Lairg to Tongue

Lairg is a stop on the Far North Line. Lairg station is not in the village, which is two and a half miles from the station.

Transport for Tongue service 2 meets the train at Lairg station on Wednesdays only for the journey through the countryside up to Tongue on the north west coast.

The service runs once in either direction, originating in Tongue. Therefore it is not possible to do as a day trip from Inverness. You would need to stay in Tongue.

This cross country route travels through one of the most remote parts of Europe, passing through a few tiny hamlets and alongside Loch Loyal.

Tongue is a small village on the north west coast, where we enjoyed a stop off. The bus arrives in the early afternoon, giving you half a day to explore the village.

Route: 

Inverness - Dingwall - Lairg (by train) then Lairg - Altnaharra - Tongue (by bus)

Trip length: 1 hour 40 minutes (by train) then 1 hour 5 minutes (by bus)

Onward travel with The Durness Bus

Check these details carefully as it's complicated and we might have made a mistake!

Option 1

On Thursday morning catch The Durness Bus service 803. Travel to Thurso and either explore Thurso or travel back to Inverness on the Far North Line. 

See our Guide to Thurso for where to visit, accommodation and restaurants.

Option 2

On Thursday morning catch The Durness Bus service 803. Alight at Bettyhill and explore this village before travelling to Thurso on Saturday morning. This may be more time than you need in Bettyhill, but if you are content with a slow pace and fully exploring the village, it's a nice place to be.

See our Guide to the bus journey from Thurso to Durness for details of where to visit, accommodation and where to eat in Bettyhill.

Option 3

On Thursday morning catch The Durness Bus service 803. Alight at Bettyhill and explore this village before travelling to Durness on Saturday afternoon. This is probably more time than you need in Bettyhill, but if you are content with a slow pace and fully exploring the village, it's a nice place to be.

See our Guide to the bus journey from Thurso to Durness for details of where to visit, accommodation and where to eat in Bettyhill and in Durness.

Stay in Durness until Monday morning when you can travel to Inverness with The Durness Bus service 805. See our Guide to the journey between Durness and Inverness.

Alternatively, stay in Durness until Tuesday morning when you can book The Durness Bus Dial-a-Bus to meet The Durness Bus service 803 at Tongue for travel to Thurso.