Places of Interest
Heading west from Dingwall the Kyle
Line serves a number of picturesque villages and hamlets
along its route. Notable stops along the line include Achanalt,
where the marshlands surrounding Loch Achanalt have been declared a
Site of Special Scientific Interest and provide a habitat for
several rare and interesting plant and bird species.
The beautiful Achnashellach Forest is reputedly the site of an
historic battle between three Scottish clans, the Camerons, the
Mackays and the Munros, which took place in 1505. Stromeferry was
the original terminus of the railway line from Dingwall. Passengers
alighting here would travel onward by steam ferry to cross Loch
Carron or journey to the Isle of Skye. Following the completion of
the Kyle Line in 1897 the ferry service from
Stromeferry was discontinued.
The railway station at Duncraig serves Duncraig Castle, a
stunning nineteenth-century mansion house that was built for
Parliamentarian Sir Alexander Matheson. Today the castle is open to
the public and operate as a Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
The scenic village of Plockton has regularly been used as a
filming location for film and television including The Wicker Man
and Hamish McBeth. An unusual feature of Plockton is its mild
climate which encourages the growth of the Cordyline Australis palm
tree. The pretty Kyle of Lochalsh on Scotland's north-western coast
is now the gateway to the Isle of Skye. A village of whitewashed
buildings, Lochalsh has an attractive and busy harbour, a
collection of shops and a hotel. For many visitors, the village
serves as a base from which to explore the awe-inspiring scenery
that surrounds it.