How to travel from Holyhead to Oban, United Kingdom

The distance between Holyhead and Oban is around 568km (353 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 7hrs.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Holyhead to Oban by train, bus, car, ferry and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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bus
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Train, Plane and Bus

Take the train to Chester then fly from Liverpool (LPL) to Glasgow (GLA) then take the bus to Oban Station Road.

  • Duration7hrs
  • Flight time1h 40m
  • Typical cost
    £210($245)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Chester then Glasgow Central and then to Oban.

  • Duration8h 20m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £165($195)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Bangor Bus Station C, Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St then Glasgow and then to Oban Station Road.

  • Duration13h 50m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £43($51)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Oban.

  • Duration7h 10m
  • Distance663km (412 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Holyhead and Oban

There are several options for getting from Holyhead to Oban by train, bus, car, ferry and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £43 ($51) and will take around 13h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 7hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £210 ($245).

The distance between Holyhead and Oban is around 568km (353 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 349km (217 miles)

It takes around 8h 20m to get from Holyhead and Oban by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 7h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Holyhead to Oban is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 7hrs and will set you back approx £210 ($245).

The cheapest way to travel between Holyhead and Oban, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £43 ($51) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Holyhead and Oban. It typically takes around 8h 20m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct train services that runs from Holyhead to Oban. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Chester, Warrington Bank Quay, Glasgow Central and Dalmuir. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 8h 20m.

Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast and First ScotRail Service run train services between Holyhead and Oban. Trains depart 4 times a day and will take around 8h 20m, 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 Holyhead and Oban. It typically takes around 13h 50m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Holyhead to Oban. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bangor Bus Station C, Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St and Glasgow. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 13h 50m.

Arriva Cymru, National Express and Scottish Citylink run regular bus services between Holyhead and Oban. Buses run once daily and take around 13h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Holyhead to Oban. We recommend that you take a ferry to Dublin then fly from Dublin (DUB) to Glasgow (GLA) then take the bus to Oban Station Road. instead which will take 7h 30m.

The closest major airport to Oban is Tiree Airport (TRE) (TRE) which is approximately 86km (54 miles) from Oban. Glasgow Airport (GLA) (GLA) 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 Holyhead and Oban. The distance is around 663km (412 miles) by road and it will take around 7h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Holyhead to Oban is to take the train which takes, on average, 8h 20m and will usually cost around £165 ($195).

How do I get from Holyhead to Oban

Compare travel optionsbetween Holyhead and Oban

Transport options from Holyhead to Oban
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train, Plane and Bus + 2 similar
7hrs
£210($245)
once daily728km (452 miles)
Ferry, Plane and Bus7h 30m
£170($205)
once daily568km (353 miles)
Train to Crewe, plane and bus7h 30m
£140($165)
once daily828km (515 miles)
Train
8h 20m
£165($195)
4 times a day665km (413 miles)
Bus
13h 50m
£43($51)
once daily744km (462 miles)
Drive
7h 10m
£115($135)
on demand663km (412 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Holyhead and Oban

Train operators

Ferry operators

Bus companies

Airports near Oban

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

TRE
Tiree Airport (TRE)
Domestic Airport
Distance
86km (54 miles) from Oban
GLA
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
International Airport
Distance
89km (55 miles) from Oban
EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
141km (87 miles) from Oban