How to travel from Swanage to Oban, United Kingdom

The distance between Swanage and Oban is around 804km (500 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 40m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Swanage to Oban by train, 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 ObanSwanage if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
+
plane
+
train
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Edinburgh (EDI) then take the train to Oban.

  • Duration7h 20m
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    £265($310)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 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 London Waterloo then Glasgow Central and then to Oban.

  • Duration10h 20m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £300($355)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Cardiff University, Abington then Buchanan Bus Station and then to Oban Station Road.

  • Duration11h 15m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    £74($87)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Oban.

  • Duration9h 40m
  • Distance864km (537 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swanage and Oban

There are several options for getting from Swanage to Oban by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £48 ($57) and will take around 17h 5m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 5h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £245 ($285).

The distance between Swanage and Oban is around 804km (500 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 686km (426 miles)

It takes around 10h 20m to get from Swanage and Oban by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Swanage to Oban is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 40m and will set you back approx £245 ($285).

The cheapest way to travel between Swanage and Oban, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £48 ($57) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Swanage and Oban. It typically takes around 10h 20m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct train services that runs from Swanage to Oban. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bournemouth, London Waterloo, Euston station, Glasgow Central and Dalmuir. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 10h 20m.

South Western Railway, Avanti West Coast and First ScotRail Service run train services between Swanage and Oban. Trains depart 4 times a day and will take around 10h 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 Swanage and Oban. It typically takes around 11h 15m and departs once a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Swanage to Oban. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Poole Bus Station, Cardiff University, Abington and Buchanan Bus Station. These services run once a week and will take a minimum of 11h 15m.

Megabus UK, Stagecoach West Scotland, Scottish Citylink and National Express run regular bus services between Swanage and Oban. Buses run once a week and take around 11h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Swanage to Oban. We recommend that you take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Glasgow (GLA) then take the bus to Oban Station Road. instead which will take 5h 40m.

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 Swanage and Oban. The distance is around 864km (537 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swanage to Oban is to take the train which takes, on average, 10h 20m and will usually cost around £300 ($355).

How do I get from Swanage to Oban

Compare travel optionsbetween Swanage and Oban

Transport options from Swanage to Oban
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 4 similar
7h 20m
£265($310)
once a week881km (547 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus5h 40m
£245($285)
once daily804km (500 miles)
Train to Woking, plane and bus7h 15m
£255($305)
once daily885km (550 miles)
Train to Southampton Central, plane and bus7h 25m
£140($165)
once daily861km (535 miles)
Train to Clapham Junction, plane and bus7h 40m
£175($210)
once daily968km (602 miles)
Train
10h 20m
£300($355)
4 times a day1,010km (628 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
11h 15m
£74($87)
once a week1,008km (626 miles)
Bus via Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth17h 5m
£48($57)
once daily979km (608 miles)
Drive
9h 40m
£150($175)
on demand864km (537 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Swanage and Oban

Airlines

Train 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