How to travel from Dundee to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between Dundee and Kirkwall is around 330km (205 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Dundee to Kirkwall by car, ferry, train, bus and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Kirkwall → Dundee if you're planning a return trip.
Train to Aberdeen, Fly
Take the train to Aberdeen then fly from Aberdeen (ABZ) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration2h 40m
- Flight time55min
- Typical cost£225($265)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration7h 25m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£42($50)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Inverness and then to Scrabster Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal.
- Duration7h 30m
- Departs6 times a week
- Typical cost£60($71)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Car and Ferry
Drive to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration7h 10m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£42($50)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Dundee and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Dundee to Kirkwall by car, ferry, train, bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £38 ($45) and will take around 8h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £225 ($265).
The distance between Dundee and Kirkwall is around 330km (205 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 280km (174 miles)
It takes around 7h 10m to get from Dundee and Kirkwall by car and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Dundee to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £225 ($265).
The cheapest way to travel between Dundee and Kirkwall is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £38 ($45) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Dundee and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Aberdeen then fly from Aberdeen (ABZ) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 40m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Dundee and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Aberdeen then fly from Aberdeen (ABZ) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 40m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Dundee to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Edinburgh Gateway then fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 55m.
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 Dundee to Kirkwall. We recommend that you drive to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall. instead which will take 7h 10m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Dundee to Kirkwall is to drive and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 7h 10m and will usually cost around £42 ($50).
Compare travel optionsbetween Dundee and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Aberdeen, Fly + 3 similar | 2h 40m | £225($265) | hourly | 330km (205 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 2h 55m | £325($385) | hourly | 430km (267 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 3h 15m | £190($225) | twice daily | 400km (249 miles) |
| Train to Glasgow Queen Street, Fly | 3h 30m | £360($425) | hourly | 511km (317 miles) |
Train and Ferry + 1 similar | 7h 25m | £42($50) | 4 times a week | 381km (237 miles) |
| Train to Inverness, ferry | 9hrs | £145($170) | every 20 mins | 576km (358 miles) |
Bus and Ferry + 1 similar | 7h 30m | £60($71) | 6 times a week | 478km (297 miles) |
| Bus to Union Square Bus Station, Ferry | 8h 50m | £38($45) | 4 times a week | 378km (235 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 7h 10m | £42($50) | 4 times a week | 373km (232 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Dundee and Kirkwall
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
LNER
Airlines
Loganair
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Pentland Ferries
Bus companies
Stagecoach East Scotland
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