Kildonan Station. Come here for peace, beauty and fantastic cycling or just sit for a while

If you need an escape from city life there is a place that is just the ticket. Kildonan is the third least used station in Scotland. This means that you are highly likely to be the only person to get off the train and there is nothing quite like the feeling of having a remote station all to yourself. Give it a try and you will experience a sense of calm mixed with adventure. 

A long way
It takes around 7 to 8 hours to travel from Edinburgh to Kildonan, but you will be on some of the most scenic rail lines in the country. Going north for a large amount of time will make you feel like an explorer and just think how many of your fellow passengers will be making as exciting a journey as you?

You have to ask for the train to stop at Kildonan 
Kildonan is a request stop meaning that the train will only stop if a passenger tells the conductor that they wish to get off. Request stops are marked on timetables with an 'x' next to the departure time.​

Train timetable for Kildonan station showing an x to indicate a request stop

When the conductor comes around to check tickets they will look out for passengers travelling to request stops and take a note to stop the train.

A breathtaking arrival
The train follows the North Sea coast where there is a good chance of spotting seals on the beach. After Helmsdale the track heads inland and the final approach to Kildonan curves alongside the River Helmsdale with a backdrop of hills and forest.

The track curves around the River Helmsdale as it approaches Kildonan station

​Station tour
Let me take you on a tour of the station. It will not take long because there is very little here. And this is precisely what the attraction is. There are no shops, cafes, and loudspeaker announcements. The only sounds are birdsong and the River Helmsdale passing beneath the nearby stone bridge.

The River Helmsdale flows next to Kildonan station

The station opened in 1874 and you get the feeling that very little has changed between then and now. The river makes the same sound, it passes the same rocks and the same types of birds are tweeting. I have been to this station twice with a three year gap between visits, but the second time felt like I had just been there yesterday, not years ago. ​

Kildonan station. On the left there is the old wooden shelter, no longer in use

There is no station building at this location. There is a modern glass shelter, somewhat like a bus shelter. There is a litter bin, timetables and cycle racks.

​The disused platform has a wooden shelter on it and this has been left to ruin, which is a shame as it is the only piece of distinctive heritage architecture at Kildonan. The last time I peaked through the window of this shelter I was delighted to find a wood burning stove that looked in good condition.

Inside the wooden shelter at Kildonan

Kildonan station platform. The abandoned wooden shelter is just behind me

The road to the station

The station is a half-mile detour off the A897. When you think of roads that go to train stations you probably picture traffic and lots of lanes. This is the complete opposite and if you travel down this road it is hard to believe that it will take you to a railway station. This video captures that feeling.

Why come here?

Kildonan station provides access to miles of single-track roads that are superb for cycling. You can read my travel feature about cycling in this area to find out more.

You don't have to bring your bike here. You can simply take a seat and enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet until the next train comes. Whatever you do at Kildonan you will not regret your decision to come here.

Read more about Scotland's train stations

• Top ten favourite train stations in Scotland​
• A Castle with its own station
• The renaissance of Gleneagles stations