Glenfinnan Viaduct Circular Trail: Exploring Glenfinnan and Seeing the Harry Potter Train

So, you really want to see the real Harry Potter train or Hogwarts Express crossing the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, but you’re also wondering if there’s anything else to do in the area? You’re in the right place then.

This relatively short and easy Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail will give you the chance to explore the history of the surrounding area with plenty of stunning viewpoints, historic memorials and more Harry Potter filming locations. In addition, you’ll be able to witness the Jacobite Steam Train crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct not once but twice.

Does this sound like the perfect day out? If so, then keep on reading…

If you’d like to see our Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail along with some amazing drone footage then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here. You can also watch our full West Scotland Series by clicking here.

All you need to know about the Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Glenfinnan Viaduct, located in Glenfinnan to the west of Fort William, is a very famous railway viaduct. It is part of the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig. The line opened on the 1st of April 1901, although the viaduct was complete enough to start transporting materials by October 1898. It was built because of the need to extend the line to Mallaig which was an important fishing harbour.

At 380m Glenfinnan Viaduct is actually the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland. It towers 30m above the River Finnan and has 21 semicircular spans. 

Fun Fact – According to legend, during the construction of Glenfinnan Viaduct a horse had fallen into one of the piers. A professor in 1987 undertook an investigation by inserting a fisheye camera into the boreholes of the two larger piers. He found no evidence of a horse. Later, in 1997, an investigation was done on another viaduct called Loch nan Uamh located to the west of Glenfinnan Viaduct. They used the same method to investigate the piers but all they found was rubble. In 2001, using scanning technology on the same viaduct revealed the remains of a horse and a cart in the large central pylon!

Glenfinnan viaduct has gained way more popularity in recent years due to its appearance in the Harry Potter film series. It was used as the backdrop for a number of scenes involving the Hogwarts Express arriving into Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is probably the movie that really shows off the beauty of the viaduct. 

How to get to the Glenfinnan Viaduct

By Car: Glenfinnan Viaduct is located in Glenfinnan approximately 17 miles to the west of Fort William. The most convenient place to park is at the Glenfinnan Monument Car Park just off the A830 (Post code: PH37 4LT). It costs £3.50 for all day parking. Motorhomes can also park there for £6.

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle then you can always hire a car to visit Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Good to Know! – If you’re a National Trust for Scotland Member you can park here free of charge. If you’re thinking about joining, you can check out the membership details by clicking here. 

Although the visitor centre only opens at 10:00AM, you can arrive earlier to secure a parking spot. Since most people arrive about 30 minutes prior to the train crossing, the car park gets busier around those time slots. (Please refer to the Jacobite Stream Train timetable further below.)

By Public Transport: You can also arrive to Glenfinnan Viaduct by bus or by train. Buses 500, 502, 505, 522 and 534 provide a few services per day to Fort William and Mallaig. The bus stop is located along the A830, adjacent to the car park, from where you can start your walk. You can plan your bus journey by clicking here.

You can also get a train to Glenfinnan. ScotRail provide a few services per day to destinations such as Mallaig, Fort William and Glasgow. So it’s a great option if you’re coming from further afield. You can then start your circular walk from the train station. You can plan your rail journey by clicking here.

Good to Know Before You Go

Please Note – My AllTrails map above shows that you’ll have to walk along the A830 to be on the left side of the River Finnan. At the time of our visit we could stay on the right hand side of the river since now there’s a new bridge that crosses it. This however hasn’t been updated on AllTrails just yet, which still shows that there isn’t any crossing point after the blue path ends.

Therefore, if you’re parking at the Glenfinnan Monument Car Park use the blue route on my map and cross via the new bridge. 

Length of the Glenfinnan Viaduct Circular Trail

This Glenfinnan Viaduct walking trail is a just under 7km (4 miles) long circular route. Depending on your speed and how long you’re spending waiting for the Jacobite Steam Train, this route could take anywhere between 3 to 4 hours to complete. The scenery is super picturesque with many viewpoints, so you’ll probably stop regularly to admire it. 

