There are 5 ways to get from Holyhead to Barnstaple by train, bus, car, ferry, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train via Stafford
best- Take the train from Holyhead to Staffordtrain
- Take the train from Stafford to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Take the train from Birmingham New Street to Exeter St Davidstrain
- Take the train from Exeter St Davids to Barnstapletrain
8h 20m£138–230Drive 289.3 mi
cheapest- Drive from Holyhead to Barnstaplecar 289.3 mi
6h 3m£72–103Bus
- Take the bus from Holyhead Port to Carmarthen stationbus 1
- Take the bus from Rose and Crown to Sophia Gardensbus 112 / ...
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Bus Stationbus Cp5
- Take the bus from Bus Station to Bus Stationbus 502 / ...
14h 35mFerry, fly, train
- Take the ferry from Holyhead Ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+Iferry
- Fly from Dublin Airport (DUB) to Bristol Airport (BRS)plane DUB - BRS
- Take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davidstrain
- Take the train from Exeter St Davids to Barnstapletrain
10h 44m£95–252Train
- Take the train from Holyhead to Cardiff Centraltrain
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davidstrain
- Take the train from Exeter St Davids to Barnstapletrain
10h 12m£139–244
Holyhead to Barnstaple by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Holyhead to Barnstaple is to drive which costs £70 - £110 and takes 6h 3m.
The fastest way to get from Holyhead to Barnstaple is to drive which takes 6h 3m and costs £70 - £110.
No, there is no direct bus from Holyhead to Barnstaple station. However, there are services departing from Holyhead Port and arriving at Bus Station via Rose and Crown, Sophia Gardens and Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 35m.
No, there is no direct train from Holyhead to Barnstaple. However, there are services departing from Holyhead and arriving at Barnstaple via Stafford, Birmingham New Street and Exeter St Davids. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 20m.
The distance between Holyhead and Barnstaple is 363 miles. The road distance is 291 miles.
The best way to get from Holyhead to Barnstaple without a car is to train via Stafford which takes 8h 20m and costs £130 - £230.
It takes approximately 8h 20m to get from Holyhead to Barnstaple, including transfers.
Holyhead to Barnstaple bus services, operated by TaithCymru, depart from Holyhead Port station.
Holyhead to Barnstaple train services, operated by Avanti West Coast, depart from Holyhead station.
The best way to get from Holyhead to Barnstaple is to train via Stafford which takes 8h 20m and costs £130 - £230. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 14h 35m.
What companies run services between Holyhead, Wales and Barnstaple, England?
You can take a train from Holyhead to Barnstaple via Stafford, Birmingham New Street, and Exeter St Davids in around 8h 20m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Holyhead Port to Bus Station via Carmarthen station, Rose and Crown, Sophia Gardens, and Bus Station in around 14h 35m.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Dublin Airport to Bristol Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £18–100
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Dublin Airport to Bristol Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–130
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Holyhead to Stafford
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 24m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £40–70
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Stafford to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–15
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Stafford to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–18
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Birmingham New Street to Exeter St Davids
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 38m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £70–110
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £30–50
- Website
- Cross Country
- Phone
- +44 333 311 0039
- contact.wmr@wmtrains.co.uk
- Website
- West Midlands Trains
Train from Stafford to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–22
- Website
- West Midlands Trains
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–30
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £30–60
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–30
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davids
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 32m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £45–90
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–30
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Holyhead to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 52m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £75–130
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- Website
- TaithCymru
Bus from Holyhead Port to Carmarthen station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- TaithCymru
- Phone
- +44 (0)3717 81 81 81
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Rose and Crown to Sophia Gardens
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £11–19
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Sophia Gardens to Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- £10–18
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Bus Station to Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £10–17
- Website
- National Express
- Phone
- +44 844 770 7070
- info.se@stenaline.com
- Website
- Stena Line
Ferry from Holyhead Ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+I
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £27–40
- Website
- Stena Line
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Holyhead to Barnstaple bus services, operated by TaithCymru, arrive at Carmarthen station.
Holyhead to Barnstaple train services, operated by Avanti West Coast, arrive at Stafford station.
Yes, the driving distance between Holyhead to Barnstaple is 291 miles. It takes approximately 6h 3m to drive from Holyhead to Barnstaple.
Book your Holyhead to Barnstaple train tickets online with Omio.
There are 2313+ hotels available in Barnstaple.





























