Scotland Station code PIT
Pitlochry
Pitlochry guide: the salmon ladder at Pitlochry Dam, the Festival Theatre and the Pass of Killiecrankie, on LNER's Highland Chieftain.
- Around 6 hours 20 minutes from London
- 1 LNER route
- 3 things to do
Pitlochry Dam on the River Tummel, generating since 1950Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Pitlochry
Pitlochry is a Victorian resort town on the River Tummel, whose popularity took off after Queen Victoria's visit to the Highlands in 1842 and the railway's arrival in 1863. It remains a classic base for walkers, with hills such as Ben Vrackie on the doorstep.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, reached by a suspension bridge over the River Tummel, has been the area's cultural centre since 1951, and the adjoining Explorers Garden is worth a visit in its own right. At the town's hydro-electric dam, a fish ladder of 34 pools lets salmon bypass the dam, and a few miles north, the wooded gorge of Killiecrankie was the scene of a Jacobite battle in 1689.
Journey
PIT- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 6 hours 20 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Inverness stop 18 of 24 | Dunkeld & Birnam | Blair Atholl |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Only one LNER train a day each way: the Highland Chieftain, 6 hours 21 minutes from King's Cross on Saturdays (6 hours 24 minutes on weekdays) in the May–December 2026 timetable.
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
- 1863 (rebuilt in the 1890s)
- Architect
- Highland Railway; the 1890s buildings were designed under its engineer-in-chief, William Roberts
- Heritage status
- Category A listed
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- ScotRail
- Passengers a year
- 131,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The cast-iron drinking fountain on the platform, decorated with a heron, was moved here from Strathyre station.
- Pitlochry Station Bookshop has sold second-hand books for charity from an unused part of the building since 2006; run entirely by volunteers, it had donated more than £500,000 by 2026.
- Both platforms were lengthened in 2019 as part of a £57 million Network Rail upgrade that also resignalled the station.
Photos of Pitlochry
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Pitlochry Dam on the River Tummel, generating since 1950 Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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The crowstepped main building at Pitlochry, rebuilt by the Highland Railway in the 1890s Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Pitlochry's platforms and Highland Railway lattice footbridge in June 2025 Photo: Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Pitlochry's main street, with the hills of Highland Perthshire beyond Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall from Edinburgh, UK, CC BY 2.0
Arriving at Pitlochry
Platform 1, with the main building, ticket office, waiting room and toilets, is reached by a ramp from the car park; platform 2 has its own ramped access from a drop-off point, but the only link between the two is the footbridge. There are no ticket machines. The station is on Station Road, about 150 metres from Atholl Road, the main street. The dam visitor centre is about 350 metres to the south-west as the crow flies, and the Festival Theatre lies across the River Tummel, reached by a suspension bridge. There is no taxi rank at the station.
The station is in Pitlochry itself, and the dam visitor centre says it is easily reached on foot from the town centre.
Getting around
The town centre, theatre and dam can be explored on foot. Killiecrankie is 3 miles north of the town.
Other train services and connections
- ScotRail: Highland Main Line trains to Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness
- Caledonian Sleeper: picks up for London Euston six nights a week
Station facilities
- Step-free accessRamps to both platforms, but the footbridge between them has stairs (category B1)
- StaffStaffed Mon–Sat 08:05–18:30, Sun 10:40–18:20
- Ticket officeOn platform 1: Mon–Sat 08:05–17:30, Sun 10:40–17:20
- Ticket machinesNone
- ToiletsIn the platform 1 waiting room, during ticket office hours
- Waiting roomsOn platform 1 and platform 2
- ShopsVolunteer-run charity bookshop in the station building
- Wi-fiNo station wi-fi
- Car parking12 spaces run by ScotRail, 4 accessible bays; £1.50 a day when checked
- Cycle storage12 spaces (stands and lockers)
- TaxisNo taxi rank
- Help pointsOn both 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
The Inverness and Perth Junction Railway reached Pitlochry from Dunkeld on 1 June 1863 and completed the line north to Aviemore on 9 September, creating a through route to Inverness; two years later the company became part of the Highland Railway. The railway helped turn Pitlochry into a popular Victorian holiday resort.
The Highland Railway rebuilt the station in the 1890s: the crowstepped stone main building, a weatherboarded timber building on the northbound platform designed under its engineer-in-chief William Roberts, and a standard lattice footbridge, with a signal box added in 1911. Historic Environment Scotland lists the whole group at Category A as an outstanding example of a Highland Railway station.
A day in Pitlochry
Salmon, theatre and a Jacobite battlefield in Highland Perthshire.
-
Morning
The dam and fish ladder
Walk down to Pitlochry Dam, a few minutes from the station, to see the fish ladder and the visitor centre's exhibitions on hydro power and salmon; check its opening days before you go.
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Late morning
Across the Tummel
Cross the suspension bridge to Pitlochry Festival Theatre and wander through the Explorers Garden beside it (closed on Mondays).