For reference, we got to Glenfinnan Visitor Centre around 9:30AM. The first train didn’t arrive to the viewpoint until 10:45AM so we had plenty of time to check out the first viaduct viewpoint, walk over to the Jacobite Steam Train viewpoint and wait for the train to arrive. 

We then completed our circular walk and got back to the second train viewpoint just in time to see the train pass at 13:30PM. After that we visited the Glenfinnan Monument before we headed back to the car park around 14:30PM. 

I would definitely allow enough time to complete this particular walk especially if you’d like to see the train multiple times. If you’re buying a parking ticket, I recommend paying for all day parking so you’re not in a rush. 

Level of Difficulty of the Glenfinnan Viaduct Circular Trail

I would personally rate the Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail easy as you can complete it with a basic level of fitness. There are a few ups and downs especially when walking to the viaduct viewpoints.  The path is a bit rocky and uneven and can be muddy and slippery after rain. Therefore, I highly recommend wearing comfortable footwear like trainers, boots and and walking sandals but not flip-flops. 

There isn’t much shelter along this trail, so strong wind and rain can make this walk uncomfortable. Although I still think that this walk could be a great activity even on a slightly windy and rainy day. However, I wouldn’t suggest doing it in really bad weather conditions or when visibility is too low. After all you want to be able to see the iconic Hogwarts Express crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Facilities Around the Glenfinnan Viaduct Circular Trail

Cafés and picnic spots: I highly recommend packing your own lunch and having a picnic. There’s no shortage of picnic spots with a view along the trail. The best spots are probably at the actual Glenfinnen Viaduct Jacobite Steam Train viewpoints. You can also have a picnic somewhere around Glenfinnan Monument in front of Loch Shiel.

However, if you’d like to grab a coffee or tea and a bite to eat you can do that at the NTS Glenfinnan Visitor Centre. Please note that the café will only be open between 10:00AM and 17:00PM. The visitor centre is closed between 1st January and 29th April.

Toilet facilities: There are public toilets available at the NTS Glenfinnan Visitor Centre. Please note that whilst you can park at the car park earlier, the toilet facilities only open between 10:00AM and 17:00PM. There won’t be any public toilets available along the rest of the trail.

What to Wear and Bring With You?

What to wear depends on the time of year you’re visiting and the weather conditions on the day of your visit. You’re in the Scottish Highlands where the weather is generally cool, damp and cloudy and the daily weather can be very unpredictable. Therefore, I recommend checking the weather app before your visit and wearing appropriate clothing.

I saw many people arriving in all sorts of clothing such as dresses, which is fine if you’re only coming to see the ‘Hogwarts Express’. However, if you’re planning on completing the Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail, then I recommend you wear more outdoor appropriate clothing. One thing I highly suggest is choosing comfortable footwear. You’ll be walking a lot and the path can be uneven and hilly in some places, so you don’t want to be wearing high-heels!

Although there is a café at the visitor centre, I suggest you bring at least some water and snacks with you. I always love to pack some lunch and coffee too so if you’re on a budget bring your own food. You’ll also be exposed along this walk, so I still suggest bringing sun-cream on a sunny day and a rain jacket on a rainy one.

Top Tip – Since you’ll be waiting for the Harry Potter train for a good 15-20 minutes, bring a blanket or a small outdoor folding mat which you can sit on.

Please Note! – Whatever you bring with you, make sure you either take it home with you or dispose of it responsibly. I suggest bringing a garbage bag with you where you can collect all your waste. (And obviously dispose it in a bin!) Enjoy your time in nature but Leave No Trace!

Glenfinnan Viaduct Jacobite Steam Train Timetable

Before we jump into the details of the Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail, it’s high time to summarise what time the ‘Harry Potter train’ crosses Glenfinnan Viaduct. In 2024 there are actually 4 trains that cross the viaduct, two in each direction. 

