The accommodation is operated by Helmsdale Station Community Interest Company (HSCIC) as a non profit making concern. Any surplus goes to maintaining the station, promoting the Far North Line and assisting community projects. The station also includes a re-opened waiting room and visitor reception centre; a storeroom cum photographic darkroom cum studio – a multi used space for the benefit of station volunteers and available for use by residential photography and art courses which are based in the accommodation from time to time.
Downstairs
Downstairs there is a living room (the old ticket office), the original kitchen/dining room, scullery and, in place of a store room and a ladies toilet which was originally accessed from the station waiting room, a wet room with some facilities for the disabled.
-
- The Living Room is the old Ticket Office
-
- The Living Room
-
- The Living Room
-
- The original Kitchen / Dining Room
-
- The Kitchen / Utility Room
-
- The Wet Room with some facilities for the disabled.
The facilities include
- Electric cooker/hob, microwave, fridge, kettle, toaster
- Tea, sugar & instant coffee
- Washing machine and second sink in separate utility area
- Radio
- Wi-fi
- DVD / CD player
- Bed linen & towels included
- Initial supply of fuel for the wood burning stove
- Storage heaters and electric radiators – electricity included
- Drying room
Upstairs
-
- Old Waiting Room – double and single
-
- Shed 60C – 2 single
-
- Garden View – double.
-
- The Old Sitting Room – double and single.
Upstairs there is also bathroom and drying room. A double bed settee is provided in the Living Room and is available to anyone unable to climb the stairs.
Outside
A small garden plot is fenced off from the line but parents are reminded that a working railway station is a hazardous environment for young children.
Over the footbridge and through a gate from the northbound platform is a more extensive nature reserve area which was the site of the engine sheds. The turntable well remains a distinctive feature.
Parking is available close to the front door on the station car park.
This is a no smoking building, and because of the proximity of the railway line, no pets are permitted.
The accommodation is entirely self contained with its front door accessed through the private garden. The waiting room and storeroom/studio which share the building have their own entrances off the platform.
The direct access to the Station House from platform 2, the northbound platform, is only via the station footbridge. If stairs are an obstacle, there is a path / minor road route via the nearby road bridge This step-free route is around 400 yards. There is a direct access from the front door to platform 1, southbound, via a garden gate.
-
- The Platform by night seen from the Living Room
-
- Helmsdale Station after restoration.
-
- The Platform seen from the Living Room
