How to travel from Carlisle to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between Carlisle and Kirkwall is around 513km (319 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 50m.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Carlisle to Kirkwall by train, plane, car, ferry and bus. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Kirkwall → Carlisle if you're planning a return trip.
Train to Glasgow Central, Fly
Take the train to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration2h 50m
- Flight time1h 15m
- Typical cost£380($450)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train to Haymarket, ferry
Take the train to Haymarket and then to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration9h 45m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£100($115)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Edinburgh Bus Station and then to Union Square Bus Station then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration12h 55m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£60($71)
Multiple operators
Car and Ferry
Drive to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration9h 55m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£81($95)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Carlisle and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Carlisle to Kirkwall by train, plane, car, ferry and bus. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £60 ($71) and will take around 12h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £380 ($450).
The distance between Carlisle and Kirkwall is around 513km (319 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 454km (282 miles)
It takes around 2h 60m to get from Carlisle and Kirkwall by train and plane.
The quickest way to get from Carlisle to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx £380 ($450).
The cheapest way to travel between Carlisle and Kirkwall is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £60 ($71) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Carlisle and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 50m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Carlisle and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 50m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Carlisle to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 60m.
The closest major airport to Kirkwall is Kirkwall Airport (KOI) (KOI) which is approximately 4km (3 miles) from Kirkwall. Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) and Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) (ABZ) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Carlisle to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 60m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Carlisle to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 2h 60m and will usually cost around £325 ($385).
Compare travel optionsbetween Carlisle and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Glasgow Central, Fly + 2 similar | 2h 50m | £380($450) | hourly | 540km (335 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 2h 60m | £325($385) | every 3 hours | 513km (319 miles) |
| Train to Newcastle, plane | 4hrs | £510($600) | every 20 mins | 673km (418 miles) |
Train to Haymarket, ferry + 2 similar | 9h 45m | £100($115) | 4 times a week | 633km (393 miles) |
| Train and Ferry | 10h 20m | £64($76) | once a week | 637km (396 miles) |
| Train to Haymarket, ferry | 10h 30m | £140($165) | 6 times a week | 769km (478 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 12h 55m | £60($71) | 4 times a week | 615km (382 miles) |
Car and Ferry + 1 similar | 9h 55m | £81($95) | 4 times a week | 609km (378 miles) |
| Bus, Car and Ferry | 11h 50m | £63($74) | 4 times a week | 817km (508 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Carlisle and Kirkwall
Train operators
LNER
First ScotRail Service
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Bus companies
Borders Buses
Scottish Citylink
The Durness Bus
Airlines
Loganair
Airports near Kirkwall
The following major airports near Kirkwall offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
- Distance
- 4km (3 miles) from Kirkwall
Inverness Airport (INV)
- Distance
- 173km (107 miles) from Kirkwall
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ)
- Distance
- 203km (126 miles) from Kirkwall