A few years ago we decided to visit Scotland. We were always attracted to this country and it was always on our bucket list. So finally, the moment arrived and we started to prepare for the upcoming visit. We specially explored the famous Harry Potter train in Scotland. I knew I wanted to at least see it since we were planning our route and saw that the route of Harry Potter train passes near our planned route. So we put that train on our bucket list and it has proven to be one of the highlights of this trip to Scotland.
During our previous trips to foreign countries, we discovered that renting a car is the best way to explore around so we decided to repeat what we used to do and rented a car as soon as we landed in Scotland. It’s not so expensive, especially if you book your car a month or two earlier, and it gives you great freedom to explore at your own pace.
But this article isn’t about our visit to Scotland in general, We’ll leave that for another one. This blog entry is all about one of the things this country is famous for – the Harry Potter train in Scotland. We’ll discover you how we chased this unique train across the most stunning landscapes we have ever seen and we’ll share other useful tips with you.
So pack up your wands and potions, we’re going on a ride!
about the harry potter train in scotland (jacobite steam train)
I was never a huge fan of the Harry Potter series although I watched all of the movies several times (EDIT: In the meantime, I really got to like the series). And if you have watched Harry Potter as well you probably noticed that steam train that takes all the wizards to Hogwarts. It’s called Hogwarts Express in the movies. You could say that the Harry Potter series made this train to be even more famous, maybe even a bit too famous if you ask me. Because nowadays it’s hard to find a free spot on this train and I believe Harry Potter is to blame for that. Everybody simply wants to ride it because their favorite wizard did that as well. And I can’t blame anyone for that, I believe it’s once in a lifetime experience.
Mallaig, ending destination of a Harry Potter Train in Scotland
As we were researching about Scotland and planning our road trip through it we stumbled upon the Harry Potter train in Scotland and that’s proven to be a Jacobite steam train in reality. At that moment I still didn’t know that it was a Harry Potter train but seeing in on the famous Glenfinnan viaduct the whole thing became much clearer. I immediately knew that we’d chase this train as it passes through Scotland’s wilderness, not only because it’s the Harry Potter train, but because it’s the steam train and it passes through some of the most beautiful landscapes of this planet. Can you find a better combination?
“Why trains?” – you might ask me. Well, that story goes back to my childhood. With many male members in my family working on a railroad I spend quite some time playing around with trains and wagon wheels. And gradually, love toward trains and railroad was born. It’s a peculiar kind of love because I don’t know many people who dislike trains. They are simply lovable and still the most romantic kind of transport. And they will probably have that ‘special’ vibe forever.
- Harry Potter Train in Scotland Features:
- Authentic steam locomotive with vintage carriages and it looks absolutely amazing.
- Comfortable seating and large windows for enjoying the landscape of Scotland.
- Booking first-class compartments for a more luxurious experience is advisable. You’ll see that this train can get pretty crowded so make sure you book your ride on time.
Where is the Harry Potter Train in Scotland?
The Harry Potter Train, also known as Jacobite Steam Train, operates on the West Highland Line in Scotland, and it’s one of the most scenic railway routes in the world. If you are not a Harry Potter fan, but you are a railway fan, you still need to see this train. Or even ride it for the full experience.
The journey of the jacobite Steam Train starts in the town of Fort William and ends in the coastal village of Mallaig. Both of these locations are located in the Scottish Highlands, a region known for its stunning landscapes. Add a steam train to equation and you’ve got it all.
So let’s conclude:
- Starting Point of Harry Potter Train in Scotland: Fort William, a small town located underneath Ben Nevis, the highest mountain peak in UK.
- End Point: Mallaig, a small fishing village with nice views of the nearby Isle of Skye, another location that blew our mind during our visit to Scotland. We later used ferry from Mallaig to reach Isle of Skye.
- Distance: Approximately 41 miles (66 kilometers) one way.
How Long is the Harry Potter Train Ride in Scotland?
The round-trip journey on the Harry Potter Train (Jacobite Steam Train) takes about 6 hours in total, including a stopping in Mallaig which gives you opportunity to explore this small village. The train schedule might be different from when we have visited so make sure you check the timetable on the official website of this unique train.
Here’s what the usual trip on Harry Potter train looks like:
- Outbound Journey: From Fort William to Mallaig (approximately 2 hours).
- Stopover in Mallaig: Around 1.5 hours, more than enough to explore the village and enjoy in one of the restaurants or cafes.
- Return Journey: Mallaig to Fort William (approximately 2 hours).
