Picturesque Dunrobin Castle Station on the Far North Line, Scotland

A restored station building at Helmsdale, on the Far North line, Scotland

Train travelling along the Far North Line, Scotland

Explore north from Inverness, following the North Sea coast passing distilleries, salmon rivers and golf courses to Thurso and the fishing port of Wick.

Discover wild and remote Scotland as you take the train to the far north. You’ll see the peat bog stretching for miles, wonder at the vast expanse of the Flow Country, one of the RSPB’s prize peat habitats and cross some of the finest salmon fishing rivers in Scotland.

Highlights

See impressive castles from the window, Skibo Castle and Carbisdale Castle

Take the short bus to the most northerly inhabited point on the mainland, John O'Groats

Venture even further north and take the ferry to Orkney

Find out more

Local line website

Getting there

Train/bus Car Plane

Car parking is available at Inverness station (IV2 3PY).

There are rail connections to each of Scotland's seven cities. The rail network links many of towns and villages across the country with main lines running north and south through the east and west. For more information visit: www.scotrail.co.uk.

Four main operators, First, Stagecoach, Lothian Buses and National Express, and a number of independent operators, run local bus services in Scotland between the main cities, towns and villages.

Route

Inverness - Wick/Thurso

Cost

£35.00 Off-Peak Return

Opening times

7 days a week | all year

Journey time

4hrs 30

Distance

110 miles | 177 km

Time from London

8:15 hours (see itinerary)

Plan your trip

Suggested itinerary

Take the train from Edinburgh Waverly to Inverness. Trains are frequent are take approximately 3 hours 45 minutes. Look up times.

The line coasts along the southern bank of the Beauly Firth on the way to Muir of Ord and Dingwall, where the main line splits to the north and west.

The Far North Line takes the right fork, north into Ross and Cromarty, bound for Sutherland and Caithness beyond.

As the train sweeps up the shore of the Cromarty Firth you’ll see Foulis Castle and the town of Invergordon, which has an intriguing series of murals commissioned by the local communities – from the lifeboats to the Anglers’ association.

This stretch of the coast has plenty of whisky distilleries: you’ll pass Teaninich, Dalmore and Whyte & Mackay’s Invergordon site, as well as Glenmorangie in Tain, and Balblair.

The line swings inland, but returns to the coast for a stop at Dunrobin Castle station, just a short distance from the impressive castle itself.

You’ll travel onwards past Helmsdale to Altnabreac – where things really begin to feel remote. From there it’s not far to Georgemas Junction where the train heads north first to Thurso, and then returns east to Wick.

Whether you choose to stop at Thurso, the most northerly station in the British Isles, or explore the old herring port of Wick, this is an adventure right to the very northern edges of the mainland.

Find out more about Scotland’s Great Scenic Rail Journeys on the Scotrail website.