Scotland Station code DBL
Dunblane
Dunblane guide: a medieval cathedral, a volunteer-run museum and Allan Water walks – served by LNER's Sunday southbound Highland Chieftain.
- Journey time: see below
- 1 LNER route
- 2 things to do
Dunblane Cathedral, whose tower dates from the 1100s, about 400 metres from the stationPhoto: PaddyBriggs, CC BY-SA 3.0
About Dunblane
Dunblane is a small cathedral town on the Allan Water, just north of Stirling. Its station is the most northerly electrified station on the National Rail network, and a busy commuter stop for Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The town's centrepiece is Dunblane Cathedral, one of Scotland's finest medieval churches, whose four-storey tower dates from the 1100s. A short walk away, Dunblane Museum tells the town's story, from prehistoric finds to the Jacobite Battle of Sheriffmuir and the tennis achievements of Andy and Jamie Murray.
Journey
DBL- Fastest from London King's Cross
- See note below
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Inverness stop 14 of 24 | Stirling | Gleneagles |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
The only LNER call is the southbound Highland Chieftain on Sundays, leaving Dunblane at 12.30 and reaching King's Cross at 18.01 (May–December 2026 timetable). From London, take the Highland Chieftain or an Edinburgh train and connect with ScotRail at Stirling or Edinburgh.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 22 May 1848
- Architect
- William Tite
- Heritage status
- Category C listed
- Platforms
- 3
- Managed by
- ScotRail
- Passengers a year
- 451,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- Dunblane is the most northerly electrified station on the National Rail network.
- Historic Environment Scotland records that the red bricks of Tite's building came from a brickworks opened specially at Lecropt, using Carse clay, and were the first bricks used in central Scotland.
- When the new accessible footbridge opened in 2014, the old listed footbridge was taken down and re-erected at the heritage Bridge of Dun station.
Photos of Dunblane
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Dunblane Cathedral, whose tower dates from the 1100s, about 400 metres from the station Photo: PaddyBriggs, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
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William Tite's 1848 station building, built in red brick with crowstepped gables Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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The platforms and the 2014 footbridge at Dunblane Photo: Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Dunblane
Dunblane has three platforms: platform 1, beside the station building with the ticket office, toilets and waiting room, is where many trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow start and finish, while platforms 2 and 3 carry through trains north and south. The footbridge has lifts, so all platforms are step-free. The station is at the foot of the town on Station Road: the High Street starts a couple of hundred metres away and climbs to The Cross, where Dunblane Museum and the cathedral are about 400 metres from the station as the crow flies.
The station is just around the corner from Dunblane's narrow High Street, which leads up towards the museum and the cathedral.
Getting around
Dunblane is small enough to explore on foot from the station.
Other train services and connections
- ScotRail: trains to Edinburgh Waverley (via Falkirk Grahamston), Glasgow Queen Street (via Stirling), Dundee (via Perth) and a few to Aberdeen
- Caledonian Sleeper: overnight trains to London Euston and to Inverness
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms (category A), with lifts at the footbridge
- LiftsLifts from the footbridge to platform 1 and to the car park side
- StaffStaffed Mon–Fri 06:40–13:32, Sat 07:40–14:32; unstaffed on Sundays
- Ticket officeOn platform 1: Mon–Fri 06:40–13:00, Sat 07:40–14:00; closed Sundays
- Ticket machinesOn platform 1
- ToiletsOn platform 1 (RADAR key)
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomOn platform 1
- Wi-fiNo station wi-fi
- Food and drinkNo refreshments at the station
- Car parking102 council-managed spaces, 5 accessible bays
- Cycle storage13 sheltered spaces (stands and lockers)
- TaxisRank outside, across an uncontrolled crossing
- Help pointsOn all platforms
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Dunblane station opened with the Scottish Central Railway on 22 May 1848. Its single-storey building by William Tite, in red brick with crowstepped gables, stands on land that had been the parish minister's glebe until the church sold it in 1846, and the railway cut the old Bridgend quarter of the burgh in two, with many houses demolished to make way for it.
