How to travel from Swanage to Thurso, United Kingdom
The distance between Swanage and Thurso is around 1,124km (698 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 9hrs.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Swanage to Thurso by bus, car, train and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Thurso → Swanage if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Reading and then to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Inverness (INV) then take the train to Thurso.
- Duration9hrs
- Flight time1h 45m
- Typical cost£280($330)
Multiple operators
6 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus
Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23, Glasgow, Inverness Bus Station Stance 3 then Leirinmore Smoo Cave and then to Thurso Royal Bank of Scotland.
- Duration19h 40m
- Departsonce a week
- Typical cost£61($72)
Multiple bus operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swanage and Thurso
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Swanage to Thurso by bus, car, train and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £61 ($72) and will take around 19h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 9hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £280 ($330).
The distance between Swanage and Thurso is around 1,124km (698 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 894km (555 miles)
It takes around 19h 40m to get from Swanage and Thurso by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 12h 45m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Swanage to Thurso is to take the train and then fly which takes around 9hrs and will set you back approx £280 ($330).
The cheapest way to travel between Swanage and Thurso, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £61 ($72) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Swanage and Thurso. We recommend that you take the train to Reading and then to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Inverness (INV) then take the train to Thurso. instead which will take 9hrs.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Swanage and Thurso. It typically takes around 19h 40m and departs once a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Swanage to Thurso. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bournemouth Station, Heathrow Airport London T23, Glasgow, Inverness Bus Station Stance 3 and Leirinmore Smoo Cave. These services run once a week and will take a minimum of 19h 40m.
National Express, Megabus UK, Scottish Citylink and The Durness Bus run regular bus services between Swanage and Thurso. Buses run once a week and take around 19h 40m 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 Thurso. We recommend that you take the train to Reading and then to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Inverness (INV) then take the train to Thurso. instead which will take 9hrs.
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 Swanage and Thurso. The distance is around 1,124km (698 miles) by road and it will take around 12h 45m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swanage to Thurso is to take the bus which takes, on average, 19h 40m and will usually cost around £61 ($72).
Compare travel optionsbetween Swanage and Thurso
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 6 similar | 9hrs | £280($330) | every 20 mins | 1,198km (744 miles) |
| Train to Southampton Central, plane | 9h 25m | £250($295) | every 20 mins | 1,169km (726 miles) |
| Train to Clapham Junction, plane | 9h 30m | £215($255) | every 20 mins | 1,255km (780 miles) |
| Train to London Waterloo, plane | 9h 35m | £225($270) | every 20 mins | 1,194km (742 miles) |
| Train to Reading, plane | 10h 40m | £340($405) | every 20 mins | 1,278km (794 miles) |
| Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane | 10h 55m | £295($350) | every 20 mins | 1,211km (752 miles) |
| Train to Southampton Central, plane | 11h 15m | £365($430) | every 20 mins | 1,273km (791 miles) |
Bus | 19h 40m | £61($72) | once a week | 1,427km (887 miles) |
Drive | 12h 45m | £195($230) | on demand | 1,124km (698 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Swanage and Thurso
Train operators
South Western Railway
LNER
First ScotRail Service
Bus companies
Scottish Citylink
The Durness Bus
Airlines
Loganair
Airports near Thurso
The following major airports near Thurso offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
- Distance
- 54km (34 miles) from Thurso
Inverness Airport (INV)
- Distance
- 122km (76 miles) from Thurso
Stornoway Airport (SYY)
- Distance
- 169km (105 miles) from Thurso