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
2
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Bristol Bond St, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd then Edinburgh Princes Street and then to Inverness.

  • Duration13h 50m
  • Departstwice a week
  • Typical cost
    £72($85)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Loch Ness.

  • Duration10h 30m
  • Distance994km (618 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Barnstaple and Loch Ness

There are several options for getting from Barnstaple to Loch Ness by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £72 ($85) and will take around 13h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 5hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £235 ($275).

The distance between Barnstaple and Loch Ness is around 933km (580 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 689km (428 miles)

It takes around 5hrs to get from Barnstaple and Loch Ness by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 10h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Barnstaple to Loch Ness is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5hrs and will set you back approx £235 ($275).

The cheapest way to travel between Barnstaple and Loch Ness, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £72 ($85) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Barnstaple and Loch Ness. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Inverness (INV). instead which will take 5hrs.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Barnstaple and Loch Ness. It typically takes around 13h 50m and departs twice a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Barnstaple to Loch Ness. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bristol Bond St, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd, Edinburgh Princes Street and Inverness. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 13h 50m.

Megabus UK, East Coast Buses and Scottish Citylink run regular bus services between Barnstaple and Loch Ness. Buses run twice a week and take around 13h 50m 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 Loch Ness. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Inverness (INV). instead which will take 5hrs.

The closest major airport to Loch Ness is Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) which is approximately 39km (24 miles) from Loch Ness. Dundee Airport (DND) (DND) and Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) (ABZ) 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 Loch Ness. The distance is around 994km (618 miles) by road and it will take around 10h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Barnstaple to Loch Ness is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 5hrs and will usually cost around £235 ($275).

How do I get from Barnstaple to Loch Ness

Compare travel optionsbetween Barnstaple and Loch Ness

Transport options from Barnstaple to Loch Ness
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 4 similar
5hrs
£235($275)
every 4 hours933km (580 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane6h 50m
£345($410)
every 4 hours1,037km (644 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane7h 40m
£330($390)
5 times a week991km (616 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane8h 10m
£190($220)
every 4 hours1,040km (646 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane8h 15m
£205($245)
5 times a day1,042km (647 miles)
Bus
13h 50m
£72($85)
twice a week1,115km (693 miles)
Drive
10h 30m
£170($205)
on demand994km (618 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Barnstaple and Loch Ness

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Loch Ness

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

INV
Inverness Airport (INV)
International Airport
Distance
39km (24 miles) from Loch Ness
DND
Dundee Airport (DND)
Domestic Airport
Distance
128km (79 miles) from Loch Ness
ABZ
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ)
International Airport
Distance
137km (85 miles) from Loch Ness