The first two trains travel from Fort William to Mallaig, so your best viewpoint will be on the west side of the viaduct. The second two trains will be traveling in the opposite direction so you could be better off viewing it from the moorland on the east of the viaduct.

Obviously you can witness the train crossing from either side of the viaduct. For reference we witnessed the 10:45AM crossing from the popular west side then the 13:30PM crossing from the east side. 

Top Tip – Make sure to secure a spot at least 15 minutes before the train gets there.

You can check out the timetable below or get more up-to-date information by clicking on the official website. Note that the morning services are only running between the end of March and end of October. The afternoon services are between the start of May and end of September.

You can obviously experience the steam train by riding it. Standard tickets cost £65/£36 for adults/children respectively for a return ticket. If you’d like to know more about riding the Jacobite Steam Train then make sure to check out the website by clicking here. 

Departure Station	Arrival at Glenfinnan Viaduct (Sunday – Friday)	Arrival at Glenfinnan Viaduct (Saturday)	Best Viewpoint
Fort William	~10:45AM	~10:45AM	West Side of Glenfinnan Viaduct
Fort William	~13:30PM	~13:30PM	West Side of Glenfinnan Viaduct
Mallaig	~14:40PM	~14:40PM	East Side of Glenfinnan Viaduct
Mallaig	~16:30PM	~16:30PM	East Side of Glenfinnan Viaduct

Glenfinnan Viaduct Circular Trail

You’ll start this Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail from the Glenfinnan Viaduct Car Park. You’ll first head up to a viewpoint before you’ll walk back to the car park and carry on towards the west of the viaduct. Once you’ve  witnessed the Jacobite Steam Train crossing, you’ll carry on towards Glenfinnan Station. From there you’ll circle back to the car park and head up to the west side of the viaduct to witness the Harry Potter train once again. You’ll end your trail by visiting Glenfinnan Monument and getting a closer look at Loch Shiel.

For a more detailed description of the trail and attractions, I divided the route into 8 main sections:

1. Car Park to Glenfinnan Viaduct and Loch Shiel Viewpoint

From Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument Car Park follow the path just next to the café. This path leads you to a great viewpoint of Glenfinnan Viaduct and also of Loch Shiel. It’s a slightly steep and rocky path but should only take a few minutes to get to the top.

To your left you’ll have a great view over Lake Shiel. This stretch of freshwater is actually the 4th longest loch in Scotland. The hills surrounding the lake are stunning and they are classed as Corbetts. Corbetts are mountains in Scotland that are between 2,500–3,000 ft (762–914.4 m) high. Apparently not many people climb these hills since they aren’t considered Munros. Only mountains over 3,000 ft (914.4 m) are classed as Munros.

Did you know? – There are 282 Munros in Scotland with Ben Nevis being the highest. So, I guess it doesn’t come as a surprise when I say that there’s a very popular activity between climbers called ‘Munro bagging’. As part of the challenge, hikers try to climb as many peaks as possible. Apparently there are only just over 6,000 people who have bagged all Munros so far.

Fun Fact – If you’re a Harry Potter fan you probably already know this, but if not then Loch Shiel aka the Black Lake or ‘Great Lake’, was used as a backdrop for Hogwarts. It was also used in many other scenes, especially the ones involving the Hogwarts Express due to its close proximity to Glenfinnan Viaduct.  

You can witness the Jacobite Steam Train crossing from this viewpoint, and if you’ve got good camera gear you can definitely take some creative photos. However, for the best train crossing experience, I still recommend you base yourself at either the east or west side of the viaduct.

2. Trail to Glenfinnan Viaduct

From the viewpoint, head back to the car park and follow the trail towards the viaduct.

Please Note! – AllTrails still suggests that you walk along the A830 to get to the left side of the River Finnan. In reality, there’s now a new bridge that crosses the river. So, if you’ve parked on the right side of it, you can stay there then cross it a bit further along. Once you’ve crossed it, just follow the trail along River Finnan.

