- Recommended
Barnstaple Museum
Local museum on the square covering North Devon history, archaeology and everyday life in an accessible town-centre setting.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£16
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£16
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
2 h 12 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
2 h 12 m
Trains on 18 Sept
1
Distance
79 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Plymouth to Barnstaple is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Plymouth to Barnstaple will cost around £16 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £16.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 1 trains from Plymouth to Barnstaple, including 1 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 79 km distance in an average of 2 h 12 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 12 m .
The slowest trains will take 2 h 12 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.


Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Plymouth to Barnstaple among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £11 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 37m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £11, while a coach costs an average of £35.
Distance: 79 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£11 Average Price Cheapest | £35 Average Price | £16 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 37m Average total duration Fastest 2h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 10m Average total duration 4h 40m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 55m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Plymouth to Barnstaple:
A train is £24 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Plymouth to Barnstaple costing on average £35.
Other travel options to Barnstaple take longer:
Coach takes on average 4h 40m.
Tickets start at around £11 compared to roughly £16 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £5. The journey takes 2h 7m versus 1h 55m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Plymouth to Barnstaple trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 11:15 Plymouth | 2h12 | 13:27 Barnstaple | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Plymouth to Barnstaple run on average 7 times per day, taking around 2h 7m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £6 if you book in advance.
The earliest train runs at 04:00, the last at 21:41. The fastest train covers the 79 km distance in 2h 11m.
Distance 79 km |
Average train duration 2h 7m |
Cheapest ticket price £6 |
Trains per day 7 |
Fastest train 2h 11m |
First train 4:00 |
Last train 21:41 |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 6 days |
Discover the best of Barnstaple — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Barnstaple trip today.
Local museum on the square covering North Devon history, archaeology and everyday life in an accessible town-centre setting.
Contemporary art gallery inside The Burton, showing changing exhibitions and craft-focused displays in a central modern venue.
Family-focused heritage attraction with model railways, transport displays and interactive exhibits linked to local engineering history.
Long traffic-free walking and cycling route on a former railway line, linking Barnstaple with estuary scenery and nearby villages.
Riverside park with gardens, play areas and open lawns, popular for relaxed walks beside the River Taw near the town centre.
Historic shopping street with period buildings, independent shops and a strong sense of Barnstaple’s traditional market-town character.
A rich Devon cream tea of scones, clotted cream and jam. In Devon tradition, cream goes on before jam, making it a local point of pride.
Small sweet buns flavoured with dried fruit, lemon and spice. Traditionally eaten in Devon around festivals and with tea.
A lightly curried rice dish with fish, often smoked haddock, plus eggs and butter. Popular across Devon as a hearty seaside supper.
Popular Turkish restaurant known for grilled meats, meze and warm service. Lively yet comfortable for casual dinners in town.
Established town-centre bistro serving British and European dishes in a relaxed, polished setting. Good for lunch or an easy evening meal.
Long-running Italian restaurant with pizzas, pasta and classic mains. Friendly, dependable and suited to families and groups.
Moderate for the UK. Rooms and dining cost less than in major tourist cities, while local buses and casual meals are fairly affordable for most visitors.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common if service is not included. Taxi fares are often rounded up. Cafés do not require tips, but small change is appreciated.
Official public transport app
Barnstaple railway station -> Barnstaple Bus Station
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Plymouth to Barnstaple by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Barnstaple, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Plymouth to Barnstaple trains use the Plymouth to Barnstaple station pair. Use this guide to compare Plymouth and Barnstaple train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Plymouth has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Bike Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Plymouth.
Wi-Fi is available at Plymouth. ATMs are available at Plymouth.
Ticket office support is available at Plymouth.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Plymouth: Parking, WC.
Available at Plymouth: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Plymouth: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Step Free Category A Station - This station has step free access to all platforms via lifts and the station subway. Safety warning - Please be aware that this station has no tactile paving on the platform edge. Please take extra care when using this station, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible public telephones: Station pay phones are not accessible, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available. Please request staff assistance, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accessible ticket machines are located at the station entrance by the ticket office, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
St Budeaux Ferry Road is 4 km from Plymouth city centre. Public transport options include:
St Budeaux Ferry Road has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Lost and Found Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at St Budeaux Ferry Road.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at St Budeaux Ferry Road: Parking.
Available at St Budeaux Ferry Road: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at St Budeaux Ferry Road: Staff help available: No, Step free access note: Step Free Category B2 - This station has a degree of step free access, however both platforms can only be accessed via steep ramps with limited handrails for support. Safety warning - Please be aware that this station has no tactile paving on the platform edge. Please take extra care when using this station, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Barnstaple has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Bike Rental.
Food options include: Station Masters Cafe
Ticket office support is available at Barnstaple.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Barnstaple: Parking, WC.
Available at Barnstaple: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Barnstaple: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Step free Category A station - step free access available to the platform. Safety warning - Please be aware that this station has no tactile paving on the platform edge. Please take extra care when using this station, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible public telephones: Public telephones are not accessible, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need