Far North line - any good?

[Pumbaa]

Can anybody recommend visiting Thurso/Wick from Inverness? I am in Inverness for two days already to do the line to Kyle of Localsh, and want to know if I should extend my visit by a day in order to do the Far North line. It's 8 hours on a 158, is it worth it?

For completeness sake, the plan is;

Day 1
Leuchars - Aberdeen - Inverness - Kyle - Inverness

(Day 2
Inverness - Wick - Inverness)

Day 2 (3)
Inverness - Edinburgh (on up Highland Chieftain) - Leuchars

Thanks for any thoughts/contributions in advance!

 

[flymo]

If the weather is good I think it is outstanding, If the weather is not so good then it can be a different experience. If you have never done it before I cannot recommend it highly enough. I say go for it.

 

[Aictos]

Yes, I would most certainly encourage you to go for it as you would only be kicking yourself later if you miss the chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

 

[Lee_Again]

If you can book in advance use the train one way and fly the other. Click Here for EasternAirlines website. The flights are from/to Aberdeen.

8 hours is a long time, even if the weather is nice!!

 

[Johnny Lewis]

It's spectacular scenery, but it's more tiring than you would think, sitting on a 158 for all that time.

However, if you're not likely to return to Inverness in the forseeable future, then I'd agree with earlier posts and say, yes, do it! You can always catch a bus to Dingwall, which cuts the journey time down a little bit, and the real scenery starts north of that point anyway.

 

[radamfi]

It's spectacular scenery, but it's more tiring than you would think, sitting on a 158 for all that time.

However, if you're not likely to return to Inverness in the forseeable future, then I'd agree with earlier posts and say, yes, do it! You can always catch a bus to Dingwall, which cuts the journey time down a little bit, and the real scenery starts north of that point anyway.

Even more tiring when I did it with a 156! (That was 15 years ago).

Another possibility is to go back from Wick to Inverness on the coach as it hugs the coastline and is quite scenic. You might also want to take the opportunity to go to John O'Groats while you are in the area.

 

[tbtc]

Leuchars - Aberdeen

A very under-rated line. Sit on the coast side for some lovely views

• Tay Bridge (doesn't matter which side you sit) - more water flows under this bridge each year than any other in the UK
• Coast from Dundee to Carnoustie/ Arbroath - beautiful views over to Fife
• Lunan Bay
• Montrose Basin (better on the "inland" side of the train, to be fair)
• Cliffs at Stonehaven/ Portlethen/ approach to Aberdeen - I'd put these on par with the cliffs north of Berwick, but fewer people use these, so fewer people nominate them

As for the Far North, its one to do, but its not a patch on Kyle/ West Highland. A lot of the attraction is the shear bleakness (nobody who's visited that corner of the UK will come away claiming "the country is full up"...), but there's not a huge amount of variety over a journey of four(?) hours.

 

[Pumbaa]

You might also want to take the opportunity to go to John O'Groats while you are in the area.
]

I think I will plan that in; I can get 6 hours between trains at Wick.

A very under-rated line. Sit on the coast side for some lovely views

• Tay Bridge (doesn't matter which side you sit) - more water flows under this bridge each year than any other in the UK
• Coast from Dundee to Carnoustie/ Arbroath - beautiful views over to Fife
• Lunan Bay
• Montrose Basin (better on the "inland" side of the train, to be fair)
• Cliffs at Stonehaven/ Portlethen/ approach to Aberdeen - I'd put these on par with the cliffs north of Berwick, but fewer people use these, so fewer people nominate them

As for the Far North, its one to do, but its not a patch on Kyle/ West Highland. A lot of the attraction is the shear bleakness (nobody who's visited that corner of the UK will come away claiming "the country is full up"...), but there's not a huge amount of variety over a journey of four(?) hours.

Cheers. I think I'll stick around for an extra night and do it then! Thanks all for the suggestions and advice. I've already done the WHL, but wanted to take some time out while I was up that way, it'll be unlikely I get to do it again in the next few years.

 

[tbtc]

Cheers. I think I'll stick around for an extra night and do it then! Thanks all for the suggestions and advice. I've already done the WHL, but wanted to take some time out while I was up that way, it'll be unlikely I get to do it again in the next few years.

That's a good reason for wanting to do it - since most people aren't in Inverness that often (certainly not with a lot of time on their hands), its an opportunity you kind of have to take when you get the chance I suppose.

Have a great trip

 

[VideozVideoz]

The coastal views are nice as you head north after Dingwall. The scenery becomes very barren the further north you go and (as mentioned earlier) there isn't a lot of variety. Kyle line is spectacular. They could do with putting more services on that line!

 

[ainsworth74]

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?

 

[sprinterguy]

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?

The Kyle line, in my humble opinion.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I've done both on two consecutive days (in November 1988) and the Kyle line was by far the best

 

[paul@skegby.org.]

Doing the very same journey next week myself.

I have decided to take the coach up to Thurso, and then take the train to Wick, and Wick to Inverness.

