Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William Guided Tour
Description
A perfect tour for Harry Potter fans; visit Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous for the Hogwarts Express, and take your iconic photo as the train crosses the bridge; explore Fort William and Glencoe in this one-day tour. This tour is also now available in two departure timeslots: 7:15am or 8:15am. Please pay close attention to what timeslot you select. Please note: This tour is designed to pack into one day as much as possible of Scotland’s highlights! While much of the journey is enjoyed from the comfort of the coach due to the distance covered, you will experience breathtaking views and scenery along the way. Please note: The Jacobite Steam Train is operated by an independent third-party provider. Running dates, timetables, and service updates are subject to the train operator. Please refer to the official Jacobite Steam Train website for the latest service updates and information.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Fort William Adventure begins in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, at our departure point in the city centre. Departing Edinburgh's bustling streets, passing some of its most iconic sights like Edinburgh Castle on your way out, and begin your journey north into the rugged Scottish Highlands. We pause for refreshments at Callander, the gateway to the Highlands
We will journey through the Trossachs National Park on our way to Glencoe.
Our next stop is Glencoe! The well-known, dramatic Glen features in many films, such as James Bonds' Skyfall, and is the backdrop to some scenes from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, perfect to get you in the mood to visit the famous "Harry Potter Bridge" that you will see later in the tour. We pause here for photos and to learn all about the history of Glencoe, including the massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692.
From the atmospheric Glencoe, we travel further along the banks of Loch Linnhe to the Highland town of Fort William, which sits at the foot of Britain's tallest mountain - Ben Nevis. We stop here to allow you to stretch your legs and have an early lunch break, before we journey onwards to the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Time permitting, we'll pause for photos at Neptune's Staircase. The staircase lock comprises of eight locks on the caledonian canal, and raises the canal by 19m (62ft). It was built in the early 1800s and is the longest staircase lock in Britain.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct was arguably made most famous from its scenes in Harry Potter and is surrounded by mountains on the stunning shores of Loch Shiel. Not only is this location famous for the Jacobite Steam Train (not to be confused with the Hogwarts' Express), Loch Sheil was the location of the "Black Lake". See if you can spot a "grindylow" causing trouble under the surface! It's also the setting for Buckbeak's beautiful flight, scenes from the Triwizard Tournament, and also the stunning loch on which Hogwarts sits. We take in the viaduct and a photo opportunity before a visit to the nearby Glenfinnan Monument, which symbolises one of the most important events in Scottish history; the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Please note: The Jacobite Steam Train is operated by another company. We cannot always guarantee that your tour and the train will meet up at the same time.
Departing Glenfinnan, we begin our return journey to Edinburgh, passing through the spectacular Cairngorms National Park, stopping along the way for refreshments at the small village of Pitlochry*. Enjoy time to stretch your legs and grab a quick bite to eat before we return to Edinburgh where our Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Fort William Adventure will end. *During peak months the itinerary may be run in reverse to avoid congestion at attractions and refreshment stops. When running in reverse we will pass through Pitlochry but stop at an alternative location for refreshments.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 4 years old
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark the bus.
- Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour's departure time.
- Digital translations in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian & Mandarin available on request.
- Please note: This tour is designed to pack into one day as much as possible of Scotland’s highlights! While much of the journey is enjoyed from the comfort of the coach due to the distance covered, you will experience breathtaking views and scenery along the way.
- This tour is available in two time slots: 7:15am departure, or 8:15am departure. Please pay close attention to what time slot you book.
- The Jacobite Steam Train is operated by an independent third-party provider. Running dates, timetables, and service updates are subject to the train operator. Please refer to the official Jacobite Steam Train website for the latest service updates and information
Reviews(1,296)
As a huge Harry Potter fan, the main reason I booked this tour was to see the Hogwarts Express crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Thankfully, I did get to see the train, and I’m very grateful for that. I do have one suggestion that I think would make this tour even better for Harry Potter fans. The company already offers another itinerary that is almost identical, with the main difference being that it visits Loch Ness instead of the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Since the two tours are otherwise very similar, it would make sense to make them more distinctive. Replacing one of the repeated scenic stops with a short visit to Dumbledore’s grave on Eilean na Moine would make this Harry Potter tour feel much more unique. The island is only about a 15-minute drive from the viaduct, so it seems like a natural addition to the itinerary. It was disappointing to be so close and not have the opportunity to stop there, especially since this tour is the one most likely to attract Harry Potter fans. I believe this small change would make the experience much more memorable and would add real value for future visitors. Overall, I’m happy that I saw the Hogwarts Express, but I believe this small change would significantly improve the experience for future Harry Potter fans.
We had a pleasant trip and saw the sights from Harry Potter, which was very exciting. We were abit annoyed by the lack of food at the top of the gondola café, but we got free soup!
We had a wonderful experience. Our driver Alistair was very nice and funny and he gave us a very good time! He told us so many interesting things about the highlands. A big thank you to him!! We could see all we wanted and we had so much fun! We would recommend the tour! Sometimes the sitting time in the bus was a little bit long, but we sleeped trough the longer rides.
George is the best driver and guide
Claire was extremely knowledgeable about Scottish history and is probably one of the most qualified tour guides I’ve met so far, having studied medieval history. She was enthusiastic and passionate. And bonus point, a big potterhead :) Kris was also a very safe and smooth driver.
It was a great experience and more over the driver who came with us it was the best experience in my life he talked about the place's history that was good information to know. He engaged us, it was a nice experience traveling with him.
We booked this last minute and I’m so glad we fit it in. The scenery obviously made it worth it but our guide, Karis, was especially amazing. She made the trip super enjoyable. I learned so much. I wasn’t expecting to be given so much information along the way but was pleasantly surprised at her ability to drive the coach along with giving history lessons! Super easy to follow along with her engaging stories. The stories/information are perfectly dispersed throughout the tour to help pass the time.
This was a such a fun activity, our guide Karris was so fun and knowledgeable! I definitely recommend booking!
A pleasant drive through the Scottish Highlands with a few interesting stops, ending at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the most memorable destination. David was an excellent bus driver, though less effective as a storyteller; the interesting facts were often lost in lengthy digressions and too many personal remarks.
Very good experience, amazing views and an extremely lovely and fun guide (David). If you get the chance to go with David on this tour, you will not be dissatisfied, incredibly funny and educational stories for most of the tour. David was easily very passionate, which gave the experience a unique feeling. I strongly recommend not listening to the podcast, audiobook or music during the trip and listen to David instead. Amazing person.
