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SCOTLAND
Highlands'golf with Harry Potter's train

- What to see

Is this sad story of the Jacobites the reason why it is said that the heart of Scotland beats in the Highlands? Anyway the mountainous region of the Highlands, generally sparsely populated out of millions of sheep grazing all around even on steep cliff, is popularly considered as one of the most scenic in Europe. And there are different ways to discover it.

- Jacobite, Harry Potter's scenic train

The films of Harry Potter have used part of the route on which the Jacobite train runs. The scene of "Hogwarts Express" travelling across a viaduct was filmed on the 31 arched Glenfinnan Viaduct, some 16 miles west of Fort William. It is where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745. From the train, there is a wonderful view over Loch Shiel. In the centre of the area, directly in front of the loch, is the Glenfinnan Monument, a 65 feet high column, erected in 1815 to commemorate this historical event.

In fact, described as one of the great railway journeys of the world, this Jacobite trip takes travellers past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain (Ben Nevis), it slows down near the far end of the Moss to cross the Caledonian Canal along the Neptune’s Staircase (a row of locks, the longest gate system in Britain). It visits Britain's most westerly mainland railway station (Arisaig), then passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar), and the shortest river in Britain (River Morar) and finally arrives next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe - Loch Nevis.

For those who never have seen the Scottish Highlands scenery, the Jacobite is the best open video to be watched with its cascades and streams rolling down between the hills and mountains, and its multiple greens from light to dark paint the landscape in sort of fatigues stripes studded with thousands of white sheep. And students in costume play bagpipe at each station where the train stops.
On a clear summer's day from Arisaig one can see the "Small Isles" of Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna and the southern tip of Skye. From there the train passes Morar and the silvery beaches used in the films "Highlander" and "Local Hero". Even on a not sunny but misty day, ocean winds push the waves to the tormented coasts splashing against the rocks or invading the immense beaches with large band of white foam.

The final destination is Mallaig, access point to the Isle of Skye with the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry and the thriving fishing community where to get a tasty local fisher’s soup.

The train leaves Fort William at 10:20am and returns to Fort William at 4:00pm with an hour and a half stop in Mallaig. Great way to spend the day! Attention, it operates only from end of May to mid of October.

Early reservation is highly recommended moreover for the comfortable first class seats where coffee and snacks are served on the old tables. But take care when browsing out of the windows not to catch cinder in the eyes: it is still a steam train and coal is its energy.

Jacobite train on the viaduct

at Glenfinnan

along t he Neptunes

Student piping at a station

Mallaigh