Planed it that way because the coach is 3hrs to Thurso (Train is 3hr45mins), the coach leaves 1hr before train. So all in all I get more time in Thurso, approx 1hr40mins, I also get a break in Wick of 1hr.

 

[VideozVideoz]

Theres nothing to write home about in Thurso (or Wick for that matter!)

 

[Pumbaa]

Have a great trip

I will! I'm stuck in St Andrews over summer on research for a stupid length of time, so decided it was the best opportunity I'll have in a while to do it. Just requires a lot of forward planning to write the days off as holiday.

I've explored a lot of the highlands on foot, I've pretty much walked the entire Kyle line at about 800m! It'll be interesting to see what its like from the train.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Can anybody recommend visiting Thurso/Wick from Inverness? I am in Inverness for two days already to do the line to Kyle of Localsh, and want to know if I should extend my visit by a day in order to do the Far North line. It's 8 hours on a 158, is it worth it?!

I hope that you did not mean to travel today. There have been numerous cases of line closures due to the storms this afternoon.

 

[tbtc]

I will! I'm stuck in St Andrews over summer on research for a stupid length of time

My home town. Thought little of the railway is left (a couple of car parks and the "Viaduct Walk")
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

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?

I'd say the Kyle line. There's not a lot to do in Kyle of Lochalsh, but then the same can be said of Mallaig/ Stranraer/ Thurso etc. To travel is better than to arrive

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Go for it. The Kyle line beats it IMHO - but do both while you can!

Most of it is largely wild windswept moors (I think) but there are some nice bits! Not much to do in Wick once you get there but there are suggestions above!

 

[Techniquest]

Definitely worth the effort doing it, especially if you have time to do John O Groats whilst up there. I didn't as I was on a railtour so didn't have time, but if I ever make it up there again I want to do the Shetlands too.

The Kyle line is nicer than the Far North, by some measure, but the Far North is one of those things you just have to do so you can say you've made the journey and gone to the most northerly point in the UK by rail.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[junglejames]

If I have to do one, having already done them both, Id go with the Far North Line i think.
The Dingwall and Skye has the better scenary, but overall (for some reason) I prefer the Far North run when taking everything into account. Its such a friendly and fun run to do, and there is something about the barren wilderness. Always good when youve got the dwell time in stations as well, so you can get off and stretch the legs.

Im also one of those strange people who doesnt mind Wick.
Unfortunately the cliff tops have been built on, so the nice walks overlooking the North Sea are no longer possible.
Take a walk up the river though. Quite a pleasant way to kill off a couple of hours on a nice day.
Admittedly there isnt much to do in Wick, but I do for some reason like it there. I always try and spend a couple of nights there when heading up that way.

 

[matchmaker]

Definitely worth the effort doing it, especially if you have time to do John O Groats whilst up there. I didn't as I was on a railtour so didn't have time, but if I ever make it up there again I want to do the Shetlands too.

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!

 

[Techniquest]

My apologies, I wasn't aware of a particular way of describing them. True enough, a long way still from John O Groats, but I'd be a lot closer than I am here at home!

 

[dk1]

Did it last year to tick the route & tick the Wetherspoon in Wick. Looks like the latter will now open a branch on Orkney now too!!

Was quite scenic but boy did it go on & on & on. Worse still the trolley failed to turn up so nothing to look forward too en-route at all.

 

[VideozVideoz]

I prefer the Far North run when taking everything into account. Its such a friendly and fun run to do, and there is something about the barren wilderness. Always good when youve got the dwell time in stations as well, so you can get off and stretch the legs.
.

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

The coastal views are nice as you head north after Dingwall. The scenery becomes very barren the further north you go and (as mentioned earlier) there isn't a lot of variety. Kyle line is spectacular. They could do with putting more services on that line!

 

[JKJimar53]

How busy are the Far North Line services. Would love to do it even better if it was nearly empty.

 

[sdrennan]

I am doing a highland rover in July. After doing the Kyle why not stay in Dingwall. Go for 7:43 train. My friend knows area and tells me Thurso is much better than wick.
Spend 2 hours before heading back.
This is what I am planning plus a stop at Dunrobin castle for 3.5 hours before catching train to Inverness

 

[dk1]

How busy are the Far North Line services. Would love to do it even better if it was nearly empty.

Never FAS. Usually comfortable but pretty busy like most longer distance routes on Fridays afternoons, Saturday mornings, Sunday afternoons & Monday mornings.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

When I did it in Summer 08 the mid morning departure northwards and the mid afternoon departure southwards again were both about 1/8-1/6 full, if that, very few get on out in the middle of nowhere, and a couple tend to board/alight at Brora etc, the larger station onroute.

 

[Pumbaa]

All planned and booked accordingly, I'll get the 07xx from Inverness to Thurso, cycle the coast road through John O'Groats to Wick and then get the train back to Inverness, arriving by 6ish.

The whole plan involves cycling from St Andrews to Leuchars, 0632 off Leuchars to Aberdeen, then Inverness and 1101 off Inverness to Kyle. Then FNL, then the day after 0755 off Inverness to Edinburgh, then 1127 back to Leuchars and cycle into St Andrews. Good call I think! Thanks all for your advice.