How to travel from Fort William to Carlisle, United Kingdom

The distance between Fort William and Carlisle is around 319km (198 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 3h 45m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Fort William to Carlisle by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

💰 Cheapest
1
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Buchanan Bus Station and then to Carlisle.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £29($34)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

2
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Dalmuir and then to Carlisle.

  • Duration5h 10m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £69($82)
Operated by

First ScotRail Service

1 similiar route

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

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Carlisle.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Distance323km (201 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Fort William and Carlisle

There are several options for getting from Fort William to Carlisle by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £29 ($34) and will take around 5hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 3h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £56 ($66).

The distance between Fort William and Carlisle is around 319km (198 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 253km (157 miles)

It takes around 5h 10m to get from Fort William and Carlisle by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Fort William to Carlisle is to drive which takes around 3h 45m and will set you back approx £56 ($66).

The cheapest way to travel between Fort William and Carlisle, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £29 ($34) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Fort William and Carlisle. It typically takes around 5h 10m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Fort William to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Dalmuir and Glasgow Central Low Level. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 5h 10m.

First ScotRail Service, Caledonian Sleeper, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express Service and LNER run train services between Fort William and Carlisle. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 5h 10m, 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 Fort William and Carlisle. It typically takes around 5hrs and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Fort William to Carlisle. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Buchanan Bus Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 5hrs.

Scottish Citylink and National Express run regular bus services between Fort William and Carlisle. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 5hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Fort William to Carlisle. We recommend that you take the train to Dalmuir and then to Carlisle. instead which will take 5h 10m.

The closest major airport to Carlisle is Newcastle International Airport (NCL) (NCL) which is approximately 80km (50 miles) from Carlisle. Teesside International Airport (MME) (MME) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) 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 Fort William and Carlisle. The distance is around 323km (201 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Fort William to Carlisle is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 10m and will usually cost around £69 ($82).

How do I get from Fort William to Carlisle

Compare travel optionsbetween Fort William and Carlisle

Transport options from Fort William to Carlisle
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
5hrs
£29($34)
every 20 mins319km (198 miles)
Train + 1 similar
5h 10m
£69($82)
every 20 mins349km (217 miles)
Train via Edinburgh6h 35m
£82($95)
6 times a week418km (260 miles)
Drive
3h 45m
£56($66)
on demand323km (201 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Fort William and Carlisle

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Carlisle

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

NCL
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
International Airport
Distance
80km (50 miles) from Carlisle
MME
Teesside International Airport (MME)
Domestic Airport
Distance
105km (66 miles) from Carlisle
EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
120km (75 miles) from Carlisle