Tips: Watching Hogwarts Express Train

Tourists love to watch Hogwarts Express train—of Harry Potter fame—travel over this iconic bridge.

But it’s not as easy as you might think!

Many end up missing it.

 

Beginning our return hike after watching the train, it was difficult averting the crestfallen looks of the senior adults and young parents we met going the opposite direction dragging their children along the steeper-than-expected trail. They were walking toward the bridge AFTER the train had already passed. Of course they HEARD the loud whistle as it rumbled across. They just didn’t get to see it.

But Mommy, where’s the train? Is it coming back? 

Cringe. Nope.

Did you know that you only have 45 seconds to watch Hogwart’s Express train cross this magnificent 21 arched Glenfinnan Viaduct? Yeah, 45 seconds.

So it’s important to know when and where to go. So YOU don’t miss it.

We almost missed it ourselves. The drive to get here from Skye took longer than we expected. Not fully comprehending exactly how to access the trail in advance, we depended on asking staff at the Visitor Center. Frankly, their directions were a little vague. But the most misleading info was an online source claiming it was just a ten minute walk away–which in reality was only enough time to reach the trailhead! We ended up having to make a mad dash up the hills to beat the train. I don’t want this to happen to you…

 

Tips for getting to the bridge in time to watch the Hogwarts Express train:

Know WHEN to go

Season: The Jacobite train (aka Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express) only runs Spring to Fall. Current dates in 2021: April 2nd-October 29th.

Days: Operates daily in season.

Times: The train travels over this viaduct bridge each morning around 10:45am, roughly 30-40 minutes after it departs Fort Williams at 10:15am. Aim to get here early, by 10:30am, any day of the week.

Additional run: Between April 26th until October 1st, 2021 the train adds an afternoon run. Watch the train cross the viaduct Sunday-Friday at 1:15pm (departs Ft Willams at 12:45pm) and Saturdays at 3:10pm (departs Ft Willams at 2:40pm).

Double check the Jacobite train timetable before you go. Also be aware that other trains use these tracks so there may be delays. Or cancellations. The train travels from Fort William to Mallaig following the Road to the Isles in western Scotland.

 

Know WHERE to go

Location:

The location is kinda out of the way. You won’t be passing through here, but rather making a concerted effort to travel here just to see the train.

Your destination is the Glenfinnan Visitor Center located in Glenfinnan, 18 miles west of Fort William on A830. Driving time: Allow a minimum of 3 hours from Glasgow, 3.5 hours from Edinburgh or 2.75 hours from Portree on the Isle of Skye on A87. Alternatively, if you’re staying on Skye you could take the Calmet car ferry crossing to Mallaig then travel onward to Glenfinnan–but catching the ferry to catch the train creates a whole other set of time constraints.

Arrive early: Check out the free Visitor Center museum which highlights the history of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highlander supporters during the 1745 Jacobite uprisings. Grab a snack in the cafe. Or climb the nearby Monument. Tickets cost £5.00 adult or £12.00 per family. This Monument is a tribute to those who died fighting the Jacobite cause. But even those without an interest in history will appreciate the views from the top of the Monument of the surrounding Highland scenery and pretty Loch Shiel.

 

Parking:

Parking is very limited, and fills quickly!

Parking at the Glenfinnan Visitor Center (NTS) costs £3.00. You have to go inside the visitor center, wait in line to pay, then come back and put the ticket on your car before you can head to the trail. If you’re in a HURRY like we were, this can be a drag, especially if don’t know exactly how to find the trail.

Worse case scenario, you keep looping around the lot with no place to park and risk missing the train. Driving takes longer than you expect in this country, and we were lucky to have ONE SPOT open up for us finally–or we would’ve missed it too. Plans are underway to build a new parking lot in 2021 to accommodate the increase in tourism, as many are forced to turn away when the lot is full.

Secret tip: If you do arrive late, it is worth driving past the main Visitor Center parking lot and head to the teensy lot near the dining car/hostel. Park there and run! You’ll save a good 10-15 minutes. There were about 5 empty spaces when we walked past it–so obviously most people don’t know about it or it would fill first.

 

Hiking trail:

The trailhead begins 1 mile west of the Glenfinnan Visitor Center.

Directions: Departing Visitor Center, turn right and follow the sidewalk along the road. Cross the creek. When you see the next parking area to the right, walk up the hill which leads to Glenfinnan Train Station. Soon you’ll see the dining car of the Glenfinnan Train Hostel. Walk around it to the right. (The pink line on this map of the Glenfinnan area is the hiking trail.)

Trail behind the dining car leads to the Viaduct Bridge. Start hiking!

The hiking trail from the Dining Car to the Viaduct vantage point to watch the Hogwarts Express train takes around 20 minutes. If you’re a slow hiker, adjust the time. Or run!! Just be careful on the uneven wooden planks that can get slippery in rain.

The trail goes through a little tunnel…

Continue through the forest and up a somewhat steep hill where it opens up to distant mountains and a lake. And finally, the impressive bridge, 30 meters high.

If you make it here in time, scout out an unobstructed spot on the hill and get your camera ready! Before long you’ll hear the triumphant blast of a whistle, see the train appear with billowing steam and feel an adrenalin rush as you watch Hogwarts Express train pass oh so quickly over the awe-inspiring 21-arched Viaduct! And then it’s gone.

Photography Tips:

Before you arrive, select your camera settings. (You can fine tune them on top of the hill later.) Set your shutter speed to 1/1000 to freeze the train’s fast movement, and put your camera in high drive mode. Choose a high ISO, around 1000. Aperture is a personal choice. If you want the background soft so the train stands out, choose f4 and put your camera in continuous focus mode. Or if you want everything in focus, choose f16 or f22 and use manual focus, magnifying the viewfinder to ensure the track closest to you is in sharp focus. Avoid wide focus mode because it will focus on the plants in the foreground and not your subject, the train.

Lens choice: A long lens 70-200mm will isolate the train and tracks;  but a wide lens 16-35mm is too wide in my opinion. I used a 70-300mm lens, and shot the train at 100mm & 160mm.

To illustrate the zoom range, here is the bridge at 70mm:

 

A close up of the tracks at 230mm:

The steam train passing through at 100mm:

Tripod: I hand held my camera so that I could take both a vertical and horizontal. Wouldn’t be enough time to change orientation of your camera on a tripod.

To show motion of the moving train you could try panning and select a slower shutter speed of around 1/30. But, I wouldn’t. The train passes through so quickly that your attempt to show motion creatively may just look like blurry mistakes in the end. You only have one shot at capturing the train, and trust me that time goes fast.

How fast? The train first appeared on the Viaduct at 10:51:10am and was completely out of view by 10:51:55am. Yeah, 45 seconds fast!

 

Hiking back down:

On the return hiking trip, look for this scene. If you scurry down the trail fast enough, you’ll see the train pass on these lower tracks as it heads toward Glenfinnan Station.

The trail is well-maintained, clear and easy to follow. And more enjoyable on the way down when you’re no longer rushing to beat the train.

 

Want a backup day to watch the Hogwarts Express train?

Trains break down and trips get cancelled. If you really wanna ensure that you get to watch the Hogwarts Express Train, stay overnight. In a unique train carriage! A historic 1958 coach– converted into a hostel– sits at Glenfinnan Station Museum, near the trailhead. Twin bunks and family room compartments are available from £35 per night. The carriage includes a communal bathroom and kitchen for guests. Glenfinnan sleeping car can be rented by compartment by day or week. Excellent for die-hard train enthusiasts and hikers alike as it provides an ideal base for area mountain walks.