There are a few paths crisscrossing around the viaduct, so it doesn’t really matter which one you take. Just before you would cross underneath the viaduct take the path on your left. This section is slightly steep once again as you’ll be climbing above the viaduct. 

The path is a bit rocky and can be muddy when wet, hence my suggestion of wearing comfortable footwear. 

Once you’re high enough to see the entire viaduct, you need to pick your train watching spot. It’s totally up to you where you feel like it’s best to watch it. If you arrive early you have the advantage to walk up and down a bit and check out the view from different angles. 

Once you have your ideal spot, sit down, have some coffee and wait for the train to arrive. 

3. Witnessing the Harry Potter Train Crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct

I dedicated a full section on what to expect, including some tips and tricks to get the best experience when witnessing the ‘Hogwarts Express’ crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Many other blogs recommended arriving at the viewpoint at least 10-15 minutes earlier than the train arrival time. I totally agree with this and I suggest you do the same. This way you’ll have enough time to find a spot and take some photos of the viaduct. Especially if you’re doing the same circular walk as we did and trying to make it back to the next train.

On the website I read that the train might pause briefly on the bridge so both passengers and people at the viaduct will have a bit more time to take photos and enjoy the view. This however will not be the case if the train is delayed. On the day of our visit the 10:45AM train was nearly 10 minutes late, so obviously it didn’t slow down. The early afternoon service was right on time and to me it didn’t feel like it slowed down that much either. I assume it mainly happens if they’re a bit ahead of schedule. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I would able to capture the iconic photo of the train with the steam. In my mind I wanted to capture the train releasing the steam somewhere in the middle of the viaduct so the whole length of the train was visible. To my slight disappointment, the majority of the steam was released when the train got closer to the viewpoint. The same happened when we were on the other side of the viaduct. It didn’t ruin my experience though and I still managed to snap some cool photos.

Although the viewpoint got very busy around the proposed train arrival time, the crowed didn’t bother me all that much. I was also pleasantly surprised when the train driver started waving out of the window with a handkerchief in his hand and many of the passengers waved from their carriages too. It created such a great atmosphere in my opinion and definitely upped the experience a notch. 

4. Glenfinnan Viaduct to Loch Shiel Viewpoint

Once the train leaves Glenfinnan Viaduct the crowd disappears immediately. So, if you’d like to take some more photos you can definitely do it afterwards. 

To make sure that you don’t miss the second crossing, I suggest following the Glenfinnan Viaduct trail as soon as possible. The path will just carry on towards Glenfinnan Station and Museum. Along the way you’ll come across a few viewpoints of Loch Shiel and the surrounding area.

We were slightly unfortunate because the clouds blocked our view here and there as we were walking along this path. However, it was still a beautiful trail to walk on and I cannot recommend it enough.

5. Glenfinnan Station and Museum

The trail will eventually lead you to Glenfinnan Station and Museum. Both the station and museum are small but I suggest paying a visit regardless. The museum is free to enter, however donations are welcomed. 

There are a few rooms to walk through which give you some information about Glenfinnan Viaduct and the West Highlands railway heritage. If you read the information provided on the museum walls, you can learn about the process of building the railway and the men who built it.

After the West Highlands Railway arrived into Fort William in 1894, there was a need to extend the lines to Mallaig which was an important fishing harbour. Both the Mallaig Extension and Glenfinnan Station opened in 1901 and are still in operation. 

Between the 1920’s and 1980’s rail travel in the UK declined drastically. Both passenger and freight traffic significantly reduced during this time. There was a serious threat that Glenfinnan Station would be abandoned too under the Breeching Proposals. The Breeching Report, which was published in 1963, wanted to save only commercially viable lines and close those that weren’t. This resulted in massive cuts in both rail services and workers across the country.

In order to save the buildings, in 1991 they opened Glenfinnan Station Museum. It is run by a charitable Trust and volunteers. 

