Dava railway station was opened in 1864, on the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway, one year after the route was opened.
The station layout was double platform (including passing loop). There was a standard Highland Railway overbridge connecting the platforms, at the north end of the platforms.
At 985 feet above sea-level, Dava was the third highest station on the Highland Railway network. The summit that followed south of the station (Dava Summit) reaches 1,052 feet.
The station was located in sparsely populated moorland, along a dirt track near the junction of the A939 and A940 (OS Grid Reference NJ008389). The purpose of a station at this location was to provide a passing loop with water columns (15 miles from and 16 miles to the first junction at), although the station did provide some facilities for the area, such as a post office.
The surrounding area is wild moorland (The Dava muir).
Goods services at Dava were first to end; the date of closure was 27 January 1964. A passenger service continued until 18 October 1965, when the station closed completely.
The station building, stationmaster's house, and platforms still remain. The stationmaster's house is a private residence. The standard overbridge no longer exists.
No replacement bus services exist to Dava. This remote area has not been served by public transport since the railway closed.