Jacobite Steam Train

The Jacobite Steam Railway operates between Fort William & Mallaig. The service operates through some of the most beautiful Scottish countryside, passing lochs, forests & craggy landscapes. Possibly the highlight of the trip is passing over the fabulous Glenfinnan Viaduct, made more famous in the Harry Potter film (The Philosopher's Stone). The train itself, & some of the carriages also appeared as the Hogwarts Express in some of the films. It's very much a trip from a bygone age, classic steam engine, lovely old carriages, with the chug, chug, puff, puff soundtrack to complete the atmospheric journey. On the outward journey a 20 min stop is made at Glenfinnan Station, so you can stretch your legs & have a look at the museum they have there. 2 hours is spent at Mallaig before your return journey. There isn't a massive amount to do in Mallaig, particularly if you are on the afternoon service & the museum is closed. A few things to help you make the best of your journey: We travelled in the first class section, so there is a little extra room & complimentary tea & coffee is served. There is no facility to turn the train around at Mallaig so we found the best views are on the left hand side of the train as you are going from Fort William. We had 10 B & F which are singles facing each other (the other side s doubles facing each other). Standard class has a different configuration. You also get a better photo of Glenfinnan Viaduct from the left side as the train curves to the left as it crosses the viaduct. This is a popular service & we booked 5 months in advance & the morning service was fully booked, so book as far in advance as you can.