How to Find Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint in 2026?
Getting to see the iconic Jacobite Steam Train rolling across the Glenfinnan Viaduct is on many people’s Scotland bucket lists. This is for good reason – it is such an impressive sight. This scenario is commonly known as the Harry Potter train or the Hogwarts Express.
I went to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct train while on a road trip around Scotland in 2020, and I loved it so much I did it twice during that trip. I then returned to Glenfinnan Viaduct in 2024 on a long weekend trip to Scotland. Therefore, I fancy myself as an expert for visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct.
There is a lot of outdated information online; therefore, with my visit to Glenfinnan Viaduct in May 2024, I was able to confirm some facts and information that has changed since 2020. There has been some updates to the Glenfinnan Viaduct parking, such as the number of car park spaces, the cost of parking, and the walking route to the view point.
Read on to learn how to find the Glenfinnan Viaduct and discover what time the train crosses the viaduct and what time to arrive at the car park.
Summary: How to See Glenfinnan Viaduct?
No time to read the whole article? Here are the most important thing you need to know about finding the Harry Potter viaduct and train.
Arrive at the Glenfinnan Viaduct Car Park at 9:45 AM for the train to pass by at approximately 10:45 AM.
Follow signs from the car park for “Viaduct Trail” and wear walking shoes because the trail is uneven and steep. The walk from the Glenfinnan parking lot to the viewpoint will take 10 minutes.
Where is the Glenfinnan Viaduct?
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is located in the West Highlands of Scotland.
It is approximately a 30-minute drive from Fort William, a 55-minute drive from Glencoe, a 1.5-hour drive from Oban, a 2.5-hour drive from Isle of Skye (Portree), and a 3.5-hour drive from Edinburgh.
Glenfinnan Viaduct is conveniently located close to other tourist attractions, or on the way to or from well-known locations. For example, you will be close to it when visiting Glencoe or when you are on your way to the Isle of Skye, via Mallaig ferry.
Glenfinnan Viaduct Train Times
There is a morning service and an afternoon service for the Jacobite Train crossing the Glenfinna Viaduct, so you can see which fits into your day better. I opted to see the Jacobite Steam Train during the morning both times that I visited, purely because I wanted it to be the first thing I did that day.
Check the West Coast Railways train schedule to see up-to-date Jacobite train times. Otherwise, I have listed them out below.
Note: the arrival and departure time of the Jacobite train is not the time that you will see the train cross the Glenfinnan bridge.
Morning Service:
- Departure from Fort William: 10:15 AM
- Arrival at Mallaig: 12:26 PM
- Departure from Mallaig: 2:10 PM
- Arrival at Fort William: 4:03 PM
Afternoon Service:
- Departure from Fort William: 12:50 PM
- Arrival at Mallaig: 3:06 PM
- Departure from Mallaig: 5:00 PM
- Arrival at Fort William: 6:52 PM
The morning service runs from Thursday 28th March to Friday 25th October 2024, seven days per week. The afternoon service runs from Monday 6th May to Friday 27th September 2024, also operating seven days per week.
You can still visit the viaduct outside of these months, but there will be no Jacobite Steam train passing the viaduct.
What Time does the Jacobite Cross Glenfinnan Viaduct?
The Jacobite train crosses Glenfinnan Viaduct towards you at the viewpoint at the following times.
- Departure from Fort William: 10:15 AM
- 30 to 40 minutes later: 10:45 – 10:55 AM
- Departure from Fort William: 12:50 PM
- 30 to 40 minutes later: 1:20 – 1:30 PM
The morning service departs Fort William at 10:15 am and takes about 30 to 40 minutes to get to the bridge. It arrived between 10:45 AM to 10:55 AM on the days I visited.
If the train is running early, so it arrives closer to 10:40 AM, it will slow down so you can take some pictures. However, if it is running on-time or late, it will continue at its usual pace.
You should arrange to see the Jacobite train when it goes from Fort William to Mallaig because the train will be travelling towards you, which is best for photography.
For a morning visit, I would aim to be at the Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint by 10:40 AM at the absolute latest in order to find a good spot and in case the train crosses closer to 10:45 AM. Allow 45 to 60 minutes for parking and walking to the viewpoint.
You can also catch the train crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct when the train returns from Mallaig to Fort William 30 to 40 minutes after it leaves Mallaig, which is generally between 3:10 to 3:25 PM and 6:05 to 6:15 PM. However, you will not see the train facing towards you at the viewpoint.
Where to Park for Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint?
There are two car parks available to visit Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The first is at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre. The Glenfinnan Viaduct car park is easily found on Google Maps and called Glenfinnan Viaduct & Monument Car and Coach Parking. However, if you want to use a postcode for your SatNav, the Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint Postcode is PH37 4LT.
It is a small car park and fits around 55 cars. The cost is free for National Trust members or £5 for other visitors with a car.
