How to travel from York to Kirkwall, United Kingdom
The distance between York and Kirkwall is around 589km (366 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.
10 routes found
We've found 10 different ways to get from York to Kirkwall by train, plane, taxi, ferry, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Kirkwall → York if you're planning a return trip.
Train to Darlington, Fly
Take the train to Darlington then fly from Durham (MME) to Kirkwall (KOI).
- Duration2h 40m
- Flight time1h 50m
- Typical cost£530($625)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train to Edinburgh, ferry
Take the train to Edinburgh and then to Aberdeen then take a ferry to Kirkwall.
- Duration11hrs
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£90($110)
Multiple operators
4 similiar routes
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.
- Duration11h 50m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical cost£110($130)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between York and Kirkwall
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from York to Kirkwall by train, plane, taxi, ferry, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train, then take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around £56 ($66) and will take around 13h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £530 ($625).
The distance between York and Kirkwall is around 589km (366 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 570km (354 miles)
It takes around 4h 20m to get from York and Kirkwall by train and plane.
The quickest way to get from York to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £530 ($625).
The cheapest way to travel between York and Kirkwall is to take the train, then take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around £56 ($66) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between York and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Darlington then fly from Durham (MME) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 40m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between York and Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Darlington then fly from Durham (MME) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 2h 40m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from York to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 4h 20m.
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 York to Kirkwall. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Kirkwall (KOI). instead which will take 4h 20m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from York to Kirkwall is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 4h 20m and will usually cost around £320 ($380).
Compare travel optionsbetween York and Kirkwall
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Darlington, Fly + 3 similar | 2h 40m | £530($625) | every 20 mins | 589km (366 miles) |
| Taxi and Plane | 3h 25m | £635($750) | hourly | 702km (437 miles) |
| Train to Edinburgh, Fly | 4h 10m | £350($410) | hourly | 680km (423 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 4h 20m | £320($380) | hourly | 762km (473 miles) |
Train to Edinburgh, ferry + 4 similar | 11hrs | £90($110) | 4 times a week | 801km (498 miles) |
| Train and Ferry | 11h 35m | £75($89) | 4 times a week | 801km (498 miles) |
| Train to Inverness, ferry | 12h 30m | £170($200) | once daily | 980km (609 miles) |
| Train to Wakefield Westgate, ferry | 12h 55m | £225($265) | 4 times a week | 914km (568 miles) |
| Train, Bus and Ferry | 13h 55m | £56($66) | 4 times a week | 784km (487 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 11h 50m | £110($130) | 4 times a week | 765km (475 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between York and Kirkwall
Airlines
Loganair
Aer Lingus
Eastern Airways
Bus companies
Train operators
LNER
Grand Central
Ferry operators
NorthLink Ferries
Pentland Ferries
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