Behind the museum there’s also a Dining Car that serves food and drinks. Unfortunately they weren’t open at the time of our visit. On the website, however, they are hopeful to re-open in 2022. Make sure to check out their website for up-to-date information. 

6. Glenfinnan Station Museum to St Mary and St Finnan Church

From Glenfinnan Station and Museum head towards the main road and cross it. A small local road will run parallel to the A830 and will lead you back to Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument Car Park. The road will go past St Mary and St Finnan Church. 

The Catholic church couldn’t be located in a more beautiful spot. It stands on a small hill with the view of Loch Shiel and the mountains behind. It was built between 1870 and 1872 in the Gothic style. Efforts to restore the church are constantly being made.

7. Witnessing the Jacobite Steam Train Crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct from the East Side

Once you’re back at the car park, follow the trail as you did earlier in the day. Whilst you might think that my trail isn’t that circular, I believe this is the best way to explore the area and also witness the train crossing more than once.

Once you’ve reached the point where you turned left earlier, carry on along the tarmac road until you reach a bridge that crosses over the river. Cross the bridge and walk underneath the viaduct. Follow the path to your right and start climbing up to the east side of the viaduct. From this side you’ll actually be much closer to it so you can definitely get a sense of its scale. 

We literally just got there on time to witness the train crossing with hardly any time to spare as this time it arrived a few minutes earlier than 13:30PM. It was still great and since the train was heading to Mallaig, there was no-one but us at this viewpoint. 

Obviously, the train crosses twice more, so if you’re dedicated you can stay until a bit later to watch it again! 

8. Glenfinnan Monument and Lake Shiel

Last but not least, once again, head back to the car park. From there, cross the A830 and walk down to the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel.

The Glenfinnan monument marks the scene of one of the most important events in Scottish history: the Jacobite Rising. It was in Glenfinnan in 1745 that 1,200 highlanders gathered to pledge their allegiance to Prince Charles Edward Stuart, more commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. After raising the royal flag, they began their campaign to regain the British throne for a Stuart king.

The 18 meter high monument was erected in 1815 as a reminder of the clansmen who lost their lives to the Jacobite cause. Today, you can climb up to the top of the monument to enjoy 360 degree views over Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan Viaduct. 

You’ll need to pre-book your ticket which costs £5/£3 for adults/children respectively. However, if you’re a National Trust for Scotland member, you can book your ticket for free. Please note that it operates with different opening times during the year and is only open for certain hours of the day. You can find more information about visitor hours and ticket booking by clicking here. 

Additional Things to Do Around Fort William

Fort William is a great base if you’re exploring the west side of the Scottish Highlands. There are definitely no shortage of things you can do in the area. So, make sure to check out some of my other blog posts for more inspiration:

Climbing Ben Nevis via Càrn Mòr Dearg – A challenging, but rewarding ridge hike to the highest point in the UK. Click here to read it.

Top 9 Places to See in Glencoe – A scenic drive around Glencoe with many beautiful spots you must stop at. Click here to read it.

ou can also browse for more Scotland content or more hiking trails in the UK and around the world in my Hiking Adventures Series.

Final Thoughts on the Glenfinnan Viaduct Circular Trail

Whilst we try to avoid doing very touristy things, witnessing the ‘Hogwarts Express’ crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct has been on my bucket list for ages. If I’m being honest, I didn’t have high expectations since I knew that the viewpoint would be crowded and the train passing would be over in a minute or so. However, to my own surprise, I enjoyed the experience more than I thought I would.

I really loved the atmosphere that the people at the viaduct, the train driver and the passengers waving at us from the train created. Obviously, completing the Glenfinnan Viaduct circular trail and exploring other iconic sights and viewpoints definitely completed the experience.

Have you ever visited the Glenfinnan Viaduct before? If so, tell me about your experience and how much of the area you managed to explore? Let me know in the comments below.