ONE city in the Scottish Highlands has seen a huge surge in train travel this year and there’s plenty to do from exploring castles to enjoying £3 lagers.
According to Trainline, there has been a 23 per cent surge in train passengers heading to Inverness making it the most popular major Scottish city to visit.
Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director of Trainline said: “Ahead of The Traitors finale on Friday, we’ve seen a 23 per cent uptick in passengers travelling to Inverness, both week on week and year on year.
“In fact, compared to the same time in 2025, Inverness has seen a greater uplift in passengers than any other major Scottish city.”
Inverness is the biggest city in the Scottish Highlands and has plenty for visitors to explore.
There’s the city centre full of local shops, food stops and bars, plenty of museums, boat trips on Loch Ness, or heading to the Cairngorms National Park.
If you fancy seeing a castle, just 30-minutes away from the city centre is the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the edge of Loch Ness.
It was once one of the largest castles in Scotland and was used as a medieval fortress for 500 years.
Standard admission tickets start at £14 for adults and £8.50 for children between 7-15.
Another is Cawdor Castle, a traditional Scottish castle lived in by the Cawdor family for over 600 years.
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The closest one to Inverness is Inverness Castle – although it was never a castle.
Instead it was two towers and even served as a prison at one point.
Admission costs £20 for adults and £14 for children between 5-15.
If you don’t head to Inverness by rail, you might head there by car to head on the North Coast 500 (the NC500).
It’s a famous scenic route that winds around the north coast of Scotland which starts and finishes in Inverness.
Some of the most notable spots are Ardvreck Castle and the mountainous Bealach na Bà track.
There’s also the Summer Isles archipelago of around 20 islands near Ullapool where you can spot seals, dolphins and plenty of seabirds.
Some of the best beaches near the Scottish Highland city are Nairn Beach with views of Moray Firth or visit Dores Beach at the top of Loch Ness.
You can also explore Fortrose Beach and walk to Chanonry Point which is a great place for dolphin spotting.
Castle Leod is 35-minutes from the city centre and is one of the best preserved historic castles in the Scottish Highlands.
It was the real-life inspiration for Outlander‘s Castle Leoch and is surrounded by parklands.
It has public open days throughout the year where you can explore the building and its grounds with entry from £14.
There are plenty of other nearby sights like Loch Ness which is just 30 minutes away from the city.
One writer, Janice Hopper, hit the streets of Inverness with one of her favourite stops being Hootananny pub where she picked up a lager for £3.
As for the shops, she headed to Isle of Skye Candle Company, the Inverness Victorian market which has “30 independent sellers and food stalls”.
If you need a place to stay in Inverness, Janice has a suggestion, she said: “I’m cosying down at the four-star Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa, a stylish bolt-hole overlooking the River Ness.
“The Eight On The River restaurant and terrace makes the most of the riverside vistas, where I tuck into fresh pastries and fruit to start the day.
“There’s also a swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room, which I enjoy before indulging in a 30-minute aromatherapy massage, £46, at the Sleeping Beauty Spa.”
Double rooms at Inverness Palace Hotel start from £87.90.
One of the quickest ways to get to Inverness by train if you’re in the south of the country is from London Kings Cross with a short transfer at Edinburgh (Waverley).
This is the shortest route taking eight hours 31 minutes with tickets starting from £70.60 in January on Trainline.
Here are the top Scottish Castles you can reach by train…
Trainline reveals the top Scottish Castles you can reach by train…
Stirling Castle
Only 50 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley, Traitors fans can hop off and hit the road to experience this historic juggernaut. The childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, and the preferred residence for the majority of medieval Scottish monarchs, this castle is steeped in history and has stunning scenic views.
From Stirling train station, the castle is a short (but steep) 15 minutes’ walk.
Dumbarton Castle
Moving closer to Glasgow, Dumbarton Castle guards the point where the River Leven joins the River Clyde. You can climb the White Tower Crag for incredible views, which can stretch as far as Loch Lomond on a clear day.
Getting there: Take a train to Dumbarton East station and then it’s just a 16 minutes’ walk from the station.
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is one of the most striking and northernmost castles in Scotland, located near Golspie on the east coast of the Highlands. With a design that’s reminiscent of a French château, it’s the historic seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland.
Dating back to the early 1300s, the castle was extensively remodelled in the 19th century by architect Sir Charles Barry (who also designed the Houses of Parliament). Inside, visitors to the castle can explore grand Victorian rooms filled with period furniture, portraits, and tapestries.
Getting there: Take a train to Dunrobin Castle’s namesake station – but make sure you request this stop.
Blair Castle
In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Blair Castle is the ancestral seat of the Clan Murray and home to the Dukes of Atholl for over 700 years. The castle’s architecture is a blend of medieval fortress and Georgian mansion, with its origins dating back to around 1269.
Getting there: If you’re recreating this year’s incredible mission train heist to Inverness, then it’s worth a stop at Blair Atholl station – from there the castle is just a five minutes’ walk.
Linlithgow Palace
Our final Traitor’s worthy stop is Linlithgow Palace, which whilst technically not a castle is still a historic – and impressive – building against the same epic Scottish backdrop.
Linlithgow Palace is a magnificent royal residence in ruins, located between Edinburgh and Stirling and beside the beautiful Linlithgow Loch. It was built in the 15th century by King James I and expanded by the Stewarts – it was also the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Getting there: Take a train to Linlithgow – from there the palace is just five minutes away.
For more on Scotland, this off-the-grid UK road trip that includes peaceful treehouses, quiet lochs and woodland trails.
And these are the best family attractions in Scotland whatever the weather, from castles to magical bluebell woods and adventure parks.