If ever we’ve seen a fairytale-like view which rang a bell… No wonder, as this stunning sight has been the stage setting for the second and third Harry Potter movies - Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, for you movie-buffs, with the Hogwarts Express calling at Glenfinnan.
A nice thought when you’re wandering around the area - if you’ll have any time to think while you’re gasping for air, as you witness the dazzling surroundings.
Because Glenfinnan is situated at the head of the impressive Loch Shiel, a twenty-eight-kilometer long lake that rambles its way from Glenfinnan southwestward, draining into the River Shiel, and eventually emptying into the sea loch Moidart.
The upper reaches of Loch Shiel, toward Glenfinnan, are framed by steep mountains reaching elevations of up to 900 meters. Another high-rise is the famous Glenfinnan viaduct that carries the railway to Glenfinnan Station across a 300-meter span, 30 meters above the ground.
A 36-pound single ticket will get you aboard the Jacobite steam train, which train runs from Glenfinnan to Fort William and Mallaig in summer months.
At the foot of these majestic mountains, you’ll find the Glenfinnan Monument and Visitor Centre, which commemorates the Jacobite clansmen who fought bravely in the mid-18th century and gave their lives in support of "Bonnie Prince Charlie".
A visit to the monument will answer any further questions you might have. If you rather take a ride, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the fact this POI is perched right next to one of our MD Roads: the 63 kilometer-long stretch of A 830 from Mallaig towards Banavie.
You can link up this one to the A861 for a ride framed by four Lochs - Loch Sunart, Loch Shiel, Loch Eil, and Loch Linnhe - fairly easily. To do so, just take a right just after Banavie (assuming that you’re coming from Mallaig) and head for Fort William.
From thereon, just ride south towards Corran, where a small ferry will take you over Loch Linnhe to Ardgour for a mere 3,1 pounds. A bargain, as at the other side of the Loch, the A861 awaits again. Go!