How to get from Thurso to Kirkwall by bus and ferry?

From Thurso to Kirkwall by bus and ferry

To get from Thurso to Kirkwall in Scotland, you’ll need to take 2 bus lines and one ferry line: take the E6 bus from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso station to Ferry Terminal, Scrabster station. Next, you’ll have to switch to the NL1 ferry and finally take the X1 bus from Travel Centre, Stromness station to Glaitness School, Kirkwall station. The total trip duration for this route is approximately 2 hr 57 min. The bus and ferry schedule from Thurso may change. We recommend you check the updated bus and ferry schedule to Kirkwall on the Moovit app.

177min
Walk to bus station
Bus - E6E6
Ferry - NL1NL1
Bus - X1X1
Walk to Kirkwall
Leaves from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso

Step by Step

  • 1
    Walk to bus station
    Walk to bus station
    Bank Of Scotland, Thurso
    ID 6700713343
    680 m • 9 min
  • 2
    Bus - E6E6
    Wait for bus
    E6
    Inverness
  • 3
    Ride to bus station
    Ride to bus station
    Ferry Terminal, Scrabster
    ID 670086514
    5 min
  • 4
    Walk to ferry station
    Walk to ferry station
    Scrabster Ferry Terminal, Scrabster
    ID 9300SCR
    90 m • 2 min
  • 5
    Ferry - NL1NL1
    Wait for ferry
    NL1
    Stromness
  • 6
    Ride to ferry station
    Ride to ferry station
    Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal, Stromness
    ID 9300SNS
    90 min
  • 7
    Walk to bus station
    Walk to bus station
    Travel Centre, Stromness
    ID 6020710304
    160 m • 3 min
  • 8
    Bus - X1X1
    Wait for bus
    X1
    Kirkwall
  • 9
    Ride to bus station
    Ride to bus station
    Glaitness School, Kirkwall
    ID 6020710795
    29 min
  • 10
    Walk to Kirkwall
    Walk to
    Kirkwall
    100 m • 2 min
*Duration based on 8am traffic

Alternative route from Thurso to Kirkwall by bus and ferry via X99, NL1 and X1

To get from Thurso to Kirkwall in Scotland, you’ll need to take 2 bus lines and one ferry line: take the X99 bus from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso station to Ferry Terminal, Scrabster station. Next, you’ll have to switch to the NL1 ferry and finally take the X1 bus from Travel Centre, Stromness station to Glaitness School, Kirkwall station. The total trip duration for this route is approximately 4 hr 9 min. The bus and ferry schedule from Thurso may change. We recommend you check the updated bus and ferry schedule to Kirkwall on the Moovit app.

249min
Walk to bus station
Bus - X99X99
Ferry - NL1NL1
Bus - X1X1
Walk to Kirkwall
Leaves from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso

Step by Step

  • 1
    Walk to bus station
    Walk to bus station
    Bank Of Scotland, Thurso
    ID 6700713343
    680 m • 9 min
  • 2
    Bus - X99X99
    Wait for bus
    X99
    Scrabster
  • 3
    Ride to bus station
    Ride to bus station
    Ferry Terminal, Scrabster
    ID 670086514
    6 min
  • 4
    Walk to ferry station
    Walk to ferry station
    Scrabster Ferry Terminal, Scrabster
    ID 9300SCR
    90 m • 2 min
  • 5
    Ferry - NL1NL1
    Wait for ferry
    NL1
    Stromness
  • 6
    Ride to ferry station
    Ride to ferry station
    Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal, Stromness
    ID 9300SNS
    90 min
  • 7
    Walk to bus station
    Walk to bus station
    Travel Centre, Stromness
    ID 6020710304
    160 m • 3 min
  • 8
    Bus - X1X1
    Wait for bus
    X1
    Kirkwall
  • 9
    Ride to bus station
    Ride to bus station
    Glaitness School, Kirkwall
    ID 6020710795
    29 min
  • 10
    Walk to Kirkwall
    Walk to
    Kirkwall
    100 m • 2 min
*Duration based on 8am traffic
The Most Popular Urban Mobility App in Scotland.
All local mobility options in one app

Public transport directions from Thurso to Kirkwall

The distance between Thurso, Scotland and Kirkwall, Scotland is approximately 69.65 km, which can typically be travelled in 177 min. Moovit will show you the directions from Thurso to Kirkwall by bus and ferry, so no matter how you choose to travel in Scotland – you will always have plenty of easy options.

