Highland Main Line

Scotland's spine through the Highlands, filmed from Inverness over Slochd and Drumochter summits, past the Cairngorms and down to Pitlochry.

The route

The Highland Main Line runs 190 km from Perth to Inverness, the only railway that crosses the central Highlands from south to north. It was built in the early 1860s by the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway to give Inverness a quicker way to the south than the long route round by Aberdeen. The section from Aviemore to Pitlochry opened in September 1863, and the company soon became part of the Highland Railway.

The first line ran from Aviemore north-east by Grantown to Forres. The direct line from Aviemore to Inverness, over Slochd Summit at 401 m, opened only in 1898 and needed large viaducts at Tomatin and Culloden. South of Dalwhinnie the railway climbs to Druimuachdar Summit, at 452 m the highest point on Britain's main-line network.

Much of the route is single track with passing loops at stations, which is why trains sometimes pause to let another one by. Network Rail added loops and longer platforms in work finished in 2019. Today ScotRail runs the regular trains to Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow, LNER's Highland Chieftain runs through to London King's Cross, and the Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight to London Euston.

What you will see

Leaving Inverness, the train climbs steadily away from the Moray Firth. Look for the long Culloden Viaduct over the River Nairn and later the viaduct at Tomatin, before the line reaches the moorland of Slochd Summit. It then drops through pine woods to Carrbridge and on to Aviemore, where the Cairngorm mountains rise to the east and the heritage Strathspey Railway shares the station.

South of Aviemore the route follows the wide valley of the Spey through Kingussie, Newtonmore and Dalwhinnie. Then the landscape empties out: the line climbs through the Pass of Drumochter, a bare glen between rounded hills with little sign of people, and crosses Druimuachdar Summit. Between Dalwhinnie and Blair Atholl the line is double track, restored in 1976 after being cut back to single.

From the summit the line descends along Glen Garry into greener Highland Perthshire. Blair Atholl marks the start of wooded country again, and the railway threads through the narrow, tree-lined Pass of Killiecrankie before the film ends at Pitlochry, a Victorian resort town on the River Tummel.

Riding it for real

ScotRail trains between Inverness and Perth, Edinburgh or Glasgow cover this stretch several times a day, and most call at Aviemore and Pitlochry; smaller stations such as Carrbridge or Blair Atholl see fewer stops. Perth to Inverness takes a little over two hours, and Inverness to Edinburgh or Glasgow about three and a half. LNER's daily Highland Chieftain and the Caledonian Sleeper also use the line; the sleeper must be booked in advance.

ScotRail's Spirit of Scotland pass and the BritRail pass both cover the route. A window seat on the left heading south looks out towards the Cairngorms around Aviemore. Timetables change with the seasons and engineering work, so check the latest times and fares with ScotRail, LNER or Caledonian Sleeper before you travel.

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