Tuesday 10th December 2024

A train journey to Thurso

Anne and I had the most wonderful day going by train to Thurso.

Let’s get the disappointment out of the way first of all. We had intended doing this journey for a few weeks now but were waiting for Anne to have less on her plate and also for a good forecast. The previous week I had been keeping an eye on the weather and Tuesday was looking good. I had also been looking at Scotrail’s App and a return ticket was £25.60 which I felt was not bad, so £51.20 for both of us. I decided not to buy tickets till the night before when I was sure that the weather was favourable. On Monday night when I went to purchase the tickets what was the price for both of us? £71.80 Well I was not a happy chappy. How nasty of Scotrail. So my advice to you all is – book your tickets on Scotrail in advance.

The next thing I found out was that the 16:32 train returning from Thurso, for some bizarre reason, would not stop at Alness Station. It stops at Invergordon and Dingwall and but simply whizzes through Alness. If we were to take the train from Alness, then, on the return journey we would have to change trains at Ardgay and wait 38 minutes! The easiest solution was to take the car to Invergordon Station instead of Alness.

I was starting to feel victimised by Scotrail.

We got up very early on Tuesday morning and drove through to Invergordon to catch the 07:58 train.

We found that the old Victorian pedestrian bridge over the tracks to get to the other platform was no longer there. We had to take a diversion round by Albany Road to get over the tracks.

These are the murals painted on the station walls.


Anxiously waiting for our train.


The train came bang on time and we embarked.




The daylight started to come as we headed North. Our train stopped at Fearn, Tain and Ardgay, then we crossed the bridge between Culrain and Invershin. I took photos looking up the Kyle of Sutherland just because we have often crossed this bridge on foot.




The next stop was Lairg where the guard was changed. As the new guard walked down the train we told her the train was very cold. One of the doors had jammed open. This guard guard, a lady, advised us to move to the front carriage describing it as ‘toasty’. We moved but it wasn’t a whole lot warmer, certainly not ‘toasty’! We stopped at Rogart before Golspie. What a rubbish photo through the window but I had to insert a picture of Golspie my place of birth.


We stopped at Brora and then Helmsdale.


This is us passing through Kildonan Station where I normally come on two wheels when tackling Glen Loth.


The ‘Flow Country’ – The First Peatland World Heritage Site. The most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world, stretching across Caithness and Sutherland in the far north of Scotland.






Kinbrace.


This is the station at Forsinard.




Finally we reached Thurso bang on time. It was interesting at the stop before this, Georgemas Junction, where the train changed direction at points so as not to go up to Wick.


We stayed at that Premier Inn beside the station a couple of years ago thanks to Hugh’s kindness. It was a lovely break.









We made our way into town looking in at shops on the way. This is St Andrews Church of Scotland.


We went to the museum – the ‘North Coast Visitor Centre’ and had lunch in the cafe. We had toasties. Anne then had a mince pie and cream while I had a peppermint slice.




After lunch we went for a good long walk out to Holborn Head Lighthouse beyond Scrabster (5.1 miles). We have done this walk often when coming up in the car. It is a lovely walk with great views over the sea and out to Orkney and Dunnet Head. We headed North up the High Street and came out at the seafront.


That is where we are headed for – the lighthouse on that headland.








When we got out of Thurso, past the houses, we came up the Scrabster Back Road to Scrabster Farm; just as a wee diversion. 






A flight of steps takes you back down to Scrabster. It is a bit industrial.


We went as far as Holborn Head Lighthouse.










We turned round and headed back to Thurso. It is a lovely walk out to Holborn Head beyond the lighthouse, but not today. The weather was so pleasant up here in the North that we did not need gloves on the walk back to Thurso. That is amazing!




We looked in at other cafes but they were all closing at 3.00 so we came back to the museum and had a snack there.




Anne went shopping. I looked round the museum. After a while we met up and headed back to the station. This is passing St Andrew’s Church in the twilight. I don’t think it is very honest in its time telling.


And Thurso’s Christmas decorations.




We got to the station in plenty time and made use of the toilets. 

We caught our 16:32 train back south as the light was disappearing out of the day. Morven looked stunning silhouetted against the evening sky. Quickly it became completely dark on the journey South. We had our tea at 5.30. I had a Scotch pie and Anne a sausage roll that we had purchased at Johnston of Thurso’s bakery. Absolutely delicious and highly recommended. We had both taken crisps with us and Anne had brought chunky KitKats. I had a can of Barr’s Cream Soda. It was a surreal journey down through the dark but very relaxing. We couldn’t see a thing except for a few lights. The train reached Invergordon bang on time. The car was completely was frozen over. The temperature down here never went above -3 °C today. Quite amazing, that Thurso was warmer than Invergordon.

Well that was just a lovely day. We usually use buses for our adventures as we have senior bus passes. But this was just a bit different and a bit special.