How to travel from Exeter to Inverness, United Kingdom

The distance between Exeter and Inverness is around 840km (522 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 15m.

12 routes found

We've found 12 different ways to get from Exeter to Inverness by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out InvernessExeter if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Inverness (INV).

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Flight time1h 30m
  • Typical cost
    £140($165)
Operated by

Multiple operators

6 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
4 x train
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Train via Birmingham New Street

Take the train to Birmingham New Street, Preston then Haymarket and then to Inverness.

  • Duration9h 55m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £260($310)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
3
4 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bristol City Centre, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd then Edinburgh Princes Street and then to Inverness.

  • Duration12h 5m
  • Departstwice a week
  • Typical cost
    £63($74)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Inverness.

  • Duration9h 55m
  • Distance950km (591 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Exeter and Inverness

There are several options for getting from Exeter to Inverness by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £63 ($74) and will take around 12h 5m. 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 £140 ($165).

The distance between Exeter and Inverness is around 840km (522 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 752km (467 miles)

It takes around 3h 15m to get from Exeter and Inverness by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Exeter to Inverness is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx £140 ($165).

The cheapest way to travel between Exeter and Inverness, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £63 ($74) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Exeter and Inverness. It typically takes around 11h 15m and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct train services that runs from Exeter to Inverness. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Edinburgh. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 11h 15m.

CrossCountry, First ScotRail Service, LNER, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express Service, Great Western Railway, Transport for Wales and Caledonian Sleeper run train services between Exeter and Inverness. Trains depart 5 times a day and will take around 11h 15m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Exeter and Inverness. It typically takes around 12h 5m and departs twice a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Exeter to Inverness. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bristol City Centre, Dunbar Asda Spott Rd and Edinburgh Princes Street. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 12h 5m.

FlixBus, Megabus UK, East Coast Buses and Scottish Citylink run regular bus services between Exeter and Inverness. Buses run twice a week and take around 12h 5m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Exeter to Inverness. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Inverness (INV). instead which will take 3h 15m.

The closest major airport to Inverness is Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) which is approximately 12km (7 miles) from Inverness. Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) (ABZ) and Dundee Airport (DND) (DND) 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 Exeter and Inverness. The distance is around 950km (591 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Exeter to Inverness is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 3h 15m and will usually cost around £140 ($165).

How do I get from Exeter to Inverness

Compare travel optionsbetween Exeter and Inverness

Transport options from Exeter to Inverness
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 6 similar
3h 15m
£140($165)
every 2 hours840km (522 miles)
Train to Birmingham New Street, Fly4h 40m
£260($310)
every 2 hours880km (547 miles)
Train to Bristol Temple Meads, plane5hrs
£355($420)
every 3 hours944km (587 miles)
Plane and Train5h 45m
£285($335)
5 times a day896km (557 miles)
Fly to Glasgow (GLA), train5h 45m
£290($345)
every 3 hours887km (551 miles)
Train to Bristol Temple Meads, plane6h 25m
£170($205)
every 3 hours947km (588 miles)
Train to Bristol Temple Meads, plane6h 30m
£195($230)
5 times a day949km (590 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street + 2 similar
9h 55m
£260($310)
5 times a day1,031km (641 miles)
Train11h 15m
£285($335)
5 times a day1,114km (692 miles)
Train via Cardiff Central14hrs
£175($210)
6 times a week1,092km (679 miles)
Bus
12h 5m
£63($74)
twice a week1,050km (652 miles)
Drive
9h 55m
£110($130)
on demand950km (591 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Exeter and Inverness

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Inverness

The following major airports near Inverness offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

INV
Inverness Airport (INV)
International Airport
Distance
12km (7 miles) from Inverness
ABZ
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ)
International Airport
Distance
125km (78 miles) from Inverness
DND
Dundee Airport (DND)
Domestic Airport
Distance
136km (84 miles) from Inverness