Far North line - any good?

[Greenback]

I agree that the Kyle line is better for scenery, but for me, the Far North line has much to recommend it.

I travelled on a 156 in 1992 when I visited Thurso. I found it a pelasant place to spend a few hours, and thoroughly enjoyed the views of the forests and then the barren landscape after Helmsdale gave a great sense of the isolation fo the area.

In 2006 I returned, this time visitng Wick in a 158. This was in March, and it was a wonderful experience to travel through a snow filled landscape. In fact there were quite a few flurries along the way. The scenery seemed even bleaker with the snow, reinforcing the feeling of being an intrepid explorer in a land not seen by many!

 

[LE Greys]

I've done the route twice, both times going northwards (back on the Orkney ferry once and a flight to Glasgow the second time. Two pieces of advice. Look for Deer in the river to your right on the way up from Helmsdale. Plenty of lush grass on the riverbank, and they love it. Also think about getting off at Georgmas Junction. Each round trip puts in two visits to Thurso, so that people going from one to the other don't spend ages waiting around at the junction, that's four calls at Georgmas Junction. You can get off, get any pictures you want of the unit, stretch your legs, then get back on, go to Wick and do Thurso on the way back.

 

[37 418]

As a local to the area, here's a rough description:

Inverness - Dingwall: Nice views over the Beauly Firth
Dingwall-Tain: Mainly farmland
Tain-Rogart-Mound: Scenery gets more rugged, but nice coastal views over the Dornoch Firth, and of course the Carbisdale viaduct, then more rugged scenery as you head towards the coast again.
Mound-Helmsdale: Arguably the best part of the line, stunning coastal views.
Helmsdale-Altnabreac: Nice mountainous scenery up Strath of Kildonan
Altnabreac - Georgemas Jct: Mainly barren moorland, attractive in its own way.
Georgemas Jct - Wick: Mainly farmland.

I would say Thurso is a nicer town than Wick.

 

[junglejames]

I had actually already said that earlier on! I quote:

Yes, we seem to have both mentioned the word Barren. Can you imagine that. Absolutely shocking.

 

[VideozVideoz]

Yes, we seem to have both mentioned the word Barren. Can you imagine that. Absolutely shocking.

Well, could be a good idea to read other peoples' posts first...

 

[Greenback]

I would say Thurso is a nicer town than Wick.

So would I. Although I was worried that my view of Wick may have been coloured by below zero temperatures and a blizzard that arrived while I was there. As a result the town was pretty deserted!

 

[spionkop64]

And there's the Rogart railway carriage, where you can stay for around £20 a night. There used to be a discount for those arriving by rail. Though warning, if you don't like a one horse town without the horse, don't get off at Rogart!

 

[Pyreneenguy]

Only just saw this thread !

I did the trip last Friday and Saturday. Out from Kyle of Lochalsh, with a couple of hours break in Dingwall between trains. If in Dingwall, be sure to visit the bar in the National Hotel and if the bar-man is Peter, he'll surely warm the cockles of your heart

I got into Thurso at 21.40, a taxi was waiting to take me to my B & B http://www.pentlandlodgehouse.co.uk/. Thuso was pleasant enough, but I only had enough time to find something to eat ( chinese takeaway) and take some stunning photos of the sunset towards Dunnet Head. The true most northely point and NOT John O'groats ! To be honest, it never really got completely dark !

I didn't do the branch to Wick; this was a deliberate decision so I'll have to return someday

I got the 8.41 train back to Inverness the following day. The trip was never boring, the bleakness of the landscape north of Helmsdale is quite attractive,especially as it was seen , both in evening and morning light. The cherry on the cake, was a couple of seals lying on an isolated stretch of beach, south of Helmsdale.

I was told by the crew that they always take a five minute break at Goldspie on the trip up to Wick 'for a smoke' I'm really chuffed that I've done it !

 

[Far north 37]

If you get the right day you can see the Hartlepool to georgmas pipe train unloading on the far north line

 

[junglejames]

Well, could be a good idea to read other peoples' posts first...

???????????????????????
Sorry, are 2 people not allowed to say the same word?
A question was asked about which line people would rather do, and i answered the question, and gave reasons why. Just so happened we used the same reason.
Oops, ive used the word 'A', which you also did. Please forgive me.

 

[curly42]

Great line to do,but a lot more fun when you could travel on a decent train,like this -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curly42/5359282807

 

[StrollerEd]

'while you are in the area', I would recommend that you use that time to go off-track and arrange to go to Orkney - its a great place to enjoy big skies, good produce/food, stunning archeology, amazing scenery and wildlife and a lot more besides ...

 

[PaulLothian]

I feel Wick has more to occupy you if you are stopping there for long - the Wick Heritage Museum and the Pultney Distillery are both, according to friends, an interesting way to spend time. (Neither was open was I was last there.)

 

[chefchenko]

So out of curiosity if you only had time to do one of either the Kyle line or the Far North line which would you be better going for?

kyle without a doubt !!! the last part between duirnish and kyle is fantastic especially in the early evening when the sun is setting over the cuillins !! but that would mean an overnighter in kyle.

 

[37 418]

Only just saw this thread !

I did the trip last Friday and Saturday. Out from Kyle of Lochalsh, with a couple of hours break in Dingwall between trains. If in Dingwall, be sure to visit the bar in the National Hotel and if the bar-man is Peter, he'll surely warm the cockles of your heart

Me and my mate showed Peter this post last nite - he was well chuffed!

 

[Pyreneenguy]

Me and my mate showed Peter this post last nite - he was well chuffed!

Thanks for mentionning it !

 

[route101]

Last October i did Glasgow to Thurso and back to Glasgow in a Day ! It was the £18 flat fare promo . Very bleak up there and Thurso aint too bad ! Never done the line to Wick !

 

[37 418]

Thanks for mentionning it !

You are very welcome!

 

[NightatLaira]

Please, it's Shetland or the Shetland Islands, not the Shetlands!

And even if you are at John O'Groats it's a LONG way to Shetland!

Would that also be the case with 'Orkney' rather than 'Orkneys/Orknies'?

And what about Hebrides? I've definitely seen 'Hebrides' written in official circles. And these are all islands groups or archilpelgoes which have individual island names..

 

[EltonRoad]

I thought the Hebrides were island groups (archipelagos), divided into Inner and Outer. The Inner Hebrides includes Skye, Eigg and Rùm and the Outer Hebrides includes Harris and Lewis.

Just checked - good articles on Wikipedia.

 

[Pumbaa]

Just returned from a few days in the Higlands. Did both Kyle and Far North. Thought Kyle was very pretty and pleasant, but the Far North was stunning and knocked the pants off Kyle. Long and arduous at times, but from Helmsdale north it is really spectacular. Rugged moorland and lowland mountains, sharp gradients, the 158 struggling and bawling its valves off to get up the climb to Altnabreac, settling in the for long run at 70 over the moors, loved it. Friendly crews, very knowledgable and trains are 50/50, coach groups tend to get on at Thurso and travel down to Golspie.

Only gripe was no catering trolley on the 0706 off Inverness, 4 and half hours with no coffee, almost killed me!

Thanks all for your advice earlier, I will want to return later to do the line in winter, I can imagine it being superb in wintery weather.