The intrusion of a curving mass of concrete into this historic Highland glen should have been a recipe for disaster.
Though an innovative, daring example of engineering modernity at the time, this railway bridge could easily have been a 1,000 ft long, 100 ft high scar across the pure Scottish landscape.
A concrete carbuncle.
And yet, somehow, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is not a monstrosity which the nation wishes to pull down.
It’s a masterstroke.
The twenty-one elegant curved arches of this pathway for iron, steam, fire, and steel to cross the valley of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s doomed uprising enhance, or at least complement, the folds and contours of nature; the romantic, photogenic allure of the glen is helped, not harmed.
For visitors to Scotland generally, and the west Highlands specifically, the Viaduct has been elevated toward being a must-see in the last decade due to a certain film franchise featuring it (and the Jacobite steam train which crosses it four times a day) prominently as the Hogwarts Express, and its enduring popularity on social media as the ‘Harry Potter bridge’.
Wizarding magic or not, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is an unmissable Scottish icon.
In this short guide, we’ve shared all the key information you need to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct and see the famous Jacobite steam train cross over it. Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan, photographer, or looking to stop off here on your Highlands road trip - or a combination of all three - we’ve got you covered.
glenfinnan viaduct essentials
// Completed in 1898, opened on 1st April 1901.
// Part of the ‘West Highland’ railway line from Glasgow to Mallaig.
// A filming location for Harry Potter, The Crown, and others.
// Free to access, but parking is £3.50.
// Significant changes to access + paths in 2021.
How To Visit The Glenfinnan Viaduct
Where To Stay & Start
You need a couple of hours here, less if you don’t want to see the steam train cross, and it's best to include a visit as part of your Scottish Highlands & Islands road trip route, or from a nearby base if you're staying in the western Highlands for longer.
We think Fort William (18.5 miles / 25-minute drive) and Glencoe (33 miles / 50-minutes) are the best places from which to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct, especially if you're hoping to be there for the morning train’s arrival. Alternatively, there are a selection of places to stay nearby.
It is possible to visit from Inverness (2 hours), but we'd only recommend this if you're including a stop as part of a full day exploring this part of the Highlands or joining a tour like this one. You can also realistically drive here from Skye in under two hours, but if you’re on the island then it’s best to use that time / money to explore it rather than for a day trip.
From Glasgow (3+ hours) or Edinburgh (4 hours), it’s really too far to go for one day; but if your heart is absolutely set on it, we’ve shared a few tours later in the post.
Parking
Wherever you are travelling from, all roads lead to the expanded Glenfinnan Community Car Park.
Opened in 2021 to cope with increased popularity, it provides much more space than before (60+ vehicles we reckon), as well as safer access to the main viewpoint. It costs £3.50 for cars, £6 for minibuses or campervans; all proceeds go toward projects in the village. You can pay by coin or card.
Find it here on Google Maps. It’s next to the A830, and easy to access.
Next to the car park you'll find the modern National Trust Scotland Glennfinnan Visitor Centre (10 am - 5 pm) and Viaduct View Café (same), with the former free to access with public toilets.
Note that the the Viaduct is not owned by the National Trust, but is on the private Glenfinnan Estate.
Public Transport & Tours
There are two public buses from Fort William to Glenfinnan, both operated by Shiel.
The 500 to Mallaig | Runs four times a day, Monday to Friday. Only once a day on Saturday and Sunday. Travel is approx. 30 minutes, costing £4.30 for a return.
The 502 to Acharacle | Only operates once a day, Monday to Saturday.
Note that buses can only stop at designated bus stops, and these are the Glenfinnan Hotel (Station Road end entrance for travel to Fort William, opposite Station road end for travel to Mallaig) and Slatach Road End (for travel to Mallaig and opposite Slatach Road end (gated road) for travel to Fort William).
The Slatach Road End is the one you want.
However, as there are only a few services throughout the day, taking the bus does require a bit of advance planning, and may restrict your movements more than you'd hope. Find more information and timetables here.
Alternatively, you can take the ScotRail train to Glenfinnan railway station from Fort William (33 minutes, £7.70 return), from which you can then walk along a trail to the Viaduct (more on this below). However, these are also limited to only a handful of departures each day - find schedules here.
