There are 6 ways to get from Edinburgh to Mainland by plane, train, ferry, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Edinburgh Airport
best- Fly from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI)plane EDI - KOI
2h 42m£170–410Bus, ferry via Aberdeen
cheapest- Take the bus from Edinburgh, Bus Station to Union Square Bus Stationbus Uk092 / ...
- Take the ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminalferry Nl2
11h£34–63Train, ferry via Aberdeen
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeentrain Edinburgh - Aberdeen
- Take the ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminalferry Nl2
10h 9m£58–138Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from George Street to Inverness Union Streetbus
- Take the bus from Inverness Union Street to Scrabster Terminal Buildingbus
- Take the ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
11h 9m£43–61Train, ferry
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Invernesstrain
- Take the train from Inverness to Wicktrain
- Take the ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminalferry Nl1
13h 19m£143–300Train to Glasgow Airport, fly
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Fly from Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Kirkwall (KOI)plane GLA - KOI
3h 33m£192–441
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Mainland is to bus and ferry via Aberdeen which costs £30 - £65 and takes 11h.
The fastest way to get from Edinburgh to Mainland is to fly which takes 2h 42m and costs £170 - £410.
The distance between Edinburgh and Mainland is 217 miles.
The best way to get from Edinburgh to Mainland without a car is to train and ferry via Aberdeen which takes 10h 9m and costs £55 - £140.
It takes approximately 2h 42m to get from Edinburgh to Mainland, including transfers.
There are 232+ hotels available in Mainland.
What companies run services between Edinburgh, Scotland and Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland?
Loganair flies from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI) twice daily.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Edinburgh Airport to Kirkwall
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £160–400
Flights from Glasgow Airport to Kirkwall
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £210–400
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- £50–100
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 43m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £75–150
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Inverness to Wick
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £70–130
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- ScotRail
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 510 4007
- ride@ember.to
- Website
- Ember
Bus from George Street to Inverness Union Street
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 11m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–23
- Website
- Ember
Bus from Inverness Union Street to Scrabster Terminal Building
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £14–20
- Website
- Ember
- Phone
- +44 845 600 0449
- info@northlinkferries.co.uk
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
Ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £20–36
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £20–25
- Peak
- £31–36
Ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
Ferry from Scrabster Ferry Terminal to Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
Ferry from Aberdeen Ferry Terminal to Kirkwall Orkney Hatston Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £20–36
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £20–25
- Peak
- £31–36
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