Glenfinnan Viaduct loop

Anyone who has the famous Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct on their travel wish list is probably a true "Potterhead" 🧙‍♂️ and dreams of that one scene in which the red steam locomotive – the "Hogwarts Express" – passes over it. Twice a day, the slopes surrounding the viaduct are populated by tourists from all over the world. Everyone eagerly awaits THE photo opportunity – the Jacobite Stream Train, steaming and chugging over the 21 stone arches. You should be in the parking lot at least an hour before the train arrives to snag one of the hard-fought spots – or even a little earlier. But why wait and not combine a hike with the photo spectacle? The Glenfinnan Viaduct Trail leads through beautiful nature in the Scottish Highlands and offers absolutely stunning views. 🤩 What's more, you have it almost to yourself, since most people are far too lazy to venture further than the viewpoint. Extremely convenient, I'd say! From the parking lot at the Visitor Center, we first head to the Glenfinnan Monument on the shores of Loch Shiel. The tower, which also serves as a memorial to a Jacobite uprising, can also be climbed. We continue walking along the lake, passing a beautiful church and honesty box, and finally reach the Glenfinnan railway station. Here, there's not only a small museum, but also a quirky café where you're served in an old railway carriage – it certainly looks cute! 😊 We now climb past miniature railway tracks, and the trail becomes more impressive with every meter of elevation. On narrow paths and wooden boardwalks, we enjoy the views of the lush green hills and Loch Shiel. We somehow didn't expect such postcard-perfect scenery here! 🤩 Still, the highlight is of course the viewpoint overlooking the railway viaduct, which is a real eye-catcher even without the steam train! I think this little circular walk is worth it even if you're not a Harry Potter fan! 😉

Following in Harry Potter's footsteps, we endured even the light rain until the Jacobite Train finally arrived 😊

When it's wet, sturdy shoes with a good tread and possibly thick soles are recommended, as the stones that serve as steps are slippery and the paths can be very muddy in places. It has been shown that from late afternoon onwards there is much less going on and parking is easier to find (including free parking along the road). However, if you want to see the Harry Potter Steam Train, you should check the travel times on the website beforehand.

On the way to Glasgow, we stopped off for the Hogwarts Express... It's amazing that 20 years after the first Harry Potter films, there's still such a hype. When the steam locomotive crossed the viaduct around 3:00 PM, there were probably 100-200 people gathered on the slopes.

On the way to Aberfoyle, we made a short stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Also known as the "Harry Potter Bridge," it is part of the West Highland Line, which runs from Fort William to Mallaig. The train that runs on the viaduct is the Jacobite Steam Train, also known as the Hogwarts Express in the films. Greetings, F®️anjo

Lovely walk and gave the kids a bit of a challenge (youngest is 7).

Today we went in the footsteps of Harry Potter! Once around the Glenfinnan Viaduct, over which the Hogwarts Express travels in the film... Beautiful circular route without major requirements!

Beautiful walk with lovely views. Allows you to quickly escape from the crowds of Harry Potter fans.