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That's right, the "Harry Potter train" really does exist: it's the Jacobite, a steam train that runs from Fort William to Mallaig in the Highlands of western Scotland! Along the way, it crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct—the famous bridge that the Hogwarts Express crosses in the movies—and winds past lochs, mountains, and beaches all the way to the sea. In 2009, readers of Wanderlust magazine even voted the West Highland Line—the final stretch of which is traveled by the Jacobite—the most beautiful train journey in the world.
And here's some good news: you can do the whole trip by train from France. Take the Eurostar to London, then the Caledonian Sleeper overnight train to Fort William, the starting point of the Jacobite (for more info, all the steps are in our Guide to Scotland by Train). We'll tell you everything you need to know: the route, tickets, the season, what to do if the Jacobite is sold out, and the history of this line that was once said to be impossible to build.
Where can I catch the Harry Potter train? In Fort William, in the Highlands. The Jacobite makes a round trip to Mallaig in a single day, passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Find out why it’s called the Harry Potter train.
When is it running? During the season, typically from April through October, but the dates for 2027 have not yet been announced. See when and how to book the Jacobite.
How much does the ticket cost? The 2027 fares have not yet been published, and the Jacobite only sells round-trip tickets. The regular ScotRail train, which runs on the same tracks, starts at £19 for a round trip.
What if the Jacobite is sold out? The regular ScotRail train follows the same route—including the viaduct—all year round. Check out our alternatives if the Jacobite is sold out.
Is it possible to get there from France without flying? Yes: Take the Eurostar to London, then the Caledonian Sleeper to Fort William. See the itinerary from Paris.
| The Jacobite (steamship) | ScotRail Scheduled Train | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | West Coast Railways | ScotRail |
| Route | Fort William ↔ Mallaig, same-day round trip | Fort William → Mallaig, one-way travel available |
| Distance | 84 miles round trip (about 135 km) | same line |
| Duration | one day, with a 1.5-hour stop in Mallaig | About 1 hour and 25 minutes each way |
| Traction | steam locomotive (diesel if there is a high risk of fire) | regional train |
| Frequency | Morning and afternoon services, 7 days a week during the season | up to 4 trains a day |
| Season | usually from April to October; dates for 2027 have not yet been announced | all year round |
| Price | 2027 rates not yet published; round-trip only | Starting at £19 round-trip |
| Classes | Standard and First, Mk2 classic cars | |
| Reservation | westcoastrailways.co.uk | scotrail.co.uk |
During the day, the Jacobite makes the round trip between Fort William and Mallaig along the extension of the West Highland Line: 84 miles (about 135 km) of lochs, mountains, and coastline.
The journey begins at Fort William Station, at the foot of Ben Nevis, Great Britain’s highest peak. The train then passes through Glenfinnan, followed by the villages of Lochailort, Arisaig, and Morar, before arriving in Mallaig, a fishing port that’s still in operation. There, you’ll have an hour and a half to spare—enough time for a stroll around the harbor while the locomotive prepares for the return trip.
Plan on spending a full day for the round trip. The exact schedules for the 2027 season have not yet been released; we will, of course, update this article once they are announced.
It all comes down to the stretch just past Fort William, at the Glenfinnan Viaduct : 21 arched spans about 30 meters above the Finnan River. In the movies, the Hogwarts Express speeds across this bridge on its way to the school of witchcraft and wizardry, and VisitScotland even promotes the Jacobite as the “real-life” Hogwarts Express. Below, Loch Shiel served as the setting for the Lake of Hogwarts.
When the schedule allows, the train slows down on the viaduct: for a moment, you’re suspended above one of Scotland’s most photographed panoramas. One rule to keep in mind before you pull out your phone: the train windows open, but you’re not allowed to lean out or stick a camera out the window because of the signals and low-hanging branches along the tracks.
The Jacobite on the Glenfinnan Viaduct
After Glenfinnan, the line sets one record after another, according to West Coast Railways: the Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater lake in Great Britain; the Morar River, the shortest in the country, which flows into the sea after just 400 meters; Arisaig, the westernmost mainland train station in Great Britain; and at the terminus, the Loch Nevis, the deepest marine loch in Europe.
On a clear day, keep an eye out for the Small Isles offshore: Rum, Eigg, Muck, and Canna, with the southern tip of the Isle of Skye in the background. The white-sand beaches and the turquoise waters The scenes from the coast are those from the movies Local Hero and Highlander.
Canna Island
The Port of Mallaig
The Jacobite runs only during the season and can be booked directly through West Coast Railways. The regular train ScotRail, on the other hand, runs on the same tracks all year round.
Tickets can be purchased on the West Coast Railways website, in Standard or First Class, in historic Mk2 cars. These are day-return tickets only, valid on the specified train and at the specified time, according to the carrier's rates page.
