How to travel from Dumfries to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between Dumfries and Kirkwall is around 492km (306 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 15m.
7 routes found
We've found 7 different ways to get from Dumfries 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 → Dumfries if you're planning a return trip.
Train to Haymarket, Fly
Take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration3h 15m
- Flight time1h 15m
- Typical cost£330($390)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Haymarket and then to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration9h 60m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£72($85)
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 Buchanan Bus Station then Inverness and then to Scrabster Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal.
- Duration11h 35m
- Departs6 times a week
- Typical cost£72($85)
Multiple operators
Car and Ferry
Drive to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration9h 35m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£78($90)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Dumfries and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Dumfries to Kirkwall by train, plane, car, ferry and bus. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take a ferry which costs around £72 ($85) and will take around 9h 60m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £330 ($390).
The distance between Dumfries and Kirkwall is around 492km (306 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 437km (271 miles)
It takes around 3h 25m to get from Dumfries and Kirkwall by train and plane.
The quickest way to get from Dumfries to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx £330 ($390).
The cheapest way to travel between Dumfries and Kirkwall is to take the train and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £72 ($85) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Dumfries and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 3h 15m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Dumfries and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Haymarket then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 3h 15m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Dumfries to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 3h 25m.
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 Dumfries to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Glasgow Central then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 3h 25m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Dumfries to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 3h 25m and will usually cost around £360 ($425).
Compare travel optionsbetween Dumfries and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Haymarket, Fly + 1 similar | 3h 15m | £330($390) | every 3 hours | 492km (306 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 3h 25m | £360($425) | every 4 hours | 509km (316 miles) |
Train and Ferry + 2 similar | 9h 60m | £72($85) | 4 times a week | 612km (380 miles) |
| Train to Carlisle, ferry | 11h 40m | £205($245) | every 20 mins | 866km (538 miles) |
| Train, Bus and Ferry | 11h 55m | £90($105) | once a week | 713km (443 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 11h 35m | £72($85) | 6 times a week | 682km (424 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 9h 35m | £78($90) | 4 times a week | 577km (359 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Dumfries and Kirkwall
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
LNER
Caledonian Sleeper
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Pentland Ferries
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
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