A Guide to Seeing The Jacobite Steam Train Cross Glenfinnan Viaduct
Made famous by the Harry Potter franchise, The Jacobite steam train is on the bucket list for many people who visit Scotland, whether that be riding the actual train or seeing it pass the now famous Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands. In this blog post, we go over everything you need to know about how to see The Jacobite steam train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct as well as how to ride the actual Jacobite steam train!
This blog post accompanies our YouTube video on The Jacobite! Be sure to check it out!
Background of The Jacobite and Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite steam train is a tourist train service that has been operating over part of the West Highland Line since 1984 and is often called one of the greatest railway journeys in the world. The service runs from April to October and travels from Fort William to Mallaig and back the same day.
Its most famous crossing is over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a railway viaduct made up of 21 arches tucked into the hills and which overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel. Filming for the second and third Harry Potter movies took place here, with the company running The Jacobite providing Warner Brothers with the train and use of the route, and which propelled the train and viaduct to stardom.
How to Get to Glenfinnan Viaduct
By car, Glenfinnan Viaduct is approximately 3.5 hours away from Edinburgh and approximately 3 hours away from Glasgow. If you’re visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct as part of a bigger trip through the Scottish Highlands, which we definitely recommend, then your travel time should be much shorter. For example, if you’re staying in Fort William, the viaduct would be approximately 30 minutes away by car.
It is also possible to reach Glenfinnan Viaduct by public transportation, though it would take significantly longer if starting from cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow, and wouldn’t make sense to do as part of a day trip from the big cities.
However, if visiting as part of a bigger trip, from Fort William, you can take a bus to Glenfinnan Viaduct in about 40 minutes (30 minutes on the bus and 10 minutes walking).
You can also take a ScotRail train from Fort William to Glenfinnan Viaduct in about 50 minutes (35 minutes on the train and 15 minutes walking). The interesting thing about taking the train to Glenfinnan Viaduct is that the train will actually cross over Glenfinnan Viaduct before stopping at the train station!
The rest of this blog post will focus a bit more on arriving by car.
When to Arrive at Glenfinnan Viaduct
There is generally a morning service and an afternoon service, so the train passes the viaduct four times per day, but we would advise only to see the train when it’s heading to Mallaig, not when it’s going back to Fort William, because the Mallaig direction is when you’ll get the ‘proper’ view of the train.
Basically, when the train arrives at Mallaig, there isn’t a place for the train to turn around, so they just plunk the head of the train to the back. This means that the train’s head then runs kind of backwards on its way back to Fort William, so it looks a little odd. Of course, if you don’t particularly care about the direction the train’s head is facing, then feel free to catch the train in either direction!
You’ll want to get to the car park at Glenfinnan Viaduct at least 30 minutes before the approximate passing time to allow for parking, paying for your parking ticket, and walking to the viewpoint. If visiting in the peak of summer or on long weekends, aim to be there even earlier as there will likely be an influx of visitors.
Jacobite Crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct (Approximate) Times
Below are the general passing times of the trains:
| Morning Service | Afternoon Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Mallaig-bound | 10.55 | 13.25 |
| Fort William-bound | 15.00 | 17.45 |
NOTE: Before visiting, do visit the West Coast Railways website to double-check the train timetable in case it has changed. Generally speaking, the trains reach the viaduct about 40-45 minutes after departure in both directions.
Glenfinnan Viaduct Car Park
Since we first visited over five years ago, the area has changed quite a bit. The car park has expanded, parking is now paid, and a trail with signs has been made to get to the preferred viewpoint.
Parking costs £3.50 for cars and £6 for minibuses and motorhomes.
Best Viewpoint
The best viewpoint for Mallaig-bound trains is, when you’re facing the viaduct, up to the left, where you’ll get a gorgeous view of the curve of the viaduct, and the train will be coming towards you.
From the car park, simply follow the route to the viewpoint. The viewpoint is about a 10-minute walk, with some incline. We would recommend going higher than the viaduct so that you get a more elevated view.
NOTE: It should go without saying, but remember not to do anything silly and dangerous like jumping onto or walking on the railway tracks. It’s illegal and you could face a fine of £1,000. Just follow the paths and enjoy the view and scenery.
The train usually starts chooing as it gets closer to the viaduct and the steam should start puffing as it starts to pass over the viaduct. Make sure to give everyone riding on the train a big wave!
