Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Highlands of Scotland—the very name is associated with stories of romance and adventure. Long before an 11-year-old boy living in the cupboard under the stairs ever got a letter of invitation to attend a magical school in this storied region, Glenfinnan was best remembered as the spot Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his royal standard to claim the British throne for the Stuarts. Here overlooking Loch Shiel, a tall and imposing monument was placed to mark the spot where the Jacobite uprising began.
It’s a breathtakingly beautiful spot, like most of the Highlands, surrounded by hills and trees and with a rocky stream running beneath the viaduct. Completed in 1901, the viaduct is elegant and built to last; it came to the attention of the wider world when it was used in the first two Harry Potter films. The Hogwarts Express travels the long concrete curve of the viaduct, which is now widely known as the “Harry Potter bridge.”
There’s a nice-sized car park and a visitor’s center with a café and gift shop. You can hike up the hill overlooking the viaduct to take that epic picture. If you time your visit right in the summertime you can see the Jacobite steam train come by, giving you your best opportunity at an authentic-looking picture straight from the world of Harry Potter. I had a foot injury at the time of my visit, so I couldn’t manage the hike but rode a bike down the paved pathway for a close-up of the viaduct from below. It’s well-worth a stop on any trip to the Highlands, whether it be because you love natural history, Scottish history, architecture, or Harry Potter. There’s something for everyone.