How to travel from Penzance to Thurso, United Kingdom

The distance between Penzance and Thurso is around 1,174km (729 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 7h 25m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Penzance to Thurso by plane, 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 ThursoPenzance if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
train
+
plane
+

Train to Plymouth, plane

Take the train to Plymouth and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Wick (WIC).

  • Duration7h 25m
  • Flight time2h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £480($565)
Operated by

Multiple operators

5 similiar routes

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

2
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Edinburgh then Inverness and then to Thurso.

  • Duration18h 15m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £365($430)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Thurso.

  • Duration14hrs
  • Distance1,302km (809 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Penzance and Thurso

There are several options for getting from Penzance to Thurso by plane, train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £255 ($300) and will take around 20h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 7h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £480 ($565).

The distance between Penzance and Thurso is around 1,174km (729 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 951km (591 miles)

It takes around 8h 20m to get from Penzance and Thurso by plane and train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 14hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Penzance to Thurso is to take the train and then fly which takes around 7h 25m and will set you back approx £480 ($565).

The cheapest way to travel between Penzance and Thurso, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £255 ($300) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Penzance and Thurso. It typically takes around 18h 15m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Penzance to Thurso. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Edinburgh and Inverness. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 18h 15m.

CrossCountry, First ScotRail Service, LNER, Great Western Railway, Transport for Wales and Caledonian Sleeper run train services between Penzance and Thurso. Trains depart 4 times a week and will take around 18h 15m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Penzance and Thurso. We recommend that you take the train to Plymouth and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Wick (WIC). instead which will take 7h 25m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Penzance to Thurso. We recommend that you fly from Newquay (NQY) to Inverness (INV) then take the train to Thurso. instead which will take 8h 20m.

The closest major airport to Thurso is Kirkwall Airport (KOI) (KOI) which is approximately 54km (34 miles) from Thurso. Inverness Airport (INV) (INV) and Stornoway Airport (SYY) (SYY) 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 Penzance and Thurso. The distance is around 1,302km (809 miles) by road and it will take around 14hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Penzance to Thurso is to fly and then take the train which takes, on average, 8h 20m and will usually cost around £420 ($495).

How do I get from Penzance to Thurso

Compare travel optionsbetween Penzance and Thurso

Transport options from Penzance to Thurso
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to Plymouth, plane + 5 similar
7h 25m
£480($565)
every 3 hours1,179km (732 miles)
Plane and Train8h 20m
£420($495)
twice daily1,174km (729 miles)
Train and Plane10hrs
£305($360)
5 times a day1,290km (802 miles)
Fly to Aberdeen (ABZ), train10h 10m
£330($390)
twice daily1,359km (844 miles)
Train to Plymouth, plane11h 50m
£420($495)
5 times a day1,394km (866 miles)
Train, Bus and Plane12h 30m
£390($460)
5 times a week1,333km (828 miles)
Train + 1 similar
18h 15m
£365($430)
4 times a week1,561km (970 miles)
Train via Cardiff Central20h 40m
£255($300)
once daily1,542km (958 miles)
Drive
14hrs
£225($265)
on demand1,302km (809 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Penzance and Thurso

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Thurso

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

KOI
Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
Domestic Airport
Distance
54km (34 miles) from Thurso
INV
Inverness Airport (INV)
International Airport
Distance
122km (76 miles) from Thurso
SYY
Stornoway Airport (SYY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
169km (105 miles) from Thurso