Where history meets magic framed by the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands
It started as a breakfast conversation over pastries, French Toast, and coffee in Fort William's Garrison Hotel. How to pass the time on a typically Scottish rainy day? We knew the Glenfinnan Viaduct was nearby and it had an appeal for my youngest daughter, Julia. Though an adult now, she had grown up with the magic of Harry Potter and this was a trip to the Harry Potter Bridge over which the Hogwarts Express passed.
For us, it was a short 20-minute drive north towards Mallaig to get there. Between 4th April and 20th October 2022, you can go on the iconic steam train, The Jacobite Express, which runs from Fort William to Mallaig. Yes, this train is also known as The Hogwarts Express to many people around the world.
Yet it's not just magic that holds an appeal in this beautiful place. As soon as we parked the car, history was evident also nestling among the beauty of the Scottish mountains on the shores of Loch Shiel. Towering above the shores stands the Glenfinnan Monument. Erected in 1815 in honor of the Scottish Highlanders who had given their lives in the 1745 rebellion.
For it was here in 1745 that many Highlanders swore their allegiance to Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie as he came to be known. From here that an attempt began to restore the throne of Great Britain and Ireland to the Stuart Family. The starting point of a campaign that ended in tragedy on the field of Culloden.
We climbed steeply out of the car park to some high ground and a nearby viewpoint from there the viaduct, the monument, the mountains, and lochs could be seen in all their glory. We took the selfies and a lady who took our picture asked us what (Harry Potter) House we were in. We laughed.
"If I see anyone playing Cribbage, I'm out of here," I said. We laughed even harder as Julia corrected me. "It's called Quidditch Dad."
There was a whole network of paths in and around the site. for those who want to, you can walk out to the viaduct, above it into the hills, and back alongside the railway line into the village of Glenfinnan and the Train Station. With a drive back to Glasgow ahead of use, we were limited for time. We walked up to, and above the viaduct and then back to the shores of Loch Shiel before driving on to Mallaig for lunch.
To come here between April and October on any afternoon gives the opportunity of riding the steam train or picturing it as it passes and climbing the Glenfinnan Monument to stand with the lone Highlander at its top. Despite the fact that this place offers so much more than what we covered on a dreich rainy winters morning in January, even what we got was so much more than we expected. I'm already making my plans to come back.
Useful links
https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/glenfinnan-monument