-
Lunch
An all-day bistro
Back on Atholl Road, Victoria's has been serving brunch, lunch and dinner since 1996.
-
Afternoon
Killiecrankie
Head 3 miles north to the wooded gorge of Killiecrankie, scene of the 1689 battle, and find Soldier's Leap.
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Evening
A show or a pint
Return for an evening performance at the Festival Theatre, or live music at The Old Mill Inn on Fridays and Saturdays.
Things to do near Pitlochry
Pitlochry Dam and fish ladder
The dam and power station began generating in 1950 as part of the Tummel Valley scheme. Its famous fish ladder of 34 tiered pools helps salmon and sea trout upstream, and the visitor centre explains how.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Scotland's 'Theatre in the Hills' has staged work since 1951; its 2026 season includes My Fair Lady from 21 November to 31 December. The Explorers Garden alongside is open daily except Mondays in season (2026).
Killiecrankie
A wooded river gorge where the Battle of Killiecrankie was fought on 27 July 1689. Visit Soldier's Leap and look out for red squirrels; the visitor centre and site are free, with a charge for parking.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Restaurant
Victoria's
A family-owned all-day bistro on the main street, serving brunch, lunch and dinner since 1996.
-
Pub
The Old Mill Inn
A pub and bistro on Mill Lane, with free live music every Friday and Saturday night throughout the year.
-
Restaurant
Fern Cottage
Part of Pitlochry's dining scene since 2002, with a menu where 'Scotland meets the Mediterranean'.
-
Pub
Moulin Inn
A village inn that first opened its doors in 1695, with its own Moulin Brewery, opened in 1995.
Day trips from Pitlochry
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Blair Atholl
White-harled Blair Castle and the Atholl estate trails.
ScotRail trains take about 10 minutes, but not every train stops; check times.
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Dunkeld & Birnam
A riverside cathedral, the Hermitage's tall Douglas firs and ospreys at Loch of the Lowes.
ScotRail trains take about 12 minutes.
Annual events
-
October to early November (8 October – 8 November 2026)
The Enchanted Forest
An after-dark sound and light show in Faskally Wood, reached by a shuttle bus from the centre of Pitlochry that is included in the ticket.
Official website for The Enchanted Forest (opens in a new tab)
-
Usually the second Saturday in September (next: 11 September 2027)
Pitlochry Highland Games
Heavy events, pipe bands, Highland dancing and a tug o' war championship on the Recreation Ground by Ferry Road.
Official website for Pitlochry Highland Games (opens in a new tab)
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Pitlochry
A wide range of hotels and guest houses – Pitlochry has long been a holiday town.
Tips for your visit
- The Highland Chieftain is LNER's only through train on this line: it leaves London King's Cross at 12.03 every day and Inverness at 07.55 Monday to Saturday (09.40 on Sundays) in the May–December 2026 timetable, so plan around it and reserve a seat.
- Edradour Distillery near Pitlochry was closed to visitors until further notice (as of September 2026), so don't plan a trip around it without checking.
Questions about Pitlochry station
How far is Pitlochry station from the town centre?
Very close: Atholl Road, the main street, is about 150 metres from the station.
Is Pitlochry station step-free?
Both platforms have ramped access – platform 1 from the car park and platform 2 from a drop-off point – but the only link between them is a footbridge with stairs (National Rail category B1).
Can I buy tickets at the station?
Yes, at the ticket office on platform 1 (Mon–Sat 08:05–17:30, Sun 10:40–17:20 in September 2026). There are no ticket machines.
How do I get to the Enchanted Forest?
A shuttle bus runs from the departure point in the centre of Pitlochry to Faskally Wood and is included in the ticket.
Are there taxis at the station?
No, there is no taxi rank at the station, and parking is limited to 12 spaces.
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/Pitlochry_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitlochry
- pitlochrydam.com/
- pitlochrydam.com/about/opening-hours-travel-and-location/
- pitlochrydam.com/exhibitions/salmon-life-cycle/
- pitlochrydam.com/exhibitions/pitlochry-dam/
- pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/
- nts.org.uk/visit/places/killiecrankie
- nts.org.uk/visit/places/killiecrankie/planning-your-visit
- edradour.com/
- thetrainline.com/stations/pitlochry
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/pit/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB39867
- victorias-pitlochry.co.uk/
- theoldmillpitlochry.co.uk/
- theoldmillpitlochry.co.uk/music/
- ferncottagepitlochry.co.uk/our-story/
- moulinhotel.co.uk/inn/history.php
- moulinhotel.co.uk/inn/brewery.php
- enchantedforest.org.uk/our-2026-show/
- pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk/
- opentraintimes.com/schedule/C14674/2026-09-29
- opentraintimes.com/schedule/L87271/2026-09-29
Travelling to Pitlochry?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.