Strathpeffer

Strathpeffer (Gaelic Srath Pheofhair) is a village in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands, with a population of 1040 in 2020. It has sulphurous springs and grew up in the 19th century as a spa resort, served by a branch railway line. Fashions changed and the railway closed in 1951, but the attractive Victorian village centre and railway station have been preserved.

Get in

Strathpeffer is 20 miles northwest of Inverness. By road follow A9 over Kessock Bridge (toll free) to Tore then take A835, which goes to Ullapool.

Dingwall, ten minutes away by bus, is the nearest railway station. Trains run here every hour or two from Inverness and branch either north to Thurso and Wick or west to Kyle of Lochalsh, for Skye. Inverness has trains from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, a daytime direct train from London Kings Cross, and the sleeper from London Euston.

Stagecoach Highlands Bus 27 runs M-Sa hourly from Inverness via Dingwall, taking an hour and continuing to Contin (for the hiking trail to Rogie Falls). Bus 28 runs to Dingwall.

Get around

The bus will get you to Contin, for the Falls of Rogie trailhead.

See

• 1 Spa Pavillion, The Square, Strathpeffer IV14 9DL, ☏ +44 1997 420124. Historic venue, refurbished in 2004, hosting a variety of live music and other events. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Highland Museum of Childhood, Old Railway Station, Strathpeffer IV14 9DH, ☏ +44 1997 421031. Apr-Oct Tu-F 10AM-3PM, Sa 11:30AM-3PM. Explores the history of highland childhood through audio-visual displays, childhood treasures, and a doll and toy collection. Adult £5, conc £3.50, child free. (updated Aug 2024)
• 3 Clach an Tiompain ("Sounding Stone" or "Eagle Stone") is 32 in (81 cm) tall. It has Pictish inscriptions from circa 600 AD and was originally further down the hill. It was moved here in 1411, perhaps to mark the clan battle of that year. Or perhaps they were taking seriously the prophecy that if the stone fell over 3 times, the valley would be inundated. It's fallen over twice so the prudent Council have set it in concrete
• 4 Castle Leod, Strathpeffer IV14 9AA. Selected days May-Sep 2-6PM. The original Leod was an 11th-century Norse Earl but the tower house is probably 15th century. It's now the home of the Earl of Cromartie, Chief of Clan Mackenzie. It's the inspiration for Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series of books. Impressive trees in the castle grounds include a Giant Sequoia and an ancient Spanish Chestnut. Adult £12, conc or child £10. (updated Aug 2024)
• 5 Knockfarrell is a vitrified Pictish fort - it has burned so furiously that some of its stone melted to glass. This is a common finding in Britain, and such forts were once thought to be volcanic or meteor impact craters. The conflict that led to so many torchings is unknown.
• 6 Rogie Falls are reached by a 10 min walk from the car park (£2 parking; the carpark has toilets). The falls are a cascade not a clean drop, spanned by a wobbly bridge. In early summer the salmon are leaping their way upstream.

Do

Spa Pavilion

• Mountain biking. Plenty of trails in the surrounding countryside of forests, hills and mountains, including a race route nearby at Contin. Strathpuffer is a 24-hour endurance mountain bike race held in January, when it's dark for 17 of those hours. The next is 11-12 Jan 2025.
• Hiking: see Walk Highlands for local hiking trails.
• 1 Strathpeffer Spa Golf Course is half a mile north of the village. White tees 5001 yards, par 67.
• Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band parade here and in nearby villages in summer. Ask around, they're often here on Tuesday evenings.
• Shinty: Caberfeidh play in the MOWI Premiership, the top tier. The playing season is Apr-Oct.
• Strathpeffer Highland Gathering is held at Castle Leod, with the next probably on Sa 9 Aug 2025, tbc.

Buy

• Morrisons is a convenience store in The Square, open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-10PM.
• Supermarket: the nearest big store is Tesco in Dingwall.

Eat

Castle Leod

• The Coffee Shop, Cromartie Building, The Square IV14 9DG. Daily noon-8PM. Retro-diner style with tea, coffee and snacks. (updated Aug 2024)
• Museum Cafe is within the old railway station next to the Highland Museum of Childhood. Freshly-prepared Scottish lunches and snacks, home-baking, ice cream, tea and coffee. Eat in or outside on the station platform. It's open Apr-Oct M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su 10AM-4PM, Nov-Mar Th-Su 10AM-5PM.
• Liking is a Chinese takeaway on Main St, open daily 4:30-10:30PM.

Drink

• Black Isle Beer Garden is within The Retreat, open daily noon-8PM.
• Singleton Distillery is at Muir of Ord, see Dingwall#Drink.

Sleep

Pictish engravings on the Eagle Stone

• Oyo Lodge on The Square is rough and tatty.
• Strathpeffer Hotel gets poor reviews.
• Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer IV14 9DN, ☏ +44 1997 423387. Victorian hotel with restaurant and leisure facilities, mixed reviews. B&B double £160. (updated Aug 2024)
• Craigvar, The Square, Strathpeffer IV14 9DL, ☏ +44 1997 421622. Pleasant B&B in an early Victorian house with two rooms en suite, plus suite in the former bank. It's open all year. B&B double £125. (updated Aug 2024)
• The Retreat, Church Brae, Strathpeffer IV14 9AW (near Pavilion), ☏ +44 1997 429219. Friendly B&B in a late-Victorian house. B&B double £90. (updated Aug 2024)
• 1 Highland Hotel, Strathpeffer IV14 9AN, ☏ +44 1997 421457. Value-for-money hotel, often has coach parties. B&B double £90. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Coul House, Contin IV14 9ES, ☏ +44 1997 421487. Charming hotel in 1821 mansion, great welcome, comfort and dining. Dogs welcome. B&B double £220. (updated Aug 2024)

Connect

As of Aug 2024, Strathpeffer and its approach roads have 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, but no signal from EE. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Dingwall five miles east has accommodation and public transport.
• Inverness is the region's transport hub, a pleasant Victorian city. Four miles further east, Culloden saw the Jacobites crushed in 1746.
• Ullapool is the only large settlement on the northwest coast and has ferries to Stornoway on Lewis.
• Tain to the northeast has the Glenmorangie whisky distillery.
• North Coast 500 is a motoring itinerary looping through Strathpeffer.