As of November 2, 2026, the dates and rates for 2027 have not yet been announced. The best thing to do is to sign up for West Coast Railways Alert to get notified as soon as reservations open!
Last resort: The conductor sometimes puts a few seats up for sale on the same day at the Fort William station. Payment is cash only, on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability is never guaranteed.
The Jacobite is running usually from April through October. But the dates change every year: in 2026, the season didn’t start until June 1, following a standoff between West Coast Railways and the British rail regulator over the centralized closing of doors on historic railcars. So wait for the official announcement before finalizing your travel dates.
Don't panic: the regular train from ScotRail It follows exactly the same route, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct. It runs year-round, up to four times a day, taking about 1 hour and 25 minutes, with round-trip tickets starting at £19. You won’t get the steam locomotive or the vintage cars, but you’ll see the same scenery.
Another advantage: one-way travel is possible. So you can stay overnight in Mallaig and then continue by ferry to the Isle of Skye—something the Jacobite, which only offers round-trip service, doesn't allow.
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From Paris, you can reach Fort William in one evening and one night: take the Eurostar to London, then the Caledonian Sleeper overnight train to the foot of Ben Nevis.
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The most direct route involves two trains:
The Caledonian Sleeper runs six nights a week, with no service on Saturday evenings. Everything is explained in detail in our article on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Do you prefer to travel during the day? Head to Glasgow, then take the ScotRail train on the West Highland Line to Fort William: about 4 hours through the Highlands, according to VisitScotland. Along the way, you’ll cross Rannoch Moor, where the Death Eaters board the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.
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If you take the overnight train, you’ll leave Paris in the afternoon and arrive in Fort William the next morning. Since the Caledonian Sleeper arrives around 10 a.m., it’s best to wait for the 2027 Jacobite departure before planning to take it that same day—the most comfortable option is to spend the night in Fort William.
As for the budget, Caledonian Sleeper prices vary depending on the date: according to the price range published by the operator, expect to pay starting at £54 for a seat and £210 for a Classic cabin for one person. Tickets go on sale twelve months in advance: for a cabin, aim to book three to six months before your departure.
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Scotland's most beautiful train journeys
The Jacobite is an ideal stop on a train tour of the Highlands! For example, you could travel from Edinburgh to Glasgow, take the West Highland Line to Fort William, ride the Jacobite, then head to Mallaig and take the ferry to the Isle of Skye.
Our 7-, 10-, and 15-day tours They also provide you with ready-made itineraries, and the other must-see attractions are included in our selection of Scotland's Most Beautiful Train Rides.
Opened in 1901 through peat bogs and rocky terrain that many considered impassable, the Mallaig Line returned to steam operation in 1984, and the Jacobite has been running on it under that name since 1995.
When the Victorians surveyed this coastline, the terrain seemed to make a railroad impossible: peat bogs, hard rock, and steep slopes. Yet the extension of the West Highland Line to Mallaig opened on April 1, 1901, according to the website of the West Coast Railways.
The project was led by contractor Robert McAlpine, nicknamed “Concrete Bob” for his fondness for concrete, which he preferred to masonry in areas where the rock was too hard. His Glenfinnan Viaduct, a technical first at the time, is today designated a historic monument and hasn't moved for over a century.
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From Glenfinnan, actually. On the shores of Loch Shiel stands the Glenfinnan Monument, erected in 1815 at the spot where, on August 19, 1745, Charles Edward Stuart—known as Bonnie Prince Charlie—raised his banner to launch the final Jacobite rebellion. From the train, you can see both monuments at a glance: one pays tribute to a rebellion, the other to engineers.
Our article features other Scottish filming locations In the Footsteps of Harry Potter, Outlander, and Indiana Jones in Scotland !
Steam locomotives dominated the line during its first 66 years, before making a comeback in 1984; West Coast Railways has carried on the tradition since 1995 under the name Jacobite. At the head of the train is a “Black Five,” a locomotive designed by William Stanier and put into service in 1934, of which 842 were built. One of them, No. 45407 The Lancashire Fusiliers, has been publishing *The Jacobite* for many years.
The Jacobite is much more than just a nod to the movies: it’s a day aboard a real steam train, traveling between Ben Nevis and the sea, with the Glenfinnan Viaduct as the highlight. Keep an eye out for the 2027 dates and book as soon as tickets go on sale. And if it’s sold out, the regular ScotRail train offers the same scenery all year round. Either way, the journey begins in Paris, with a night on the Caledonian Sleeper so you can wake up in the Highlands.
Want to take it a step further? Check out our Guide to Scotland by Train and join the HOURRAIL Club! Plan your next train trip in just a few clicks and take advantage of our exclusive discounts (including our occasional partnerships with Eurostar and Caledonian Sleeper)!
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
