There are many scenic railway journeys in Britain, but here is probably one of the most scenic routes a train can take in Britain across the Scottish Highlands following the route of the Hogwarts Express.
We start off in the Scottish Highlands which has been renowned for it’s rugged natural beauty for hundreds of years. For a Highlands railway journey to go from simply very nice to magical, you really do have to go by steam train as the white smoke bellowing from the engine contrasts against the greens and browns of the landscape.
The journey starts off in the pretty town of Fort William close to the foot of Ben Nevis (Britain’s highest mountain) and on the shores of Loch Linnhe. Harry Potter fans might recognise some of the carriages pulled by the Jacobite train from the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.
Away from Fort William the train crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan curved viaduct which was also seen in the Harry Potter films and overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument. The train often stops on the viaduct allowing passengers to take in the spectacular views. Once stopped in the Glenfinnan Station, passengers can visit the West Highland Railway Museum located in the station.
The next stop is the tiny village of Arisaig, where it’s possible to take a boat to the Small Isles (during Summer months), and where the local Highland Games take place at the end of July each year.
The end of the line is Mallaig, a popular fishing village and ferry terminal for Skye and the outer isles. There are plenty of shops and other attractions to take advantage of with around one and a half hours before the train departs back to Fort William.
This journey is run by West Coast Railways.
Resources along the route:
Fort William visitor attractions
Fort William hotels
Fort William self-catering cottages
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[...] over a high railway bridge. This wasn’t computer generated – the bridge is called the Glenfinnan viaduct on the line from Fort William to Mallaig in Scotland, with views down to the loch [...]