Helmsdale
Helmsdale is a fishing village in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, about two hours by road or rail north of Inverness.
Get in
By train: Four trains a day M-Sat run north from Inverness via Dingwall, Tain, Golspie (for Dunrobin Castle) and Brora to Helmsdale, taking 2 hrs 30 min. There's only one train on Sunday. They continue north to Thurso and Wick.
🌍
Helmsdale railway station (200 yards west of village). 
By bus: Stagecoach Highlands Bus X98 / X99 runs four times daily from Inverness via Tain, Dornoch and Brora to Helmsdale, 2 hours; two on Sunday. The buses continue north to Wick and Thurso.
Stagecoach Bus 66 runs three times a day from Lairg via Golspie and Brora to Helmsdale, 80 mins. Lairg has buses to Kinlochbervie and Durness on the west coast.
Get around
See
- 🌍 Timespan Museum and art gallery, Dunrobin Street, KW8 6JA, ☎ +44 1431 821327. Easter to October: Daily 10:00-17:00. The highlight, with its fascinating exhibitions of local life, natural heritage and events - such as the old gold rush - you can still pan for gold further up the valley. Or take a GPS guide to that site and others from Timespan - there are good walks and drives in the area, with real wilderness to explore within a few miles. The gallery and shop show the best art and crafts from local and national makers, and there is a great cafe with homebakes and the best position in town - right on the river bank, with views of curious seals and otters if you are lucky! £4.
- 🌍 Clynelish Distillery, Brora, KW9 6LR (10 miles south of Helmsdale on A9), ☎ +44 1408 623000, e-mail: clynelish.distillery@diageo.com. Mar-Oct M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Nov-Feb M-Sa 10:00-15:00. Diageo whisky distillery, most product blended into Johnnie Walker but issues some single malt. Standard tour £12 but free to 31 March 2019.
Do
- Helmsdale Highland Games are held on the middle Saturday of August in Couper Park. Parades, pipe bands, tug of war, caber-tossing, and track and field events. The next event is Sat 17 Aug 2019.
Buy
Eat
- Thyme and Plaice, 7 Dunrobin St, ☎ +44 1431 821598. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Friendly casual place.
- 🌍 La Mirage, 7-9 Dunrobin St KW8 6JA, ☎ +44 1431 821615. Daily 11:00-21:00. Fish are the thing here.
Drink
Sleep
- 🌍 Belgrave Arms Hotel, Dunrobin St Helmsdale KW8 6JX, ☎ +44 1431 821242. Small friendly 3-star with restaurant. B&B double from £90.
- 🌍 Kindale House, Lilleshall St, ☎ +44 1431 821415.
Connect
Go next
- North to Wick, Thurso and John o'Groats
- South to Tain and Inverness
| Routes through Helmsdale |
| Thurso/Wick ← | NE  |
→ Tain → Inverness |