How to travel from Holyhead to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between Holyhead and Kirkwall is around 849km (528 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 45m.
6 routes found
We've found 6 different ways to get from Holyhead to Kirkwall by train, ferry, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Kirkwall → Holyhead if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Chester and then to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration5h 45m
- Flight time2h 20m
- Typical cost£370($435)
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 Chester then Haymarket and then to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration13h 40m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£200($235)
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 Bangor Bus Station C, Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St then Glasgow and then to Aberdeen Coach Station then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration20h 10m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£68($81)
Multiple operators
Car and Ferry
Drive to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration13h 30m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£145($170)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Holyhead and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Holyhead to Kirkwall by train, ferry, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £68 ($81) and will take around 20h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £370 ($435).
The distance between Holyhead and Kirkwall is around 849km (528 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 639km (397 miles)
It takes around 13h 40m to get from Holyhead and Kirkwall by train and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Holyhead to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 45m and will set you back approx £370 ($435).
The cheapest way to travel between Holyhead and Kirkwall is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £68 ($81) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Holyhead and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 5h 45m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Holyhead and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 5h 45m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Holyhead to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Chester and then to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 5h 45m.
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 Holyhead to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Chester then Haymarket and then to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall. instead which will take 13h 40m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Holyhead to Kirkwall is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 13h 40m and will usually cost around £200 ($235).
Compare travel optionsbetween Holyhead and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 1 similar | 5h 45m | £370($435) | hourly | 849km (528 miles) |
| Train to Crewe, plane | 5h 45m | £425($500) | every 4 hours | 1,002km (623 miles) |
Train and Ferry + 1 similar | 13h 40m | £200($235) | 4 times a week | 984km (612 miles) |
| Train to Newton-le-Willows, ferry | 15h 30m | £150($180) | 4 times a week | 1,108km (688 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 20h 10m | £68($81) | 4 times a week | 1,087km (676 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 13h 30m | £145($170) | 4 times a week | 967km (601 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Holyhead and Kirkwall
Train operators
Transport for Wales
First ScotRail Service
LNER
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Bus companies
Arriva Cymru
Scottish Citylink
Airlines
Loganair
Aer Lingus
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