Strathpeffer

Strathpeffer is a village in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands, about 20 miles northwest of Inverness. It has sulphurous springs and grew up in the 19th C 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

The nearest railway stations are at Inverness (with mainline trains from the south, including the sleeper from London Euston) and Dingwall (ten mins away by bus) with trains roughly hourly from Inverness.

Stagecoach Highlands Bus 28 runs M-Sat hourly to Strathpeffer from Inverness via Kessock Bridge and Dingwall, taking 80 mins.

Get around

The castle is a short walk from the village.

See

Spa Pavilion

• 🌍 Spa Pavillion, The Square, Strathpeffer IV14 9DL, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Historic venue, refurbished in 2004, hosts a variety of live music and other events. (updated Feb 2019)
• Pump Room (Next to the pavilion). Apr-Oct. Small museum of Strathpeffer's spa history, but it's nowadays basically a sweetie & gift shop plus TIC. The spa springs have been closed off so you can't sample the waters. (updated Feb 2019)
• 🌍 Highland Museum of Childhood, Old Railway Station, Strathpeffer IV14 9DH (North end of village). Apr-Oct M-Sa 10:00-17:00. Explores the history of highland childhood through audio-visual displays, childhood treasures, and a fascinating doll and toy collection. Cafe next door. Adult £3, child £1.75. (updated Feb 2019)
• 🌍 Castle Leod, Strathpeffer IV14 9AA (A mile north of village). 2019 open days May 23-26, June 20-23, July 25-28, Aug 1-5 & 22-25, Sept 5-8, all 14:00-18:00. The original Leod was an 11th C Norse Earl but the tower house probably dates from 15th C. It's now the home of the Earl of Cromartie, Chief of Clan Mackenzie. It is the inspiration for Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series of books. Impressive trees in the castle grounds include Giant Sequoia and an ancient Spanish Chestnut. Adult £10, child £5. (updated Feb 2019)

Do

• Mountain biking. Plenty of trails in the surrounding countryside of forests, hills and mountains, including a race route nearby at Contin. Bikes can be bought, hired and repaired at Square Wheels in Strathpeffer Square ([phone]).
• Hiking. The area around Strathpeffer has some great forest and river walks.
• The 🌍 Golf Course is half a mile north of the village. Open daily, visitors' Green Fee £30.
• Strathpeffer Highland Gathering is held in mid-August at Castle Leod. The next event is Sat 10 Aug 2019.

Buy

There are a number of gift shops in the Square, as well as a pharmacy, and an "open all hours" supermarket. At the Old Station are a fair trade shop as well as the Highland Museum of Childhood's own gift shop.

• Embrace, The Old Station, ☎ [phone]. 10am - 5pm W - Sat, noon-4pm Sun. Gift shop with products made by Highland artists and craftspeople, and further afield. (updated Sep 2017)
• Small Planet Trading, The Old Station, Strathpeffer, ☎ [phone]. 10am - 5pm Tu - Sat, noon - 4 pm Sun. A friendly local shop selling environmental, ethical, organic and fair-trade products and gifts. (updated Sep 2017)

Eat

• The Coffee Shop, Cromartie Building, The Square. Daily 10:00-17:00. Friendly place offers tea, coffee, snacks, acoustic music sessions and silent movies. (updated Feb 2019)
• 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 10:00-17:00 Su 12:00-17:00, Nov-Mar Th-Su 10:00-17:00.
• Red Poppy Restaurant, Main Street (opposite Pump Room), ☎ [phone]. Tu-Sa 11:30-20:30, Su 12:30-15:00. Light lunch, high tea and dinner. (updated Feb 2019)
• Wee Swally Tearoom is in White Lodge, on the Square (see "Sleep"); use the side entrance in Church Brae. It's open Tu-Sa 11:00-16:00.
• Pavilion Café Bar (Inside the pavilion), ☎ [phone]. Tu-Sa 11:00–21:00, Su 12:00–16:00. Lunches and suppers. (updated Feb 2019)

Drink

There isn't a pub, but some of the hotels have public bars, see "Sleep".

Sleep

• Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer IV14 4DN, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A Victorian hotel offering restaurant and leisure facilities. B&B double £42. (updated Feb 2019)
• Birch Lodge, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A comfortable, modern house with two bedrooms: one double en suite, and one twin bed room, which have the exclusive use of a private bathroom. There is also a self-catering cottage on the grounds. 
• Craigvar, The Square Strathpeffer IV14 9DL, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Early Victorian house with two rooms en suite, open all year. B&B double £105. (updated Feb 2019)
• Garden House, Garden House Brae, Strathpeffer IV14 9BW, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Guest house with 5 rooms all en suite, open Apr-Oct. B&B double from £70. (updated Feb 2019)
• Inver Lodge, Strathpeffer IV14 9DL (near Pavilion), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Small B&B in Victorian house near village centre. Family, double and twin room share bathroom. B&B double £52. (updated Feb 2019)
• Crystal House (formerly Richmond Hotel), Church Brae, Strathpeffer IV4 9AW (near Pavilion), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. 8 guestrooms all en suite, in charming late-Victorian house. Restaurant & bar open to non-residents F-Sun evenings, Sat nights are Mauritius cuisine. B&B double from £95. (updated Feb 2019)
• 🌍 White Lodge, The Square Strathpeffer IV14 9AL, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Pleasant B&B, open all year, in the village's oldest building, from 1770. It offers en suite facilities, central heating, lounge and car parking. B&B double £90. (updated Feb 2019)
• 🌍 Fodderty Lodge, Fodderty Way IV15 9UE (A834 midway between Dingwall and Strathpeffer), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Self-catering in three cottages: Honeysuckle sleeps 6, Lodge Barn sleeps 4, East Wing sleeps 2. (updated Feb 2019)

Go next

Strathpeffer is in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, and thus an excellent base from which to tour this area.

• East to Dingwall
• Southeast to Inverness and Culloden
• Northwest to Ullapool
• Northeast to Tain