How to travel from Edinburgh to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between Edinburgh and Kirkwall is around 354km (220 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 1h 55m.
8 routes found
We've found 8 different ways to get from Edinburgh to Kirkwall by plane, train, 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 → Edinburgh if you're planning a return trip.
Fly
Fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration1h 55m
- Flight time1h 15m
- Typical cost£310($370)
Loganair
2 similiar routes
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.
- Duration9h 30m
- Departs6 times a week
- Typical cost£61($72)
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 Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration8h 40m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£58($69)
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.
- Duration8h 20m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£57($68)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Edinburgh and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Edinburgh to Kirkwall by plane, train, car, ferry and bus. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £52 ($61) and will take around 11h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 1h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £310 ($370).
The distance between Edinburgh and Kirkwall is around 354km (220 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 337km (210 miles)
It takes around 1h 55m to get from Edinburgh and Kirkwall by plane.
The quickest way to get from Edinburgh to Kirkwall is to fly which takes around 1h 55m and will set you back approx £310 ($370).
The cheapest way to travel between Edinburgh and Kirkwall is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £52 ($61) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Edinburgh and Kirkwall. We recommend that you fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 1h 55m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Edinburgh and Kirkwall. We recommend that you fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 1h 55m.
Flights and Airlines
Yes you can fly from Edinburgh and Kirkwall. Flights depart from Edinburgh (EDI) and arrive at Kirkwall (KOI). The flight takes around 1h 15m.
Yes there is a direct flight between Edinburgh and Kirkwall with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 15m.
Loganair fly between Edinburgh and Kirkwall. Flights depart from Edinburgh (EDI) and and arrive into Kirkwall (KOI). These flights usually take around 1h 15m.
The flight from Edinburgh to Kirkwall typically takes around 1h 15m. Flights depart from Edinburgh (EDI) and and arrive into Kirkwall (KOI).
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 Edinburgh to Kirkwall. We recommend that you fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 1h 55m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Edinburgh to Kirkwall is to fly which takes, on average, 1h 55m and will usually cost around £310 ($370).
Compare travel optionsbetween Edinburgh and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly + 2 similar | 1h 55m | £310($370) | hourly | 354km (220 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 2h 40m | £350($415) | hourly | 453km (282 miles) |
| Train to Aberdeen, Fly | 3h 50m | £240($285) | every 2 hours | 424km (263 miles) |
Bus and Ferry + 1 similar | 9h 30m | £61($72) | 6 times a week | 526km (327 miles) |
| Bus to Dundee City Centre, Bus Station, ferry | 11h 40m | £52($61) | 4 times a week | 486km (302 miles) |
Train and Ferry + 1 similar | 8h 40m | £58($69) | 4 times a week | 475km (295 miles) |
| Train to Inverness, ferry | 10hrs | £155($185) | every 20 mins | 654km (407 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 8h 20m | £57($68) | 4 times a week | 461km (287 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Edinburgh and Kirkwall
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
LNER
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Pentland Ferries
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
Stagecoach East Scotland
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