Writing this post I am still buzzing with excitement at how much I enjoyed this experience, it was truly a highlight of my trip to Scotland. To give you an idea – if you had told 7 year old Chelsie she would be riding the real life Hogwarts Express one day she would have probably exploded with happiness haha!! So let me explain… The Jacobite Train (Hogwarts Express) was used for filming during the Harry Potter franchise and boasts the iconic red exterior, the charm of a proper steam train and of course, the breathtaking highlands along the way – all shown throughout the films.
The train departs from Fort William or Malliag during the summer season so is the perfect addition to your Scottish highlands travels. Make sure to look up when the train actually arrives, not just when the train departs so you can have plenty of photo opportunities and get a chance to see the front of the train as you will not be able to view it from the Fort William Station when you arrive (I departed from Malliag) as it immediately gets separated from the carriages and taken away.
I ensured to get there well before the train departed so I could geek out and get as many photos as possible!
To get the postcard shot of the Jacobite Train going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (the arched bridge featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets during the flying car scene) be sure to have a window seat on the right if you are travelling from Mallaig to Fort William and vice versa if travelling from Fort William to Mallaig.
Booking Information:
The Jacobite Train runs from mid-May until the end of October and has a morning and afternoon service.
Adult One Way – £53.00
Child One Way £26.00
Running times and availability is subject to change and during peak season tickets do sell out so please visit their website here for a detailed breakdown of prices (for instance if you wanted a return trip), bookings and dates.
Overall, I cannot recommend this trip enough – not only for the Harry Potter fans among you! You not only get to see some of the most surreal Scottish landscape but get to experience the charm of a steam train which is a unique experience in itself. If you have any questions in regard to this trip do not hesitate to comment and I will answer to the best of my ability!
Suitcase And I rode the Jacobite Train as a paying customer and as always, the opinions in my review are my own.