- Notable Stops Along the Way:
- Glenfinnan Viaduct: The 21-arch viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films is one of the main landmarks of the Harry Potter train route.
- Loch Shiel: You can recognize this one as the Black Lake near Hogwarts in movies.
- Arisaig: Offers great views of the Small Isles, including Eigg, Muck, and Rum.
How to Ride the Harry Potter Train in Scotland
During our stay in Scotland, we were thinking a lot about whether to book tickets to a Harry Potter Train or observe it from the outside. We didn’t have enough time for both experiences. Unfortunately. Finally, we have decided to observe the train from the outside and that our first stop will be famous Glenfinnan Viaduct featured in Harry Potter series.
But we were still researching a lot about riding the train and here are our conclusions:
1. Book Tickets in Advance
The Harry Potter Train is extremely popular, especially during the summer months and school holidays. It’s often full to the last seat so we recommend booking tickets as soon as possible. Visiting outside the main season is another of our advice if you want to enjoy riding on this train in a more peaceful environment.
- Where to Book Tickets:
- Online through the official West Coast Railways website.
- Via authorized travel agents or tours offered online.
- Ticket Types:
- Standard Class: Comfortable seating and great views, although it can be crowded.
- First Class: More legroom when it comes to seating, complimentary drinks, and an overall better experience.
2. Plan Your Trip
There are many other things to do and see around the Harry Potter train route so we advise you to plan your visit and include some other activities too. Especially if you are visiting with children. Or if you’re a couple and you love hiking too, why not include a hike to Ben Nevis to your trip too? There are many options so make sure you research them all for even better experience.
- Getting to Fort William:
- By car: About 3 hours from Glasgow or approximately 2 hours from Inverness.
- By train: You can connect via the West Highland Line.
- By bus: Regular services are available from major Scottish cities.
- Best Time to Visit:
- The Harry Potter train in Scotland operates from April to October, with the summer months usually having the best weather and longer daylight hours which can be useful if you plan on doing other activities too.
3. Arrive Early
Early bird catches the worm. Whenever we book something online, whether it’s public transport or any kind of activity in which arriving early can make a difference, we’re usually the first ones to show. When it comes to Harry Potter train in Scotland, arriving early can mean you’ll get seat by the window, while arriving late might mean you’ll sit on someone’s lap. You won’t but hey, it’s not far from the truth.
Arrive at Fort William as early as possible and enjoy the experience.
Tours featuring the Harry Potter Train
Highlights of the Jacobite Steam Train Journey
The Harry Potter Train passes through one of the most stunning landscapes we have ever seen on our journeys. Maybe we are biased because we were so impressed by the Scotland as in general, but you can tell from our images that the route of this train passes through some beautiful landscapes and landmarks along the way.
1. Crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct
Perhaps the most magical moment of the journey aboard the Harry Potter Train especially for the young ones. Glenfinnan Viaduct is featured in movies and it offers magical views of Loch Shiel and the surrounding Scottish Highlands. A lot of people came to take photos of this train right at this location and we did the same (although the weather was not the best). Drone flying is prohibited at this place too. We were disappointed by this fact since we had our drone ready and we’re looking forward to capturing maybe the best material so far, but we respected the law and our drone never took of near the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
2. Views of Loch Morar
Loch Morar is one of the deepest freshwater lakes in Europe and you can see it while traveling on a Harry Potter train in Scotland.
3. Exploring Mallaig
During the stop at Mallaig which is a part of every journey on this train, you can:
- Walk through the harbor and enjoy fresh and local seafood.
- Take a short boat trip to explore nearby islands if the time allows.
- Visit local shops for souvenirs.
Tips for a Magical Experience
Magical train calls for a magical experience. To ensure you have the best experience we suggest you:
- Choose Your Seat Wisely: Seats on the left-hand side of the train offer the best views on the outbound journey toward Mallaig.
- Bring Snacks and Drinks: While these are available on board, bringing your own ensures you’re prepared and you’ll save some money too.
- Dress Comfortably: Weather in the Scottish Highlands can change very quickly, so dress in layers. Good shoes are also advisable.
- Don’t Forget Your Camera: The journey on the Harry Potter Train in Scotland offers many photo opportunities. While your mobile phone might be enough, you can get some great photo material if you’re going to use professional cameras and additional lenses.
Other Nearby Attractions to Explore
If you’re visiting the Scottish Highlands, it’s advisable to put some other attractions and activities on your itinerary:
- Ben Nevis: The highest mountain in UK, great for hiking and outdoor adventures. Located near Fort William, the starting point of the Jacobite Steam Train ride.