If the public transport schedule isn't convenient or you're travelling from further afield, then a guided tour including transport may be the best option for a day trip. We've listed highly-rated ones below, with options departing from Inverness, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, and a very popular multiday option to see more of the Highlands & Islands.
One | From Inverness : Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour
Two | From Edinburgh: Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour
Three | From Glasgow: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Mallaig Tour
Four | Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train 3-Day Highland Tour
Finding The Best Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint
Due to the overhaul of the car park and accompanying walkways, the older blog posts, guides, or walking routes are now outdated. Previously, you would be advised that, for the best Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint, you had to head out onto the road, cross over the bridge, take a right, and take another right.
That is no longer the case, and you are actively advised against doing this.
The A830 is a busy, tight road and access for that old route involved lots of people shuffling by the side of it at peak times around a corner, often in a rush as they wanted to photograph the train passing at a certain time. It was an accident waiting to happen, and something which concerned and the local community.
Thankfully, it's now much more straightforward for visitors, and this is what you need to do:
1. From the car park, walk toward the glen (away from the road).
2. You'll see signs pointing you along a path in the direction of the Viaduct, and you'll see it emerge in the distance.
3. Follow the walkway with the river on the right hand side, until you see a 'Viaduct Trail & Viewpoints' sign pointing to the left
4. Go left and then right (there's a little hand painted map on a slate!), where you'll pass under a Viaduct arch (Google Maps) and through a fence. From there, continue following the path (part of the Glenfinnan Trail) upward until you find your perfect viewpoint on the wee hill to the western side of the structure.
5. Settle in and await the train.
It's only a 10 -15 minute walk and if in doubt, this is the place to put in your Google Map and walk in the direction of and this is the general viewpoint area. It can become muddy and slippy due to the foot traffic, so wear your hiking boots if you’ve brought them.
There is an alternative viewpoint to access from the car park (more on that below), but the above is the one that most people want to head toward and photograph.
If you’re not bothered about seeing the train pass, then you should also follow the same route at your leisure.
HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH the Glenfinnan Viaduct
Those famous Instagram shots are taken from various viewpoints along the Trail, but we won't lie to you and say that this is a hidden gem or anything.
It's busy, popular, and will be very crowded in anticipation of the steam train's crossing.
During peak summer season, it may even be quite unenjoyable.
Due to this, it's really important that everyone is respectful of one another, providing space and opportunity for everyone (photographer or not) to enjoy the moment.
No matter how many followers you have, you do not have more rights to this view than anyone else who's made the effort to be there. Also, try not to cross blindly in front of someone else taking photograph whilst the train is in motion, or be a dick who arrives last minute to simply sit in front of someone else and block their view.
The viewpoints along the trail aren’t manicured or developed, so it basically involves people sitting on the grass and under trees - respect the place and environment too, and don't litter or damage.
In terms of finding the best vantage point for photos, we'll leave it to your personal preference. You can get great shots from various places on the hill, but the steam train is over and gone in under a minute, so it’s best to find one place and stay.
If you are a photographer with a certain image in mind, we recommend arriving early (AT LEAST 30 minutes before the train is due to pass) in order to scout out the place from which you wish to shoot - don’t just settle on the first spot you come across. With less than 60 seconds to play with, you’ve got to commit to how you want the viaduct to be framed, as there’s no time to move to a substantially different angle. The train does however slow down on the Viaduct, so you will be able to get plenty shots.
There are explicitly no drones permitted unless by express advance agreement with the Glenfinnan Estate; if you are a drone pilot, please respect this rule and your fellow visitors. To obtain permission, you must phone Alistair on 07799 114 891 at least 24 hours before you visit, and it’s a £10 fee.
Lastly, this is an active railway line and track - under no circumstances should you go on or near them.
What Time Does The Jacobite Steam Train Cross The Glenfinnan Viaduct?
The Jacobite, also known as the Harry Potter train, runs seven days a week* from April to October, but the magical moment which most people arrive for, when the old black steam train whistles and smokes as it passes over the twenty-one arches, only happens four times a day.
However, the iconic shot and view over the viaduct is only possible when it’s travelling from Fort William to Mallaig, as the train faces you at the viewpoint. This takes place once in the morning, and once in the afternoon.
It also passes the viaduct on the way back from Mallaig, but the train will be going away from you.
