Final Up to date on sixth October 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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A famend piece of Victorian engineering and the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland, the Glenfinnan Viaduct spans throughout the River Finnan and boasts one of the vital scenic prepare rides on this planet!
It’s additionally the very bridge which has develop into synonymous with Harry Potter due to its characteristic within the movies because the route which the Hogwarts Categorical takes. Right here’s your information on the way to go to Glenfinnan Viaduct, in addition to high ideas and what to know earlier than you go.
A historical past of Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line that dominates the Glenfinnian panorama and has, over time, develop into a cinematic icon and treasure of Scotland.
The West Highland Railway was constructed and accomplished in 1894, reaching Fort William. Nevertheless, though that they had reached the West Coast, it was finally determined that the rail line ought to be prolonged to Mallaig.
The viaduct was designed and engineered by Simpson & Wilson and constructed by Robert McAlpine & Sons from 1897 to 1901. Robert McAlpine himself earned the nickname “Concrete Bob” due to his identified revolutionary use of concrete as a fabric.
The spectacular stretch of railway took simply 4 years to finish and was, in truth, one of many final constructions of the Victorian railway revolution. They used pioneering know-how to assemble the viaduct, working alongside the exhausting schist rock of the panorama.
The viaduct includes 21 looming stone arches that span 50 ft every, reaching throughout the River Finnan. It stands 100 ft above floor and carries one single observe.
At present, the Glenfinnan Viaduct stays the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland and stands a testomony to the spectacular feat of engineering in a mountainous panorama. The viaduct is commemorated on a Scottish £10 be aware and it boasts one of the vital picturesque prepare journeys on this planet!
It’s for that reason that Glenfinnan Viaduct has usually featured in a number of movies and tv sequence, most notably the favored Harry Potter sequence by which it has starred in 4 of the eight movies – this, particularly, has made the viaduct even extra iconic.
The Harry Potter Connection
The viaduct has develop into so synonymous with Harry Potter that it’s also known as the “Harry Potter Bridge”.
If you happen to’re a fan of Harry Potter, it’s possible you’ll properly recognise the Glenfinnan Viaduct from the movies when it first appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and techniques.
After lacking the Hogwarts Categorical at Platform 9¾, Harry and Ron steal Arthur Weasley’s flying automotive to get to highschool. The viaduct makes an look when they’re being flung across the Scottish panorama within the small blue automobile.
It additionally options in three of the later movies from the sequence, displaying the beloved Hogwarts Categorical steamrolling throughout the railway observe into the Scottish Highlands to the magical college of wizardry.
Easy methods to go to
The Scottish panorama alone is sufficient purpose to go to and the Glenfinnan Viaduct simply makes the record as one of the vital stunning viaducts on this planet.
On the subject of visiting there are two methods to expertise Glenfinnan Viaduct; by taking the enduring Jacobite Prepare (which I don’t essentially advocate doing in 2024) or by heading to the viaduct to stroll subsequent to it. If you happen to time your go to accurately, you’ll get to see the well-known prepare passing over the wonderful construction!
In the course of the summer time months, the Jacobite prepare runs twice a day from Fort William to Mallaig and again once more; this provides you 4 alternatives to see the prepare journey throughout the bridge. Test the Jacobite prepare timetable right here.
Please be aware that the Jacobite Steam prepare is just in operation within the morning service. The afternoon service is at present being pulled by a diesel locomotive versus the traditional steam prepare.
The Jacobite prepare usually runs from March to October, and top-of-the-line instances to see the prepare roll throughout full steam forward is throughout Autumn when the panorama is painted all shades of orange, pink and yellow.
Automobile Parking
To achieve the automotive park which boasts the very best view of the viaduct you’ll need to drive round 10 minutes west from the Glenfinnan Customer Centre.
There’s just one automotive park right here, which is just some minutes stroll from the very best view of the viaduct. It’s each well-signposted and straightforward to entry.
Nevertheless, when visiting throughout peak season, you have to be conscious that the automotive park can get very busy and typically even closes as a result of it’s too full (so that you would possibly think about visiting fairly early within the day to keep away from this).
Take a guided tour
If you happen to don’t need to hire your personal automotive, then an alternative choice is to take a guided tour which features a cease off on the viaduct. Listed below are a few of our high suggestions:
Sensible info
Be ready for all climate varieties! In any case, Scotland’s climate is understood to be unpredictable regardless of what the climate forecast might recommend, you may by no means actually know.
The highlands particularly can get windy and wet fairly rapidly (although it must be mentioned this definitely provides to the ambiance) it’s all the time greatest to have a raincoat on the prepared must you want it.
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