For more than a century Dunblane was also a junction for the Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway, which connected with the Callander and Oban line; it closed on 1 November 1965 under the Beeching cuts, and parts of its trackbed are now cycle paths. The line from Stirling was electrified as part of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, and a new footbridge with lifts replaced the original in 2014.
Half a day in Dunblane
A medieval cathedral and the town's own museum, up the High Street from the station.
-
Morning
Up the High Street
Walk up the narrow High Street to The Cross and Dunblane Museum, which covers the town's story from a 4,000-year-old necklace to the Murray brothers (open April to mid-October, Monday to Saturday).
-
Late morning
Dunblane Cathedral
Next door, look up at the 1100s tower and the Gothic west doorway, and find the 15th-century choir stalls inside. Entry is free, but it can close for services.
-
Lunch
The Riverside
Head back down towards the station for lunch at The Riverside, a pub, kitchen and coffee house on Stirling Road.
Things to do near Dunblane
Dunblane Cathedral
A red sandstone tower from the 1100s, an ornate Gothic west doorway and rare 15th-century choir stalls make this one of Scotland's noblest medieval churches. Entry is free; as a working church it can close for services and events.
Dunblane Museum
Volunteer-run themed rooms covering Dunblane's long history, from a 4,000-year-old necklace to the Battle of Sheriffmuir and the Murray brothers' tennis careers. Free entry; open April to mid-October, Monday to Saturday (2026).
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Pub
The Riverside
A pub, kitchen and coffee house on Stirling Road serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with eight bedrooms.
Day trips from Dunblane
-
Stirling
Stirling Castle, the Old Town and the National Wallace Monument.
ScotRail trains take under 10 minutes and run several times an hour.
-
Perth
Perth Museum and the Stone of Destiny, and Scone Palace nearby.
ScotRail trains towards Dundee take about 30 minutes.
Annual events
-
The first Saturday in July
Doune and Dunblane Show
A one-day agricultural show, founded in 1947 and held each year at Keir Mains, between Dunblane and Doune.
Official website for Doune and Dunblane Show (opens in a new tab)
-
Usually in May (returning in 2027)
Dunblane ECO Fest
A community-led festival celebrating nature and local community ties, with events at venues around the town such as the Cathedral Halls.
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Dunblane
A handful of hotels and guest houses in Dunblane, with more choice in nearby Stirling.
Tips for your visit
- LNER calls here only with the southbound Highland Chieftain on Sundays (May–December 2026 timetable). There is no direct northbound LNER stop: from London, take the Highland Chieftain to Stirling and change to a ScotRail train.
- Dunblane Museum is run by volunteers and occasionally cannot open as scheduled; phone ahead if you are making a special trip.
Questions about Dunblane station
When does LNER stop at Dunblane?
Only on Sundays, with the southbound Highland Chieftain, which leaves at 12.30 and reaches King's Cross at 18.01 (May–December 2026 timetable). There is no northbound LNER call: from London, take the Highland Chieftain to Stirling and change to a ScotRail train.
How far is the cathedral from the station?
About 400 metres as the crow flies: walk up the High Street, which starts a couple of hundred metres from the station, to The Cross.
Is Dunblane station step-free?
Yes. National Rail rates it category A, with lifts at the footbridge.
Is the ticket office open on Sundays?
No. It opens Mon–Fri 06:40–13:00 and Sat 07:40–14:00 (September 2026). There is a ticket machine on platform 1.
Can I park at the station?
Yes: the council-managed car park has 102 spaces, including 5 accessible bays.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- lner.co.uk/travel-information/timetables/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane
- historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/dunblane-cathedral/
- historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/dunblane-cathedral/plan-your-visit/
- dunblanemuseum.org.uk/
- thetrainline.com/stations/dunblane
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/dbl/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB48964
- theriversidedunblane.co.uk/
- douneanddunblaneshow.co.uk/about
- ecofestdunblane.com/
- opentraintimes.com/schedule/W83163/2026-09-29
- opentraintimes.com/schedule/L87614/2026-09-29
Travelling to Dunblane?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.