Therefore, you only have two windows of opportunity in the day to see / photography the iconic shot. Visiting for the train crossing in the other direction (from Mallaig) will still be a nice experience, with far fewer people to share it with, but may lead to disappointment if you had a certain idea in mind.
With only four crossings per day, and two in the most photogenic direction of travel, it’s so important to check the timetable the day before our visit to confirm times, and plan your departure for the following day. For the 2021 season, the train schedules are:
Note that the morning service in the 2021 schedule is slated to run until 29th October, with the afternoon service only available until Friday 1st October 2021.
The Jacobite steam train usually arrives in Glenfinnan about 30 minutes after its departure from Fort William (i.e. 10.45 am) and 45 minutes after its departure from Mallaig (i.e. 14.55 am) but, to be on the safe side we recommend arriving at the car park at least 30 minutes before the train departure times.
This increases your chances of getting a parking space, gives you ample time to cover the 10-15 minute walk from the car park to the hill/viewpoint, and factors in time for getting lost and finding a place to settle in.
So, for the morning crossing, try to arrive for 9.45 am.
We recommend double checking the Harry Potter train timetable before you set off, just in case any changes have been made (find it here). If visiting in April or October, we also recommend confirming if the service is running yet, or has already stopped for the season.
Of course, you don’t have to time your visit to Glenfinnan with the passing of a train, and can simply turn up to appreciate it on its own photogenic and engineering merits. After everyone else has departed, we did let out a little laugh as the rather less photogenic modern Scotrail train zipped along the Viaduct ten minutes later to no fanfare or shutter clicks whatsoever.
*Previously it was six days a week, but they extended in 2021 to meet demand.
Can You Ride The Train Across Viaduct?
Some of you may prefer to ride the steam train, rather than watch it; some of you may wish to do both.
We've written a full overview on how to do this, with information on tickets, costs, and times in this post: How to Ride the Harry Potter Train in Scotland.
Alternatively, there is a tour departing from Inverness which brings you to the Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint in the morning, and then takes the Jacobite steam train back from Mallaig to Fort William - thereby allowing you to have both experiences in a single day! Find out more or book here.
Other Things To Do in Glenfinnan
Visitors have come to Glenfinnan long before its associations with a certain wizard.
Aside from its beauty and proximity to Fort William, it’s an important site in Scottish history due to its associations with the beginnings of the 1745 Jacobite Rising, and it’s definitely worth taking a little time afterward to walk a trail, head to two alternative viewpoints, take a moment loch side (at another Potter film location), or stop by the Visitor Centre. As you walk around, keep an eye out for red deer roaming the estate (we saw four!).
A visit to the Viaduct itself, including walking and waiting time for the train, should take about 1.5 - 2 hours.
Walk The Viaduct Trail
A 4 km trail through the Glenfinnan estate taking 1-2 hours - once you're at the steam train viewpoint, you're actually already on it! Find the walk instructions & route here or here.
The NTS Glenfinnan Viewpoint
By the visitor centre, this involves a brief, gentle uphill walk for a few minutes to a clearing which offers lovely, alternative views of the whole Viaduct on one side and Loch Shiel and the hills on the other. It’s definitely worth heading up, and some of you may prefer to photograph or view the passing train from here.
On your way down, pop into the Visitor’s Centre for exhibits on Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite rebellion in the 18th century. There's also a shop, toilets, and cafe.
The Glenfinnan Monument
In the 1740s, 1,200 Highlanders pledged their allegiance to Bonnie Prince Charlie in Glenfinnan, a significant moment in Scottish history, and this 18-metre monument commemorates those who fell under his ill-fated campaign for the British throne. It's possible day to climb to the top to enjoy a great panorama over the loch and the glen.
Opening hours a little all over the place: it's closed Jan - April, open 10 am - 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday May to October. It’s best to check here before visiting.
Take a Cruise
Loch Shiel was also the Black Lake in the Harry Potter films, and you can head out on this 60-minute boat trip to see filming locations, and learn about the history of the region.
Glenfinnan Station Museum
This was unfortunately closed when we passed by, but the cute, little still-active station has converted old train cars into a dining space and accommodation, whilst there’s a little museum with memorabilia from the West Highland Line as well as a gift shop. Visit their website for more information and opening times.
