Berridale, Caithness
Plan your travel to the Far North…
Travelling to Caithness and Sutherland is easy, whether you're coming from within the UK or overseas. Drive our scenic routes, hop on trains or buses, fly into Inverness, or even take a ferry from Orkney. However you get here, stunning landscapes and our renowned Highland hospitality awaits.
The Mound on the A9 road over Loch Fleet in Sutherland near Dornoch
Discover the Flow Country by Rail
Embark on one of Britain’s most scenic railway adventures aboard the Far North Line, which stretches from Inverness to Wick and Thurso. This remarkable route serves is the gateway to the Flow Country, a vast and breathtaking landscape of blanket bogs, remote lochs, and sweeping moorlands.
The railway crosses through the heart of the Flow Country, and from the comfort of your seat, you can watch as the Highlands unfold in dramatic vistas, with distant mountains and the untouched wilderness of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Travelling by Rail on the Far North Line
Taking the train north to Caithness and Sutherland offers a relaxed, scenic journey through some of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes. It’s a sustainable, stress-free travel option with a chance to truly enjoy the Highlands en–route.
Far North Line
The scenic Far North Line travels up from Inverness, passing the coastal stretches of East Sutherland and the UNESCO World Heritage Flow Country site before arriving in Caithness – the UK’s most northerly county.
You can find timetables and purchase tickets online through Scotrail, and Visit Scotland has an excellent Inverness to Thurso & Wick by Train itinerary with suggestions on where to stop, what to see and how to make the most of your trip. Why not consider a north Highland holiday, choosing some of our scenic towns and villages to base yourself and do day trips by train?
Travelling by Air
Seeing Scotland from the air gives you a bird’s eye perspective of our Highland landscape, enticing you for adventure well before you land!
Inverness Airport
Inverness Airport is situated an hour south of Sutherland, just outside the Highland capital of Inverness. Daily domestic flights arrive from many UK destinations including London, Belfast, Bristol and Manchester. International travellers can arrive via Amsterdam Schipol. On arrival to Inverness Airport you can continue your journey north by rail, bus or vehicle rental, via Inverness.
Travelling by Road
The main A9 trunk road connects Caithness and Sutherland to the central belt of Scotland via the Highland capital of Inverness.
As a single carriageway route, it’s well suited for large vehicles and takes in stunning scenery along the east coast of Sutherland and Caithness before terminating at Scrabster on the north coast of Caithness, a ferry terminal for travel to Orkney.
The secondary A835 road from Inverness will take you west towards Ullapool and then up the north-west coast of Sutherland, via single track road. There are also single-track roads which will take you into the heart of central Sutherland and along the north coast of Sutherland, and single-track roads in Caithness.
Responsible driving on single track roads in the Scottish Highlands is crucial to our local communities and natural environment. Before you travel, you can brush up on the legal and recommended requirements of driving on a single-track road, particularly allowing faster vehicles behind you to overtake safely. Find our advice in the FAQ section below.
Travelling to the North Highlands by Bus
Travelling by bus to Caithness and Sutherland is affordable, comfortable, and convenient. With regular services from Inverness and onward connections to other Scottish cities, it’s an easy way to sit back, relax, and enjoy the Highland scenery!
Stagecoach Bus
Stagecoach offers several services across Caithness and Sutherland, and two daily X99 services to/from Inverness.
Ember
Ember operate all-electric buses across their network of routes, connecting the north Highlands to Inverness and beyond. You can book your journey online for the E6 route from Thurso to Inverness.
Far North Bus
Also called the Durness Bus, offers regular services from the north-west and north coasts of Sutherland via Lairg to Inverness. Find the timetable link in our FAQ section below.
Rapsons Highland Bus
Raspons offers the Route 809 service in the west of Sutherland which includes Drumbeg, Achmelvich and Lochinver, and the Route 900 which connects the central Sutherland village of Lairg, and Tain in Easter Ross.
Traveline can help in your public transport journey planning. Find the timetable link in our FAQ section below.
Travelling by Sea
Caithness is well connected with Orkney by ferry. There are scheduled sailings year- round for both passengers and vehicle traffic, via two routes from Caithness’s north coast ports.
Stromness to Scrabster
NorthLink Ferries offers a year-round service between Scrabster, near Thurso and Stromness on Orkney. There are at least three sailings daily and the ferry is open to both vehicle traffic and foot passengers. Cars, motorhomes, large vehicles, cyclists and foot passengers can book their passage online and the crossing takes 90 minutes.
Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope, Orkney
Pentland Ferries operates a year-round service between Gills Bay, approximately three miles west of John O’Groats in the north of Caithness, to St Margaret’s Hope on Orkney. With their purpose-built catamaran ferry the crossing takes only 60 minutes and there are at least three sailings daily. Cars, motorhomes, vans and foot passengers can book their passage online.
Kyle of Tongue, North Sutherland
Be prepared for driving your vehicle on single-track roads with passing places, especially in rural areas. Drive slowly and cautiously, particularly in poor weather or when wildlife is nearby. You can find useful information and guidance about driving in Scotland here.
Petrol stations are located in many towns and villages in the North Highlands, but it is essential to plan your fuel stops when you are planning your holiday.
For travelling by bus, find further information for the below operators:
For travelling by train, look at the Scotrail website.
For travelling between Orkney and Caithness, find out more information at Northlink Ferries and Pentland Ferries.
British Airways, Logainair, and Easyjet operate flights from destinations around the UK to Inverness.
KLM is the sole operator of international flights, from Amsterdam to Inverness.
Being a rural area, we recommend that you pre-book your taxi journey in advance with local taxi companies. Uber does not operate in the North Highlands.