Bus And Ferry schedule from Thurso to Kirkwall

To check the bus and ferry schedule from Thurso to Kirkwall using the Moovit app, first download and open the app on your smartphone. Enter your starting point (Thurso) and destination (Kirkwall), then select the desired date and time of travel. Moovit will show all available bus and ferry routes, estimated travel times, and any required transfers. You can view detailed departure and arrival times for each bus and ferry, as well as real-time updates for delays or changes. Use this information to plan your trip and stay up to date with the latest bus and ferry schedules.

Related Routes

Alternative route from Thurso to Kirkwall by bus and ferry via X99, NL1 and X1

To get from Thurso to Kirkwall in Scotland, you’ll need to take 2 bus lines and one ferry line: take the X99 bus from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso station to Ferry Terminal, Scrabster station. Next, you’ll have to switch to the NL1 ferry and finally take the X1 bus from Travel Centre, Stromness station to Glaitness School, Kirkwall station. The total trip duration for this route is approximately 4 hr 9 min. The bus and ferry schedule from Thurso may change. We recommend you check the updated bus and ferry schedule to Kirkwall on the Moovit app.

249min
Walk to bus station
Bus - X99X99
Ferry - NL1NL1
Bus - X1X1
Walk to Kirkwall
Leaves from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso

Step by Step

  • 1
    Walk to bus station
    Walk to bus station
    Bank Of Scotland, Thurso
    ID 6700713343
    680 m • 9 min
  • 2
    Bus - X99X99
    Wait for bus
    X99
    Scrabster
  • 3
    Ride to bus station
    Ride to bus station
    Ferry Terminal, Scrabster
    ID 670086514
    6 min
  • 4
    Walk to ferry station
    Walk to ferry station
    Scrabster Ferry Terminal, Scrabster
    ID 9300SCR
    90 m • 2 min
  • 5
    Ferry - NL1NL1
    Wait for ferry
    NL1
    Stromness
  • 6
    Ride to ferry station
    Ride to ferry station
    Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal, Stromness
    ID 9300SNS
    90 min
  • 7
    Walk to bus station
    Walk to bus station
    Travel Centre, Stromness
    ID 6020710304
    160 m • 3 min
  • 8
    Bus - X1X1
    Wait for bus
    X1
    Kirkwall
  • 9
    Ride to bus station
    Ride to bus station
    Glaitness School, Kirkwall
    ID 6020710795
    29 min
  • 10
    Walk to Kirkwall
    Walk to
    Kirkwall
    100 m • 2 min
*Duration based on 8am traffic

Questions & Answers

  • What is the fastest way to get from Thurso to Kirkwall?

    The fastest way takes 177 minutes, using Bus line E6, Ferry line NL1, Bus line X1.

  • What is the alternative route to get from Thurso to Kirkwall?

    The alternative route takes 249 minutes, using Bus line X99, Ferry line NL1, Bus line X1.

  • Is there a direct bus between Thurso and Kirkwall?

    No, you’ll have to take 2 bus lines and one ferry line in total. The total travelling time is 2 hr 57 min.

  • Which bus line goes from Thurso to Kirkwall?

    The E6 bus line goes from Bank Of Scotland, Thurso station near Thurso in Thurso to Inverness station. From there you’ll have to take one bus line and one ferry line till Inverness station near Kirkwall in Scotland.

  • How long does it take to travel from Thurso to Kirkwall by bus and ferry?

    The total travel time between Thurso in Thurso and Kirkwall in Scotland by bus and ferry is about 2 hr 57 min.

  • Where do I get on the bus near Thurso to get to Kirkwall?

    Get on the E6 bus from the Bank Of Scotland, Thurso stop near Thurso in Thurso.

  • Where do I get off the bus when travelling between Thurso and Kirkwall?

    Get off the bus at the Inverness stop, which is closest to Kirkwall in Scotland.

Popular Routes