Our travels this summer took us to beautiful Scotland, a country within the United Kingdom that we hadn’t been to yet. While we’ve been to England several times, and most recently Wales, we wanted to save Scotland for when we had at least 8-9 days to explore… and that didn’t even scratch the surface!
An activity we were looking forward to was riding the Jacobite Steam train, also known as the Harry Potter train. This is known as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world. It’s an 84-mile round trip ride that starts in Fort William, near Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, and takes you to the town of Mallaig and back. Along the way, it takes you through the beautiful Highlands, passing many impressive sights.
Booking and Boarding the Train
The train runs twice daily, in the morning and afternoon, from March to October. There are two fares: the standard class and the first class. I bought the first-class tickets and chose to have a bottle of champagne waiting for us upon arrival.
We took the afternoon train since we were driving from Plockton (right by the Isle of Skye) and needed some time to get there. We arrived a little early and had some fun opportunities to take pictures in front of the train.
Our assigned seats and table were waiting for us in the vintage train car, along with our champagne! We were also served afternoon tea, water, and biscuits. We settled in and relaxed as we geared up for the ride.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Harry Potter films made The Glenfinnan viaduct pretty famous. The Jacobite Steam Train crosses the 21-arched viaduct and pauses there, allowing train passengers to see the gorgeous view. Lucky for us, we were sitting on the side of the train that faced this amazing scene. Looking out of the windows, we noticed many people standing along the way, waiting for the train to pass to get that picture-perfect shot. Apparently, there are hikes one can do that end up at the viaduct so you can watch the train pass by. It was pretty cool! We spent about 10 minutes sitting here to admire the view, and each got our own pictures.
The Port Town of Mallaig
Mallaig is a thriving fishing port on the northwest coast along the road to the Isles. It’s an excellent base for exploring the area and the Isle of Skye, where there are daily ferries. The Jacobite Train stops here for about two hours, so one can walk around town and have lunch.
Soon after our arrival, we found a fish and seafood takeaway place. Since we had limited time, we grabbed their specialty of fish and chips and ate it by the water. It was so peaceful sitting outside on a nice day, listening to the seagulls fly over.
Afterward, the girls and I walked around the town and shopped for souvenirs while Jon found a spot to take pictures. We were each successful in our endeavors!
Time went quickly, and we boarded our steam train for the 1.5-hour ride back to Fort William. After we left the train, we drove to our next accommodations for a few nights – a late 19th-century manor that ended up being our favorite stay of the whole trip. But more on that later!
This was such a relaxing and exciting day for us! This train ride is not just for Harry Potter fans but also for those looking for a scenic train ride through the Highlands with some time in a port village. The vintage cars, the gorgeous mountains and lakes, and the quaint town of Mallaig make the Jacobite Steam Train ride a time to remember!
Are you ready to plan your next vacation? Schedule a complimentary consultation with Cheryl to learn more.
