How to travel from Oban to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between Oban and Kirkwall is around 380km (236 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 4h 10m.
8 routes found
We've found 8 different ways to get from Oban to Kirkwall by car, ferry, bus, train and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Kirkwall → Oban if you're planning a return trip.
Bus and Plane
Take the bus to Glasgow Airport Terminal Building then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration4h 10m
- Flight time1h 15m
- Typical cost£350($415)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Fort William Bus Station then Inverness Bus Station Stance 2 and then to Scrabster Ferry Terminal then take a ferry to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal.
- Duration9h 15m
- Departs6 times a week
- Typical cost£67($79)
Multiple operators
Train and Ferry
Take the train to Glasgow Queen Street then Inverness and then to Wick then take a ferry to St Margarets Hope Ferry Terminal.
- Duration12h 45m
- Departsevery 20 mins
- Typical cost£175($210)
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.
- Duration9h 25m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£73($86)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Oban and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Oban to Kirkwall by car, ferry, bus, train and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus, then take the train and then take a ferry which costs around £63 ($74) and will take around 10h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £350 ($415).
The distance between Oban and Kirkwall is around 380km (236 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 322km (200 miles)
It takes around 9h 25m to get from Oban and Kirkwall by car and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Oban to Kirkwall is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 4h 10m and will set you back approx £350 ($415).
The cheapest way to travel between Oban and Kirkwall is to take the bus, then take the train and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £63 ($74) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Oban and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the bus to Glasgow Airport Terminal Building then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 4h 10m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Oban and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the bus to Glasgow Airport Terminal Building then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 4h 10m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Oban to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the bus to Glasgow Airport Terminal Building then fly from Glasgow (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 4h 10m.
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 Oban to Kirkwall. We recommend that you drive to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall. instead which will take 9h 25m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Oban to Kirkwall is to drive and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 9h 25m and will usually cost around £73 ($86).
Compare travel optionsbetween Oban and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Plane + 3 similar | 4h 10m | £350($415) | once daily | 506km (314 miles) |
| Bus to Lochgilphead, Lochnell Street, plane | 5hrs | £390($460) | 5 times a day | 602km (374 miles) |
| Bus to Fort William, Bus Station, plane | 5h 5m | £200($235) | twice daily | 380km (236 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 5h 55m | £345($410) | once a week | 574km (357 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 9h 15m | £67($79) | 6 times a week | 457km (284 miles) |
Train and Ferry + 1 similar | 12h 45m | £175($210) | every 20 mins | 795km (494 miles) |
| Bus, Train and Ferry | 10h 30m | £63($74) | 4 times a week | 565km (351 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 9h 25m | £73($86) | 4 times a week | 548km (341 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Oban and Kirkwall
Bus companies
West Coast Motors
Scottish Citylink
Stagecoach Highlands
Fishers Tours of Dundee
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Pentland Ferries
Train operators
First ScotRail Service
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