What to Bring
There are three important things that we would suggest everyone visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct to see The Jacobite steam train to bring:
Good Quality Walking Shoes
As there is a little bit of walking involved when going to the viewpoint, including some incline and usually mucky spots, it’s best to bring good quality walking shoes to ensure you don’t slip, roll your ankle, and the like!
Weather-Appropriate Clothing
Depending on when exactly you visit Glenfinnan Viaduct, the weather may of course vary. There is no protection from the elements at the viewpoint, so make sure you bring and wear weather-appropriate clothing!
If it’ll be raining during your visit, make sure to pack a shell jacket and trousers, just in case it’ll be pouring quite hard. We would advise against umbrellas as it might obstruct others’ views and possibly be blown away if it’s windy! And if the forecast shows unseasonably cold temperatures, bring a warm hat, scarf, and gloves!
On the other hand, if it’ll be the peak of summer and Scotland experiences one of its rare heat waves, make sure to lather on the sunscreen and bring a hat.
Camera
And of course, one of the main reasons for seeing The Jacobite steam train pass Glenfinnan Viaduct is for those photos and videos! Make sure you pack your mirrorless or DSLR camera if you have one, but of course, the camera on your phone is as good as any!
Top Tips for Seeing The Jacobite Cross Glenfinnan Viaduct
Here are our tip tips:
Go for the Morning Service
We always find that the earlier you go to something, the quieter it will be, so we would suggest going for the morning service instead of the afternoon service. Of course, there will likely still be lots of people, but probably not as many as in the afternoon!
Use the Toilets Before You Visit
The closest facilities are at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre, which is about a one-minute walk from the car park. Once you start heading to the viewpoint, there are no additional facilities, so we would definitely recommend using the toilet before heading up!
Bring Your Own Water & Snacks
As mentioned above, there are no facilities at the viewpoint, so be sure to bring your own water and snacks, especially if it will be a hot day! Always remember to be responsible and take all of your rubbish away with you.
How to Ride The Jacobite
As The Jacobite is a tourist train, you are also welcome to ride it! Do note that the train used as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies is currently located at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London, so you wouldn’t be riding on the Hogwarts Express, but it would be an experience nonetheless!
Here are the 2023 date, timing, and price details:
Dates
Morning service from Monday 03 April to Friday 27 October, seven days a week
Afternoon service from Monday 01 May to Friday 29 September, seven days a week
Timings
Saturday Service (not yet finalised)
Sunday to Friday Service
| Morning Service | Afternoon Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Depart Fort William | 10.15 | 12.50 |
| Arrive Mallaig | 12.26 | 15.06 |
| Depart Mallaig | 14.10 | 17.00 |
| Arrive Fort William | 16.03 | 18.52 |
| Morning Service | Afternoon Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Depart Fort William | 10.15 | 12.50 |
| Arrive Mallaig | 12.26 | 15.06 |
| Depart Mallaig | 14.10 | 17.00 |
| Arrive Fort William | 16.03 | 18.52 |
Fares
| 1st Class | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Day Return (per person) | £89 | £57 |
| Child Day Return (16 or under, per person | £63 | £33 |
| Private Table for 2 Return | £199 | - |
| Compartments (up to six passengers) | £385 | - |
There is also a £3.75 booking fee on top of the fare. Amendments are subject to a £15 admin fee.
There is a minimum booking of two passengers for first class tickets. If travelling by yourself, you’ll have to book in standard class. Also note that the tickets are for a return trip as one-way tickets are not possible.
A lot of additional information about the steam train, including the classes and carriages, directions, and extras, can be found on the West Coast Railways website.
We rode the train back in 2017 and had a great time and enjoyed the spectacular views! Choose a seat on the left-hand side of the train to get views of the various lochs that the train passes and also to see the curve as the train passes Glenfinnan Viaduct. The only negative part about riding the train that we found was a strong smell of coal whenever the train would pass through tunnels!
We would recommend arriving to the Fort William train station at least 30-45 minutes before the train is due to depart just to take your time and look at the train before hopping on board!
It is a magical experience to witness The Jacobite steam train passing over Glenfinnan Viaduct, as well as riding The Jacobite itself, and we hope you get to experience this for yourself. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below!
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Made famous by the Harry Potter franchise, The Jacobite steam train is on the bucket list for many people who visit Scotland. Read on to find out everything to know about how to see The Jacobite cross Glenfinnan Viaduct as well as how to ride the actual train!