The second car park, which is immediately next door, is the Glenfinnan Community Car Park which was built in 2021 and has space for around 100 cars. However, given the popularity of Glenfinnan Viaduct, it still fills up quickly.
The cost to park is £5 for regular vehicles and the ticket lasts all day, so you can explore some of the surrounding area within walking distance, such as Glenfinnan Monument. The car park fee is payable by card, and you can pay by Visa or Mastercard at the machine, or pay online with an American Express.
There are car park attendants to help you locate spaces to park your car and make sure all the gaps are filled. I would imagine they are also checking that every car has a ticket on their dashboard, so make sure you remember to pay for the car park.
There may be a short line to pay for your car park fee as many cars arrive at the same time; however, if you have arrived before 10:00 AM, you have plenty of time to get organised before the train comes.
If you need to rent a car to visit Glenfinnan Viaduct, compare prices on DiscoverCars.
What if Glenfinnan Viaduct Car Park is Full?
When I visited Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint the first time, I thought that arriving at the Glenfinnan car park 20 minutes before the train would be enough. However, if the car parks are full, you will need to find alternative parking further away and walk.
If you arrive in Glenfinnan from Fort William, and you see that the both Glenfinnan Viaduct car parks are full, continue driving in the same direction. You will pass a church, but you cannot park in the church car park to visit Glenfinnan.
Therefore, your best option is to find a layby within a reasonable distance to the viaduct.
I managed to find a spot in a layby 5 minutes further down the road by car. This left me a 30-minute walk to the Glenfinnan Viaduct (carrying my sister’s dog) as I walked along the side of the road.
The walk to Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint along the road was not ideal because the cars are driving by fast. But, sometimes it is your only option if you are on a tight schedule and determined to see the Jacobite Train on Glenfinnan Viaduct.
It is forbidden to park outside the Glenfinnan visitor centre on the side of the road.
The official guidance is to take the train or bus from Fort William to Glenfinnan, or to return later in the day if there are no remaining car parking spots.
The Glennfinnan Viaduct is still a beautiful sight without the train.
What Time to Arrive at Glenfinnan Viaduct?
Even though the car park is a reasonable size, it fills up very quickly during peak holiday times or when the train is about to pass through because it is a very popular attraction.
I spoke to the parking attendant at Glenfinnan Viaduct and he said the best time to guarantee a parking spot is to arrive before 10:00 AM (it is the same for weekends and midweek). The attendant advised that the car park is always completely full by 10:30 AM during the morning.
As a result, you should arrive at Glenfinnan Viaduct at least 45 minutes before the train comes to get a parking spot, but more if you have time. So, for the morning slot, the train arrives at around 10:45 AM, which means you should arrive at the car park between 9:45 AM and 10:00 AM.
While you are waiting, you can go sit on the hill and get a spot. But there is a quite a bit of space to spread out, so you do not need to sprint to get a spot. If you would like, you can get some refreshments from the cafe run by the Visitor Centre before making your way to the viewpoint.
How to Get to Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint?
There are updates to the walking trail to get to the Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint spot and it is now easier than before to find the correct location to watch the train since there are new signs. Plus, there will likely be a mass of people heading in the same direction, so you should easily be able to figure out where to go.
From the car park, you should exit through the back (not the front where the road is) – there are signs with a graphic of a viaduct pointing you in the right direction. Head towards the red posts and archway.
Continue along the gravel path and cross a small wooden bridge over a stream. At the end of the bridge there will be a small sign reading “Viaduct Trail” telling you to continue along the gravel path. You do not need to walk across the field.
You will get to a fork and there is a sign pointing you towards “Viaduct Trail & Viewpoints”. This is where the incline starts and the path turns uneven. The path has numerous boulders and loose rocks to navigate as you climb the hill.
The trail to Glenfinnan Viaduct is not wheelchair accessible or suitable for those on crutches or with troubles walking on uneven terrain. The path may also be muddy and slippery.
The trail will lead you under the Harry Potter train bridge and to a wooden gate that you should go through and continue climbing up the hill along the rocky path.
You can decide where you want to watch the train from, but in my opinion, the higher the better because some of the trees are now quite tall, so you do not want them to block your view.
The total walk from the car park to the viewpoint will take around 10 minutes and quite strenuous, so it may make you feel out of breath (it did for me).
Where is the Best Place to View the Glenfinnan Viaduct?
I would recommend that you walk under the viaduct, through the gate and up onto the hill path. This is where you will get the best view of Glenfinnan Viaduct.
On Google Maps, it is called Bridge View.
As a result, this spot is where most people will be waiting for the train to come. It will most likely be busy with people all across the hill, but given the restricted car parking opportunities, there will still be enough space for you to find a spot to watch the train.
Luckily, the people around you will not get in the way of your view or Glenfinnan Viaduct photos because you are on a hill. It is more challenging if you are trying to get a photograph of yourself with the train in, in that case you will struggle to avoid people in your shot.
You then will need to wait patiently on the side of the hill until the train comes, which could be around 30 minutes. Therefore, you could bring something to sit on while you wait.
