How to travel from Chester to Thurso, United Kingdom
The distance between Chester and Thurso is around 695km (432 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 30m.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Chester to Thurso 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 Thurso → Chester if you're planning a return trip.
Train to Manchester Airport, Fly
Take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Wick (WIC).
- Duration4h 30m
- Flight time2hrs
- Typical cost£325($385)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train
Take the train to Haymarket then Inverness and then to Thurso.
- Duration10h 35m
- Departs5 times a day
- Typical cost£195($230)
Multiple train operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train to Haymarket, bus
Take the train to Haymarket and then to Inverness then take the bus to Leirinmore Smoo Cave and then to Thurso Royal Bank of Scotland.
- Duration11h 40m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£160($185)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Chester and Thurso
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Chester to Thurso by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £105 ($125) and will take around 13hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £325 ($385).
The distance between Chester and Thurso is around 695km (432 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 602km (374 miles)
It takes around 10h 35m to get from Chester and Thurso by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 55m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Chester to Thurso is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 30m and will set you back approx £325 ($385).
The cheapest way to travel between Chester and Thurso, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £105 ($125) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
Yes there is a train service that runs between Chester and Thurso. It typically takes around 10h 35m and departs 5 times a day.
There are no direct train services that runs from Chester to Thurso. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Warrington Bank Quay, Haymarket and Inverness. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 10h 35m.
Avanti West Coast, First ScotRail Service, LNER, Northern Rail, TransPennine Express Service and Caledonian Sleeper run train services between Chester and Thurso. Trains depart 5 times a day and will take around 10h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Chester and Thurso. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Wick (WIC). instead which will take 4h 30m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Chester to Thurso. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Inverness (INV) then take the train to Thurso. instead which will take 6h 60m.
The closest major airport to Thurso is Kirkwall Airport (KOI) (KOI) which is approximately 54km (34 miles) from Thurso. Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) and Stornoway Airport (SYY) (SYY) 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 Chester and Thurso. The distance is around 795km (494 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 55m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Chester to Thurso is to take the train which takes, on average, 10h 35m and will usually cost around £195 ($230).
Compare travel optionsbetween Chester and Thurso
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Manchester Airport, Fly + 3 similar | 4h 30m | £325($385) | every 3 hours | 695km (432 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 6h 60m | £205($240) | 5 times a day | 815km (507 miles) |
| Train to Birmingham International, plane | 7h 25m | £250($295) | 5 times a day | 974km (605 miles) |
| Train to Manchester Airport, plane | 8h 45m | £175($210) | 5 times a day | 911km (566 miles) |
Train + 1 similar | 10h 35m | £195($230) | 5 times a day | 913km (568 miles) |
| Train via Preston | 13hrs | £105($125) | once daily | 929km (577 miles) |
Train to Haymarket, bus + 1 similar | 11h 40m | £160($185) | once a week | 1,006km (625 miles) |
| Train and Bus | 12hrs | £130($155) | 5 times a day | 918km (571 miles) |
Drive | 8h 55m | £140($165) | on demand | 795km (494 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Chester and Thurso
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
LNER
Caledonian Sleeper
Airlines
Loganair
Eastern Airways
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
The Durness Bus
Airports near Thurso
The following major airports near Thurso offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
- Distance
- 54km (34 miles) from Thurso
Inverness Airport (INV)
- Distance
- 122km (76 miles) from Thurso
Stornoway Airport (SYY)
- Distance
- 169km (105 miles) from Thurso