How to travel from Swansea to Barnstaple, United Kingdom

The distance between Swansea and Barnstaple is around 262km (163 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 50m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Swansea to Barnstaple by 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 BarnstapleSwansea if you're planning a return trip.

1
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Bristol Parkway then Exeter St Davids and then to Barnstaple.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £95($110)

1 similiar route

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

2
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Bristol and then to Barnstaple Bus Station.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £23($27)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Barnstaple.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Distance262km (163 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swansea and Barnstaple

There are several options for getting from Swansea to Barnstaple by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($16) and will take around 5h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £46 ($54).

The distance between Swansea and Barnstaple is around 262km (163 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 60km (38 miles)

It takes around 3h 45m to get from Swansea and Barnstaple by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Swansea to Barnstaple is to drive which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx £46 ($54).

The cheapest way to travel between Swansea and Barnstaple, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($16) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Swansea and Barnstaple. It typically takes around 3h 45m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Swansea to Barnstaple. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bristol Parkway and Exeter St Davids. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 3h 45m.

Great Western Railway, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales run train services between Swansea and Barnstaple. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 3h 45m, 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 Swansea and Barnstaple. It typically takes around 5hrs and departs 5 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Swansea to Barnstaple. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bristol. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 5hrs.

FlixBus, Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Swansea and Barnstaple. Buses run 5 times a week and take around 5hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Swansea to Barnstaple. We recommend that you take the train to Bristol Parkway then Exeter St Davids and then to Barnstaple. instead which will take 3h 45m.

The closest major airport to Barnstaple is Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) which is approximately 60km (37 miles) from Barnstaple. Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) and Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) (NQY) 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 Swansea and Barnstaple. The distance is around 262km (163 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swansea to Barnstaple is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 45m and will usually cost around £95 ($110).

How do I get from Swansea to Barnstaple

Compare travel optionsbetween Swansea and Barnstaple

Transport options from Swansea to Barnstaple
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
3h 45m
£95($110)
every 2 hours319km (198 miles)
Train via Cardiff Central4h 25m
£89($105)
every 4 hours319km (198 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
5hrs
£23($27)
5 times a week300km (187 miles)
Bus via Bristol Bus & Coach Station5h 30m
£14($16)
once daily303km (188 miles)
Drive
2h 50m
£46($54)
on demand262km (163 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Swansea and Barnstaple

Train operators

Airports near Barnstaple

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

EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
60km (37 miles) from Barnstaple
CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Barnstaple
NQY
Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
97km (60 miles) from Barnstaple