- Neptune’s Staircase: A series of canal locks near Fort William.
- Isle of Skye: Island that can be reached from Mallaig via ferry, our favorite part of Scotland, even though the weather was terrible during our 2 days stay on it.
- Glen Coe: A stunning valley famous for its hiking trails.
Our Experience with Chasing the Harry Potter Train across Scotland
We already told you that we have decided to observe and take some photos of the Harry Potter Train from the outside, at the Glennfinan Viaduct to be more precise. We came at the location night before, decided to sleep in a car and walk toward the photo point according to the train driving schedule.
Here’s what our chase with the train looked like.
harry potter train in scotland at glenfinnan viaduct
We never chose not to ride the Harry Potter train in Scotland. We read that you need to book your place a few weeks earlier, the train is overcrowded and so on. So we decided we’re going to take some shoots of the train on the Glenfinnan viaduct, one of the most famous landmarks of this railway. Everything was set, we came to Scotland, we brought all photo equipment as we always do, the drone was ready to take some stunning images… We spent the night before sleeping in a car on a parking spot near the Glenfinnan viaduct.
We woke up with the first cars parked near us. It was a rainy day, nothing unusual for Scotland as I believe, you already know. Although it was raining a lot we still decided to take a drone with us, along with standard hand held cameras. And so we were walking toward the viaduct along with some other folks who came here because of the same reason. Some came to see the Jacobite steam train and some came to see the famous Harry Potter train. Some came because of the train, some came because of the movie.
Somewhere near halfway toward our shooting point there was a sign clearly saying that drone shooting is forbidden. “Noooo” – I cried inside myself but at the same time, it was easier to deal with forbidden flying than no flying because of the rain. So to be short, our drone never took of and we never got aerial images of the Jacobite steam train on Glenfinnan viaduct.
Despite the rain, we managed to take some conventional images that came out just right. And that was it, the moment we had been preparing for quite some time passed in just a few seconds. A little bit sad because of the missed opportunity we chose to drown the sadness in a nearby cafe near the Glenfinnan viaduct. The cafe is Glenfinnan dining car and it’s basically wagon made into a nice cozy and warm cafe.
A little bit wet from filming the Harry Potter train in Scotland, we found everything we need in this wagon – coffee, food, and warmth. And somewhere in the middle of drinking coffee, the ingenious idea came up: “Let’s film the train on its way back from Mallaig!!”. I shared my thoughts with Andrea who wasn’t so happy with the idea. I think she has had enough of being wet from waiting for a Jacobite Steam train in the first place. She doesn’t share my love for trains but I managed to persuade her.
Second chance and drone shots
Two hours and dozen of miles later we were in the middle of Scotland waiting for the same train again. With 2 small differences – it wasn’t raining and nature was much more beautiful. It was at this moment that I realized that Glenfinnan viaduct is, although very nice, maybe a little bit exaggerated as well.
So we prepared the photo equipment one more time and the drone was ready to fly. Half an hour have passed since we heard a steam engine running in the distance and we knew that this was the moment we were waiting for. And what a sight it was, to see a Jacobite steam train pass through Scotland’s landscape leaving nothing but a vapor trail. Magical sight indeed. We ended up with some nice memories of this train in the form of photography.
a good tip for sightseeing the harry potter train in scotland
And so our chase of the Harry Potter train in Scotland proved to be successful. If it wasn’t for this train we would probably just driven through this part of Scotland which came out to be one of the best parts we visited in this beautiful country. Some tips regarding the Jacobite steam train? Well, try to avoid Glenfinnan viaduct and drive just a few miles out toward the coast.
Nature there is simply amazing and there are many spots where you can observe this train from a very close range. As I already mentioned, drone flying is forbidden near the Glenfinnan viaduct so if you plan to do some drone filming you need to choose some other place. But the biggest tip of all would be – if you are visiting Scotland go and see the Jacobite train and landscape it’s passing through. You’re welcome.
Before You Venture On This Magical Train Ride
Riding the Jacobite Steam Train is more than just a journey; it’s a magical adventure that brings the beauty of Scotland’s Highlands to life. Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan or simply seeking one of the world’s most scenic train rides, this experience is sure to leave you enchanted. Plan your trip, book your tickets, and get ready to ride the Harry Potter Train in Scotland!
If you’re visiting Croatia by any chance in the upcoming years, explore our Croatia Travel Blog for ideas and inspiration.