Dingwall

Getting there

By road Take the A9 from Inverness over Kessock Bridge (toll-free) to Tore, then A835 heading for Ullapool. If you're following the North Coast 500 itinerary, this is where you need to decide which way round you're going: it's usually followed clockwise but either is fine.

By bus Stagecoach Highlands buses 27 / 25A run from Inverness, taking 35 min by that direct route; some start from Culloden. They're hourly M-Sa, every two hours on Sunday, and continue to Strathpeffer and Contin. Bus 28 (hourly M-Sa) is a slower route, taking 80 min via Beauly (for Priory) and Muir of Ord (for Singleton Distillery).

By train Dingwall has trains M-Sa every hour or so from Inverness, taking 35 mins via Beauly, Muir of Ord and Conon Bridge. Four of these continue north via Tain, Golspie (for Dunrobin Castle), Helmsdale, Thurso (for ferries to Orkney) and Wick. Four other trains branch west via Achnasheen and Plockton to Kyle of Lochalsh, for buses to Skye. On Sunday the trains from Inverness are every 2-3 hours, mostly terminating at Tain.

1 Dingwall railway station (just east of town centre). There's a staffed ticket office (M-Sa 7:30AM-2:30PM) but no machines, so if you start from here out of hours, pay on board. The cafe, waiting room and toilets are open at the same hours. There is level access to Platform 1 (arrivals from Inverness) and a ramp to Platform 2. (updated Nov 2023)

Getting around

You need your own wheels to reach the Red Kites Reserve.

See

1 Dingwall Museum, Town House, High Street IV15 9RY, ☏ +44 1349 865366, [email protected]. May-Sep: W-Sa 10AM-4PM. Local artefacts and exhibitions. It's housed in the former Town Hall, built in 1745, with the octagonal cupola tower added in 1773 and the stepped gables in 1903. On 4 Jan 1963 a hopeful young rock band performed here, but only 19 came to listen, as there was a better act in Strathpeffer that night. The hopefuls were called The Beatles. Free. (updated Aug 2022) St Clements (C of S). Was completed in 1803. In its graveyard stands an ancient stone, bearing neolithic cup-and-ring marks and Pictish Z-symbols. St Clements is on Church St next to Tesco. (updated Nov 2023) 2 St Lawrence. The Roman Catholic church, built in 1902, with elegant stained glass windows. It's next to the "doocot" (below) on the site of Dingwall Castle. (updated Nov 2023) 3 Hector MacDonald Memorial Tower. Recalls the remarkable life of "Fighting Mac" (1853-1903). He was born on a croft near Dingwall, joined the army, and by his skill and bravery rose all the way from humble private to major general. He fought in the First Boer War, the Second Afghan War and the Sudan Campaign. A hero by 1902, he was appointed commander-in-chief of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and had time on his hands. There had long been rumours of his fondness for boys, which now grew to scandal-pitch. He got out of the way to London but was in Paris when the story broke in the press, and he shot himself. He's buried in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh. A government enquiry announced in unctuous terms that there was not a shred of evidence against him, and shredded all the case files to keep it that way. (updated Nov 2023)

Castles 4 Dingwall Castle. Built in the 11th century, staged a murder worthy of Macbeth in 1438, and was restored in the 16th when the bishop prettified one of the towers into a "doocot". The castle was abandoned in 1600 and the site was levelled in 1818, except for the doocot, which stands 20

Do

What's on? Read Ross-shire Journal or Press & Journal. 1 Tollie Red Kites (RSPB), Brahan, by Maryburgh IV7 8HQ (off A835 after the Maryburgh Roundabout.), ☏ +44 1463 715000, [email protected]. Temporarily closed because of bird flu. The red kite (Milvus milvus) is a common "tourist eagle" - mis-identified because of its raptor profile. The giveaways are the wafting flight pattern, the deeply forked tail and the pale patch beneath the wings. They're fed daily at this RSPB reserve, reached up a muddy track. Free. (updated Aug 2022) Walk Britain's shortest canal, the one-mile stretch of the disused Dingwall canal. It passes a firing range so don't walk there if red flags are flying. Football: Ross County FC were relegated in 2025 and again in 2026 and now play soccer in League One, the third tier. Their home ground is Victoria Park (capacity 6500) just east of the railway station. Shinty: Beauly were relegated in 2025 and now play in Mowi National Division, the second tier, at Braeview Park in Beauly. Lovat were relegated along with them: they play further south at Kiltarlity. The playing season is April-Oct. Dingwall Leisure Centre has a gym, pool and fitness classes. It's north on Tulloch Ave, open M-F 7AM-9PM, Sa Su 8AM-6PM. Golf: Muir of Ord GC is 5 miles south. White tees 5542 yards, par 68. The 13th green is a "henge", some sort of prehistoric structure: maybe ritual or a fortified dwelling place, as it wouldn't serve as a fort. It's not known if it was early medieval or very much older, and the site was disrupted by the golf course extension in the 1980s. All that archaeologists can agree on is that it makes Hole 13 "Castle Hill" (short par 3, 111 yards) a tricky approach. Tartan Heart is a family-friendly festival on Belladrum Estate south of Beauly, with the next held Th 30 July - Sa 1 Aug 2026. Black Isle Show is an agricultural fair, with the occasional piper but not the mass tartanry of Highland Games. It's held at the showground at Muir of Ord, with the nex

Buy

Tesco is the main store, north side on Mart Rd. It's open M-Sa 6AM-midnight, Su 8AM-10PM and has a 24-hour filling station. Lidl, east off Tulloch St, is smaller, and open daily 8AM-9PM.

Eat

The Mallard, Station Square IV15 9JD (next to railway station), ☏ +44 1349 862075. M Tu 3-9PM, W Th noon-10:30PM, F Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-9PM. Handy pub for food, named for the fastest steam locomotive, as you'll have ample time to recall as you await your delayed train. (updated Aug 2022) Batty's Bap's, 35 High St IV15 9SN, ☏ +44 7938 142508. M-F 7AM-4PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Su 9AM-3PM. Friendly cafe and sandwich shop. (updated Aug 2022) Miss Ying, 16 Tulloch St IV15 9JZ, ☏ +44 1349 368612. Tu-Su 3-9PM. Small place doing good Thai food. (updated Aug 2022) Others in town centre are Ding's Chinese (closed Mon), Pronto Pizza, Renato's fish & chips (closed Monday), County Kebab, Cafe India and Chili Masala.

Drink & nightlife

The Caledonian is a cheerful bar on High St. 1 Singleton Distillery, Marybank Rd, Muir of Ord IV6 7UJ, ☏ +44 1463 872004. Daily Mar-Sep 10AM-5PM, Oct-Feb 10AM-4PM. A Diageo-owned distillery, producing "The Singleton of Glen Ord" which all goes to the Asian market. Produced elsewhere are "The Singleton of Dufftown" for the UK and Europe, and "The Singleton of Glendullan" for North America. Standard tour £20. (updated Aug 2022) Glen Wyvis make gin and whisky half a mile north of Tulloch Castle. No tours.

Sleep

1 Dingwall Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Jubilee Park Road IV15 9QZ (next to football ground), ☏ +44 1349 862236. Pitches for caravans, moto