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Sidings Café's converted railway carriage stands beside picnic tables in bright sunshine.
Morayshire

Sidings Cafe

A cafe in two 1950s railway carriages at Dufftown station, serving light lunches, home bakes and cream teas for the heritage trains.

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Welcome

At Dufftown station, two railway carriages from the 1950s have been parked for good beside the platform and turned into one of the most charming cafes in Speyside.

The Sidings is painted a deep railway maroon outside, with picnic tables and old milk churns along the platform, and inside the wood-panelled dining car is laid with tablecloths and little vases of flowers.

The food is simple and fresh, made from local produce: soup of the day, sandwiches, stuffed rolls, quiche, and a counter of home bakes to go with a pot of tea.

It is a natural stop before or after a trip on the Keith and Dufftown heritage railway, which leaves from the same platform. If you want a cream tea on the train, order it at least two days ahead. The cafe opens for the season from Tuesday to Sunday.

Before you go

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, in its season.

Cream teas for the train need 48 hours' notice.

Where
Dufftown Station, AB55 4BB.
In
Two 1950s railway carriages.
For
Light lunches, home bakes, cream teas.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10am–4pm
Wednesday
10am–4pm
Thursday
10am–4pm
Friday
10am–4pm
Saturday
10am–4pm
Sunday
10am–4pm

Did you know

Sidings Café's sign is fixed to the maroon-liveried carriage that houses it.
Did you know

Two carriages from the 1950s.

The cafe is housed in two former railway carriages from the 1950s.

Rows of cloth-covered tables line Sidings Café's carriage beneath curtained windows.
Did you know

Cream tea on the train.

Cream teas for the heritage train must be ordered at least 48 hours ahead.

Ben Lerwill

From our guide to Moray

This memorable café occupies a pair of period railway carriages, now permanently parked at Dufftown station. Expect a relaxed atmosphere in keeping with the 1950s, as well as breakfast rolls, home-bakes, light lunches and afternoon tea.

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Where it is

At Dufftown station, on the edge of Dufftown, AB55 4BB.

Close byDufftown.
  1. Dufftown station sign mounted on a wooden shed with railway carriage alongsideThe Keith & Dufftown RailwayThe heritage trains from the platform.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. Glenfiddich DistilleryGlenfiddich DistilleryThe distillery beside the line.Under a mile2 min by road
  3. BEINN Coffee & Books, MorayshireBEINN Coffee & BooksA coffee shop with a bookshop behind it on Balvenie Street in Dufftown, open every day from eight.Under a mile2 min by road
  4. DufftownDufftownThe whisky town.1 mile3 min by road
  5. Speyside CooperageSpeyside CooperageA working cooperage near Craigellachie, making and mending whisky casks since 1947, with a viewing gallery above the coopers at work.3 miles4 min by road
  6. The Fiddichside InnThe Fiddichside Inn4 miles7 min by road
Directions
Ruined stone castle atop a grassy mound beneath a cloudy skyAttractionsAuchindoun Castle3.8 miles
A cast-iron arched bridge with castellated stone towers spans a rocky river gorge, pine-covered cliffs rising on the far bank.AttractionsCraigellachie3.9 miles
War memorial with poppy wreaths in front of a stone church towerRestaurantsAberlour Hotel5.3 miles
Concrete trig point overlooking layered hills at sunsetWalksBen Rinnes6.8 miles
Cardhu distillery building with pagoda roofs and red door under grey skyAttractionsCardhu Distillery11 miles
Long spinning frame with wound bobbins fills a stone-walled mill roomRestaurantsKnockando Woolmill12 miles
The Inveravon Pictish stones in their lit porch at the church, grey slabs carved with an eagle, discs and a crescent.AttractionsInveravon Pictish Stones12 miles
Turreted grey castle with ivy-covered wing and yellow flag against a blue skyAttractionsBallindalloch Castle and Gardens13 miles
The Gatehouse, MorayshireMorayshireThe GatehouseSleeps 4 · 20 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the cafe, and when each is next free.

The timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.Callie Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Morayshire
  • 14 miles from the Sidings
Free 16–18 OctThe Gatehouse, MorayshireThe Gatehouse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from the Sidings
Check datesA yellow-harled tower house with battlements flies a flag above conical yew trees and a lawn.Innes House
  • Sleeps 38
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from the Sidings
Check datesA white harled farmhouse with a slate roof and chimneys stands amid greenery under a blue sky.Viewfield Farmhouse
  • Sleeps 8
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from the Sidings
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in MorayshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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