There are 6 ways to get from Edinburgh to Dounreay by train, bus, car, plane, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, bus
best- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Invernesstrain Edinburgh - Inverness
- Take the bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Sir George's Street Churchbus X99
9h 27m£56–139Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Edinburgh, Bus Station to Bus Station Stance 3bus Uk094
- Take the bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Sir George's Street Churchbus X99
9h 54m£28–61Train
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Invernesstrain Edinburgh - Inverness
- Take the train from Inverness to Wicktrain Inverness - Wick
11h 58m£124–276Drive 258.5 mi
- Drive from Edinburgh to Dounreaycar 258.5 mi
5h 37m£64–92Fly, ferry
- Fly from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI)plane EDI - KOI
- Take the ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminalferry
9h 21m£192–452Bus via George Street
- Take the bus from George Street to Inverness Union Streetbus Ember
- Take the bus from Inverness Union Street to Thurso Royal Bank of Scotlandbus Ember
9h 59m£32–44
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kirkwall (KOI) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Dounreay is to bus which costs £28 - £65 and takes 9h 54m.
The fastest way to get from Edinburgh to Dounreay is to drive which takes 5h 37m and costs £60 - £95.
No, there is no direct bus from Edinburgh station to Dounreay. However, there are services departing from Edinburgh, Bus Station and arriving at Site Road End via Bus Station Stance 3 and Sir George's Street Church. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 54m.
No, there is no direct train from Edinburgh to Dounreay. However, there are services departing from Edinburgh Waverley and arriving at Wick via Inverness. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 58m.
The distance between Edinburgh and Dounreay is 322 miles. The road distance is 260 miles.
The best way to get from Edinburgh to Dounreay without a car is to train and bus which takes 9h 27m and costs £55 - £140.
It takes approximately 9h 27m to get from Edinburgh to Dounreay, including transfers.
Edinburgh to Dounreay bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Edinburgh, Bus Station.
Edinburgh to Dounreay train services, operated by ScotRail, depart from Edinburgh Waverley station.
The best way to get from Edinburgh to Dounreay is to train which takes 11h 58m and costs £120 - £280. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs £28 - £65 and takes 9h 54m.
What companies run services between Edinburgh, Scotland and Dounreay, Scotland?
You can take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Site Road End via Inverness, Wick, Wick Co-op, and Bank of Scotland in around 11h 58m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Edinburgh, Bus Station to Site Road End via Bus Station Stance 3 and Sir George's Street Church in around 9h 54m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Edinburgh Airport to Kirkwall
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £160–410
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 43m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £70–140
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 43m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £70–140
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Inverness to Wick
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £65–130
- Website
- ScotRail
- Phone
- 01224591381
- [email protected]
- Website
- Stagecoach North Scotland
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Sir George's Street Church
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £2
- Website
- Stagecoach North Scotland
Bus from Bus Station Stance 3 to Sir George's Street Church
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £2
- Website
- Stagecoach North Scotland
- Phone
- +44 845 600 0449
- [email protected]
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
Ferry from Stromness Orkney Ferry Terminal to Scrabster Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- NorthLink Ferries
- Low
- £13–17
- Peak
- £16–19
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More Questions & Answers
Edinburgh to Dounreay bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Bus Station Stance 3.
Edinburgh to Dounreay train services, operated by ScotRail, arrive at Inverness station.
Yes, the driving distance between Edinburgh to Dounreay is 260 miles. It takes approximately 5h 37m to drive from Edinburgh to Dounreay.
There are 118+ hotels available in Dounreay.






