Inverness to Thurso & Wick by rail

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Dingwall has been an important place in the Highlands, ever since the arrival of the Vikings in Scotland in 800 AD. It has an ideal position at the head of the Cromarty Firth which has seen it prosper from the North Sea oil boom.

Dingwall is a quaint market borough, thanks to its attractive High Street lined with red-sandstone buildings and excellent cafés and shops.

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Invergordon in Sutherland is a former naval base and stopping point for cruise passengers coming into the Highlands.

The town has become an outdoor art gallery thanks to a local collective called Invergordon off the wall. On the side of several buildings you'll find large bright murals illustrating the social and industrial heritage of Dingwall.

Take a short bus journey west or the train to visit Dalmore Distillery, which has produced a single malt whisky since 1839.

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Tain is a scenic and historic town, renowned for its 18-hole links golf course designed by Tom Morris. The town has amazing 19th century architecture including the Tain Tolbooth, Royal Hotel and St Duthac's Church. It's also home to Glenmorangie Distillery.

Explore further across the Dornoch Firth - don't miss the 13th century cathedral and Royal Dornoch Championship Golf Course.

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The west entrance of the delightful Carbisdale Woods sits just outside Culrain, and has lovely views of the Kyle of Sutherland, as well as the Dornoch Firth.

Take the leisurely footpath into the Kyle of Sutherland via a footbridge to Invershin, where there are bus services available to and from Lairg, Bonar Bridge, Ardgay and Tain.

A little further west of Culrain is a hamlet called Hilton. From there you can walk or cycle via forest tracks to Ardgay and into the delightful Strathcarron.

Time to explore

3 hours

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Rogart sits beside Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve and Balblair Wood.

A haven for all kinds of indigenous species from deer to pine martens, take the circular walk hugging the shoreline, inhaling the fragrant Scots pine-scented air while gazing at distant mountain views.

Many more shy creatures can also be found in the enchanted Balblair Wood among shady glades, and clearings carpeted with wildflowers and berries. It also offers a playground for mountain bikers with two waymarked cycle paths filled with plenty of twists and turns.

Time to explore

3 hours

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The magnificent Dunrobin Castle is the largest house in the Highlands. Crowned with a myriad of fairytale towers and turrets, Dunrobin is unique for resembling a vast French château rather than the baronial stronghold typical of the Highlands. It has a whopping 189 rooms, making it one of the biggest homes in the country.

Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, and was home to the Earls and, later, the Dukes of Sutherland. 

The 3rd Duke was the country's wealthiest aristocrat and a confirmed train fanatic. He personally financed the extension of the Far North Line as far west as Lairg, the heart of what was then Sutherland's profitable sheep-farming industry.

Its lavishly furnished interior, sprawling formal gardens, and grounds which stretch as far as the sea, are nothing short of breathtaking.

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Helmsdale is an old herring port with white-washed housing clustered against the hills. It's one of the most picturesque stops on the rail line.

Dating from the 1800s it was built to accommodate inland settlers forcibly evicted from their homes during the Highland Clearances. The Emigrants Statue looking out to sea is a poignant memorial to this part of Scottish history. Find out more at the Timespan Museum and Arts Centre. It also houses exhibitions by local and visiting artists.

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Stop off at the remote Forsinard to visit RSPB Forsinard Flows in summer when this protected boggy peatland comes alive with breeding golden plovers, hen harriers and greenshank, buzzing insects and flourishing plantlife.

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Thurso is the most northerly town in mainland Scotland. Perched on the north coast of Caithness, its view extends to the cliffs of Dunnet Head, the Isle of Hoy, and at least one Orcadian isle on a clear day.

Thurso is usually thought of as a gateway to other places but there is plenty to explore. Caithness Horizons is a sleek, modern museum and cultural centre inside what was originally Thurso Town Hall and the Carnegie Library. The magnificent Pictish stones on display are worth the entrance fee alone.

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Wick is a bustling harbour town with a busy fishing industry. It even boasts its own airport!

Wick's ornate, sturdy buildings recall a medley of influences and time periods. Immerse yourself fully in the history at the Wick Heritage Centre in Pultneytown - its sister town located south across the river. It's also home to the Old Pulteney Distillery.