Glenfinnan Viaduct: Is the Harry Potter (Jacobite) train worth it?
We went to Scotland on our honeymoon and I got hyped into visiting the Glenfinnan Viaduct for a view of the Harry Potter train. Now, it wasn’t part of our original plan considering how we were newlyweds on honeymoon. But my sister said I had to go and that it would be totally worth it. But was it really?
What is the Harry Potter train?
As a Harry Potter fan, you should know the answer to this question. But if you, like my husband, are married or dating a fan, you might wonder - “what even in the world is the Harry Potter train?” The real name of this train is the Jacobite train. Fans of the movies, call it the Hogwarts Express. The train runs a distance of 66kms between Fort William and Mallaig.
Can you ride the Harry Potter train in Scotland?
Yes! Fans will be naturally delighted by this answer. But know that the train takes approximately 2 hours to cover the distance and often runs a bit late. A return ticket for adults costs £65 and an entire compartment (if you’d like to channel your inner witch or wizard) will cost you £398.
Where to view the Harry Potter bridge in Scotland?
If you, like me, do not wish to ride the train but only view the famous bridge from all the photos, you need to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
How to reach Glenfinnan Viaduct
The easiest way to reach the Glenfinnan Viaduct is to drive there. The google location you’re looking for is this one. Alternatively, you can also reach the visitor centre via public transport - a bus from Fort William that takes approximately 30 minutes. If you’re in Fort William, you can also visit the train station to make a picture with the Hogwarts Express!
Parking at Glenfinnan Viaduct
There is a manned parking lot at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre. It does tend to get full and they can be a bit annoyed when dealing with too many cars. Get there a bit early if you’re visiting in peak season.
When to be there
We were advised to arrive 30 minutes before the train to factor parking time and the possibility that the train was early. Don’t do that. Just use a live tracker for the train and aim to arrive 20-25 minutes before unless you have a complex camera setup. The train takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the Glenfinnan Viaduct after it leaves Fort William.
What is the best time to view the Harry Potter train?
The train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct 4 times a day. But if you want to see it approaching you (as in the picture), you want to catch the train on its way to Mallaig from Fort William. That’s why you need to view the Harry Potter (Jacobite) train at 10:45 am or 01:15 pm.
Is the Harry Potter train view worth it?
I grew up with the books and I was a HUGE fan. Over the years, I’ve distanced myself from the series because of the author but the books still hold a special place in my heart. That said, I wasn’t wild about the idea of spending the whole day to see the train. We were driving up from Loch Lomond and would not have made it in time for the 10:45 train. The 13:15 train meant that we pretty much would get nothing else done as we still had to drive further to Fort William. We ended up getting drenched whilst waiting for the train which showed up over an hour and half later. I still squealed in delight when I saw it, but I think the experience is overhyped. Do it if you are going to be there anyway, but don’t go out of your way to see it. We waited 90 minutes in the rain (well, coz we had a sunk cost) for a 2 minute event. It took me 2 weeks and 3 washes to get the smell of rain out of my clothes.
