One of the most beautiful train routes in the world is in the Highlands of Scotland! The Jacobite Steam Train was made famous by the Harry Potter movies, where the train takes students to Hogwarts School of Magic.
In this article, I will give tips for seeing the Jacobite Steam Train on the Glenfinnan Viaduct, timetable, and also provide links to tours. If you are traveling in Scotland between April and October, you can travel on the Jacobite Train.
Jacobite Train and Glenfinnan Viaduct: travel tips
About Jacobite Steam Train
The train journey is 135 km long and leaves from Arisaig station, the westernmost station in Scotland. On the way you will see lakes, rivers, mountains, and beaches until you reach Mallaig near Glenfinnan. The service is provided by West Coast Railways.
The train also passes through Fort William, the largest city in the region, located near the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. Afterwards, the train reaches the Glenfinnan Viaduct, an 18th-century construction with 21 enormous arches that faces Lake Shiel and the Jacobite Monument.
The final stop is Mallaig, a fishing village founded in 1840 that became a small harbour with several ferries to the Isle of Skye and the Small Isles.
Train to Hogwarts in Harry Potter
The Glenfinnan Viaduct appears for the first time in The Philosopher’s Stone on Harry’s first trip to Hogwarts.
The most famous train scene, when Ron and Harry miss the train to Hogwarts and fly over the train with a car happens in the second movie.
In the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Dementors try to stop the train while passing the viaduct and try to attack Harry.
When does the Jacobite Steam Train run?
Traveling on this train needs attention and booking in advance, especially because it only runs from April to October.
Morning train: 28th March to 25th October 2024
Afternoon train: 6th May to 27th September 2024
Discover When is the best time to visit Scotland
How much does the train ticket cost?
First class adult return ticket costs £98 and standard cabin £65. A child ticket costs £64 or £36 respectively. If you are traveling with more people, you can rent your own cabin for £398 for 6 people.
The first class includes armchairs, special curtains, and vintage lamps with extra legroom, plus tea or coffee during the journey. You can have combinations of 4 seats together with a table or two armchairs facing each other.
The standard class doesn’t have that atmosphere, it’s very simple in combinations of 4 seats with a table in the middle. Drinks and food are not included in the ticket.
If you are traveling solo and want to visit the Highlands with the Jacobite train, I recommend this special tour:
The Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train 3-Day Highland Tour includes train ticket, 2 nights hotel, Skye tour, transport to Skye by car and ferry, and return to Edinburgh
Jacobite Train timetable
There are two departures every day from Fort William, as the train is round trip, pay attention to the times you can leave and stretch your legs.
Heads up! Please note that the first time of each line below corresponds to the morning service and the second to the afternoon service.
Sunday to Friday
- Departure from Fort William at 10:15 or 12:50
- Arrives in Mallaig at 12:26 or 15:06
- Departure from Mallaig at 14:10 or 17:00
- Arrival in Fort William at 16:03 or 18:52
Saturday hours
- Departure from Fort William at 10:15 or 12:50
- Arrives in Mallaig at 12:26 or 15:06
- Departure from Mallaig at 14:10 or 17:00
- Arrive in Fort William at 16:03 or 18:52
How to see the train on the Glenfinnan Viaduct?
If you didn’t get a train ticket, don’t worry! You can still see the train passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. It is a very cool experience, as the landscape is even more magical with the train, the viaduct, the lake, and the mountains.
How to get to Glenfinnan?
From Edinburgh by car take the M9 to Stirling and after towards Glencoe. This is one of the most beautiful routes I have ever seen after Fort William take a left towards Glenfinnan.
To get to the viaduct, drive to the Glenfinnan monument, where there is paid parking. The amount is £3.50 all day. Here you can visit the museum or eat something at the cafeteria.
If traveling solo, I recommend joining a tour of Highlands and Jacobite Train
Best place to see the Jacobite train
Head towards the path next to the tables on the parking lot and along the river. When you reach the crossroads STOP.
Look at the viaduct. Right-to-left trains come from Fort William. Left to right trains come from Mallaig. Pay attention to this information. Check the timetable below for the exact time and direction of the next train.
If you are going to see the train coming from Mallaig, take the left path. If you choose to see the train leaving Fort William, take the right path under the viaduct.
I advise you to go to the right, otherwise, you will see the train from behind.
The path is not difficult, it takes around 20 minutes walking. Maybe if it rains, it will be a little difficult to climb the small hill at the end of the path.
Jacobite Train timetable at Glenfinnan Viaduct
From Sunday to Friday
The morning train departs Fort William at 10:15 am and passes over the viaduct at around 10:45-11:00 am (left to right)
The train returns from Mallaig departing at 2:10 pm, passing the viaduct between 3:15 pm-3:30 pm (right to left)
The afternoon train departs Fort William at 12:45 pm and passes over the viaduct at around 1:15 pm-1:30 pm (left to right)
The train leaves Mallaig at 4:45 pm and passes the viaduct between 5:50-6:05 pm (right to left)
On Saturday
The morning train departs Fort William at 10:15 am and passes over the viaduct at around 10:45-11:00 am (left to right)
The train returns from Mallaig departing at 2:10 pm and normally passes through the viaduct between 5:15 am-3:30 pm (right to left)
The afternoon train departs Fort William at 2:40 pm and passes over the viaduct at around 3:10-3:25 pm (left to right)
The train returns from Mallaig at 6:40 pm and passes the viaduct between 7:45-and 8:00pm (right to left)
Flying the drone at Glenfinnan Viaduct
It is currently not allowed to fly drones on-site, but there are signs with a phone number from somebody called Alistair. This guy charges you 10 pounds to fly there “with permission”. However, there is no concrete information and Scotland’s official drone website says nothing about this.
Glenfinnan Visitor Exhibit
The Glenfinnan exhibit features several details about the Jacobite Revolution. You can also enjoy a coffee at the cafe and shop for many Harry Potter and Scottish goods.
The Lone Scotsman Jacobite Memorial Monument
This monument was erected in honour of the 1200 Highlanders who gathered here before heading to the Battle of Culloden, one of the bloodiest in UK history. The English massacred the Scots.
The Jacobite Revolution arose when the Scots were in favour of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie the Prince), one of Scotland’s heroic figures. The Scots believed he had a claim to the English throne.
To see the Lone Scotsman Jacobite Memorial Monument up close, just cross the street and walk 2 minutes. From there you can also appreciate Loch Shiel.
Glenfinnan Station Museum
If you have a little more time and would like to know more about the history of the viaduct, you can pay a visit to the small Railway Museum in Glenfinnan. Some old locomotives, ticket machines, signs, and suitcases are on display.
The museum is about a 10-minute walk from the visitor center. They also have an old carriage that you rent for the night!
Did you like this post about the Jacobite Train and Glenfinnan Viaduct? Take a look at this article: 10 Castles in Scotland that you must visit
