Scotland by Rail, Far North Line - Forsinard Flows RSPB nature reserve

** This is the second of five or six Scotland by Rail blog posts in which I'll write about a week exploring from Helmsdale Station self-catering on Scotland's beautiful Far North Line **


RSPB Forsinard Flows nature reserve:

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/forsinard-flows/

Hope you can read my writing! It's non-joined-up so you've better chance than normal:

RSPB Forsinard Flows visitor centre - note the shade of paint is RSPB blue not ScotRail blue

The Far North Line, picturesque

crossing the rails for an hour on a bog in heavy rain

the lookout, middle distance left

Looking out over the flows

soggy for humans, brilliant for wildlife

in the Lookout, three swallow nests, droppings below

droppings below balcony handrail - meaning birds roost here, probably the swallows. Two were flying around outside

figure in the Flows

RSPB Forsinard Flows, two swallows, watercolour, 15x21cm

RSPB Forsinard Flows, watercolour, 15x21cm

Have you spotted flycatcher?

it's here too

visitor centre Flows painting

in the visitor centre, golden plover

drying off with hot drinks and biscuits whilst watching an excellent 20 minute Flows filmshow

whilst feeding a baby

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How to get there:

Trains to Helmsdale take just over two and a half hours from Inverness and an hour and a quarter from Thurso. There are currently four trains a day on weekdays and Saturdays and one a day on Sundays.

Click 'The Highlands then North Highlands Timetable and 'Buy Tickets' on ScotRail website.

Many thanks to ScotRail for enabling and supporting my ongoing Scotland by Rail work.