Do not get confused with other viewpoints on with the Google Maps, such as the location called “Viewpoint of Glenfinnan Viaduct“, which has a view from the back of the viaduct so you will not see the train approaching from the front. Also, do not get confused with the “Glenfinnan viewpoint“, which offers a view from afar of the viaduct and a view of the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel.
There are signs to say that drones are forbidden unless you call for permission from Alistair the landowner.
What Should I Wear to See Glenfinnan Viaduct?
Even if it is raining, you should still visit the viaduct. The view looks great on both sunny and cloudy days. However, on a rainy day, there will be midges (particularly if you are visiting from May to September).
Here are 4 items I recommend you wear and bring with you to Glenfinnan Viaduct. You will also find these items useful on the rest of your trip in Scotland.
1. Walking Boots
Even though the walk to get to Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint is relatively short, the last part of the path is uneven, rocky, slippery and muddy. Therefore, you should wear walking shoes/boots to be able to grip on and that will not get ruined.
2. Raincoat
You should bring a raincoat to keep you dry while you wait for the train to arrive. Most raincoats fold up small so you can pack it into your backpack in case the weather turns. If it is rainy, it will also bring the midges out, so you may find it more comfortable to put your hood up to shield part of your head.
The best and most waterproof coats are made from GORE-tex, such as Arcteryx and Berghaus. I have a Berghaus GORE-tex shell and Lucas has an Arcteryx shell, and they are both featured on my ski layering article, which means they are good for rainy Scotland trips and ski trips to the Alps.
3. Midge Net Hat
The one thing to watch for is the midges. If you are visiting Scotland over the summer, there is a strong chance you will be swarmed by these creatures.
If you keep still, the midges will land on you and get in your face. When I was waiting for the train to come in 2020, I pulled my hood up and was wearing my face mask, and I was jealous of those with the midge net hats.
Therefore, for my 2024 trip, I made sure I purchase a midge net hat and brought it with me. Thankfully, it was a sunny day with no midges, and I did not need to wear it.
4. Tripod
The final item on this list is recommended if you would like to film the train coming along the bridge at the same time of taking photos. However, you will need to find the perfect spot to place your tripod so it is not blocked by other spectators.
I would suggest you record the train coming with your phone on the tripod. Then you have your hands free to take pictures with a camera. I found that the train came around the viaduct hastily, so I had to react quickly.
Buy your own tripod here
Make sure you are ready with your camera and have an idea if you are going to film it or take pictures. Also have an idea whether you will do so in portrait or landscape, or a bit of both.
Booking Tickets for Jacobite Steam Train
If you want to book tickets for the Jacobite Steam train, you can book tickets online on the West Coast Railways website. Tickets are only available as round-trip.
Tickets sell out quickly, so keep an eye on the West Coast Railways website for when they go on sale.
What To Do Near Glenfinnan Viaduct?
Once you have visited the Glenfinnan Viaduct, you can go to the Visitor Centre and look at the shop and use the toilets. There is also an exhibit that teaches you about about Glenfinnan’s history and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Then, I would suggest you walk up to the top of the other viewpoint trail. The entrance is next to the Glenfinnan Viaduct visitor centre.
At the top of this trail you will be able to see Loch Shiel, which has a lovely view. Harry Potter fans will recognise Loch Shiel as Hogwarts Lake. Then you can walk down to Glenfinnan Monument and the lake edge.
An additional option once you have seen the Harry Potter bridge is to find Eilean na Moine – another one of the Harry Potter filming locations (Dumbledore’s resting place). It is only 20 minutes further down the road from Glenfinnan Viaduct. It is also on the way to Mallaig if you are heading to the Isle of Skye.
If you fancy another bucket-list activity, you can drive 1 hour 30 minutes to Oban for a tour to see the puffins on Staffa. Find out detailed instructions on how to get to Staffa here.
Where to Stay When Visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct?
I recommend that you stay in Fort William or Glencoe when visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct. Hotels in Fort William are around a 25 minute drive from Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Glencoe is a little further at about 50 minutes away, but it is more picturesque than Fort William.
Hotels near Glenfinnan Viaduct
| Hotel | Location | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| The Garrison | Fort William | Click here to book |
| Clachaig Inn | Glencoe | Click here to book |
| The Lime Tree | Fort William | Click here to book |
| Glencoe House | Glencoe | Click here to book |
| Inverlochy Castle Hotel | Fort William | Click here to book |
Holiday Rentals near to Glenfinnan Viaduct
- 3-Bedroom House with views over Ben Nevis, Torcastle, Fort William
- 2-Bedroom Luxury Lodge, North Ballachulish, Fort William
- Large 5-Bedroom House, Glencoe
- 3-Bedroom Stables Cottage, North Ballachulish, Fort William
If you are planning to drive to Glenfinnan Viaduct from your home, read about the other places I recommend visiting around the UK that can be added on to your road trip, depending on where you are travelling from.
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