Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Highlands of Scotland

I first traversed the 21 arched Glenfinnan Viaduct in the late nineties, long before the magnificent structure was brought to mainstream attention through the marvellous Harry Potter films.

I travelled on the Jacobite steam train back then, something that I repeated in 2009. From the train the pictures were not great, no matter how far I dared to lean out of the window.

On the Jacobite in 2009
On the Jacobite in 2009

In May 2022 we undertook a road tour of the Highlands and having visited the Isle of Skye we drove southwards from Mallaig towards Fort William, the same route undertaken by the Jacobite.

A consultation with the Jacobite website indicated that a southbound train would be crossing the viaduct at about 13.15.

We therefore parked up at the Glenfinnan visitor centre and hotfooted it through the drizzle along a footpath and up some slippery rocks to find a decent vantage point.

Glenfinnan Viaduct at ground level​
Glenfinnan Viaduct at ground level
Glenfinnan Viaduct from our vantage point
Glenfinnan Viaduct from our vantage point

Sure enough at around 1.15pm we heard a rumble through the trees and a head of steam emerged through the precipitation. Cue a camera frenzy.

The Jacobite traverses the Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite traverses the Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite traverses the Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite traverses the Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite traverses the Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite traverses the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Getting back down afterwards was slightly more treacherous than going up as my dog tried to pull me down the by now boggy slope! Next time I will try to capture the northbound service. And hope for some sunshine.

One comment

  1. It’s my dream to ride this train!

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