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Kyle line

Originating in the historic market town of Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands, the single track Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Line was begun in 1870 and took twenty-seven years to complete. A magnificent feat of engineering, the Kyle Line required the manual construction of twenty-nine separate bridges and the creation of cuttings through thirty-one sections of solid rock in order to traverse its mountainous setting.

Although neither privately owned nor a preserved heritage railway, the  Kyle Line is an important and highly popular attraction for Highland visitors as its route passes among some of Scotland's most dramatic and spectacular natural landscapes.

A commuter train quite unlike any other

The train that makes the eighty-mile journey from Dingwall to the Kyle of Lochalsh is usually nothing grander than a standard 'Sprinter' of the sort that commuters take to work every day throughout Britain. The Kyle Line was intended to provide transport for the local people who live in the villages that line its route. On rare occasions, however, a steam train may take to the line.

Although the train itself is perfectly spacious, comfortable, and very rarely crowded, it is the ever-changing and unforgettable views from the window that make this particular rail journey so special. It has been described, with justification, as one of the world's most scenic routes.

Whether travelled in summer or winter, the continually unfolding tapestry of heather-clad hillsides, brooding snow-capped mountains, placid lochs and open meadows that pass by, occasionally punctuated by a remote castle or village, ensures that this trip is truly unmissable.

 

 

Eilean Donan Castle

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.

Interesting Facts

The founders of the Kyle of Lochalsh Line raised the investment needed for its construction by proposing it as a faster means for the transportation of livestock and fish to market.

The signal box beside the line just outside the village of Plockton has been entirely rebuilt in the style of the original and is now available to rent as a holiday cottage.

Threatened with closure in 1963 under the rail reforms introduced by Dr Richard Beeching the Kyle Line gained a reprieve only to face the axe again in 1970. In 1974 it was saved once again and is currently safeguarded thanks to the efforts of a group of ardent rail enthusiasts known as the Friends of the Kyle Line.

 

 

 

Plockton

 

 

5 results matching: The Kyle Line

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Our customers love our Kyle Line tours
Highland Adventure
12/Sep
Janet Jones
5 stars
“An absolutely marvellous experience with Clive Yates as our tour manager. Clive brought our trip alive with his rail knowledge and his love of Scotland.
Collected by Trustpilot
The Best of Scotland and Ireland
25 Oct 2022
C Gordon
5 stars
“Great trip.
Collected by Trustpilot
Skye, Orkney and the Wild North
24/Sep
Patrick
4 stars
“excellent tour and guide.
Collected by Trustpilot
Edinburgh, the Highlands and Islands
20/Sep
Pam Highton
4 stars
“There is no denying that the Highlands provides spectacular scenery. Our tour was favoured by glorious sunshine for most of the time, with only a few grey days. Overall, I felt the days were too long, with too much time spent on the coach. That said, our driver Davy was superb and made the trip. The hotels were of a very high standard, with the exception of the Isles of Glencoe, where the staff were disinterested and, at times, downright rude. I was also given a room in the sub basement at the Mercure Haymarket, which had little natural light and was claustrophobic. I guess that’s the downside of being a single traveller. That said, I was soon given a room on the first floor. Big shout out to the restaurant manager who made me a meal despite the restaurant being closed. A big concern from my group was lack of timely information from the tour manager as we expected handouts of our itinerary for the day and lack of a contact number until the 5th day. Overall I enjoyed the trip and made some new friends along the way.
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A Scottish Christmas
9/Jan
Miss A Holgate
4 stars
“The first time I have done Christmas away in the Uk. It was good and the scenery in Scotland is lovely. The hotel was very busy, as expected, and mealtimes were drawn out affairs, lasting 2hours.
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