Jacobite Steam Train ride, Glenfinnan, fishing village Mallaig, and Fort Augustus.
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Escape the city for the day and follow in the footsteps of the world’s most famous wizard, Harry Potter. Scotland has played a huge part in the story of Harry Potter, from the scenic filming locations and inspiring architecture to the coffee shop where J.K. Rowling is said to have written the first novel.
Experience the magic firsthand with our Jacobite Steam Train tour from Edinburgh, which includes a ticket for the iconic steam train – famously known as the Hogwarts Express – for an unforgettable 2-hour ride along Scotland’s stunning west coast. Our tour, primarily conducted on a comfortable coach (bus), will take you through the breathtaking landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, getting you to and from the train stations where you'll embark and disembark the train. Our passionate guides will immerse you in all the magic of Harry Potter, plus the real-life beauty and history of Scotland.
Tour Highlights
Inclusions
Return Coach from Edinburgh
Passionate Local Guide
2-Hour Ride on the Jacobite Steam Train
Foreign Language Audio Guides Available
Audio guide links will be provided after booking. Please download over WiFi and bring your own headphones
What Other Explorers Say
This is a full-day amazing experience of the highlands and the Jacobite Steam train. The bus ride was quite relaxing, and Karis was a very knowledgeable and funny guide.
Madelyn
15/09/2025Great experience overall! We had a great tour guide. It was worth the cost overall. I would recommend the tour to a friend.
Susannah
16/09/2025The tour was extraordinary. The guide Connor was amazing, very knowleadgeable and fun. The views were incredible, we were able to make many stops along the way to and from the highlands which was lovely and we had time to take pics and make comfort stops which was greatly appreciated, plus there arr usb ports on the bus which was very useful. The Jacobite steam train was outstanding and I had a super fun time!!!
Ana Lucia
19/07/2025Dusty was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and fun to interact with. He balance Scottish history with pop culture references for a very well balanced experience. He gave clear instructions and set expectations for how the tour would go.
Nicole
17/07/2025Very informative and fun narrative by Connor our guide. Kept us on track and well informed the whole time. His stories were amongst the best we’ve had in recent tours. Scenery was absolutely beautiful. Train ride was fun but no real narrative on board (not Connor’s fault). It is a long but enjoyable day
Debbie
07/07/2025It was an amazing tour, enriched with Scottish history and fantastic film locations of Harry Potter (extra added some film locations of Jame’s Bond’ Sky Fall). Our guide was so hilarious and very patient. I highly recommend this tour. For sure, I will be coming back for another adventure.
Rod
15/06/2025Ryan P was an outstanding driver and guide! He was knowledgeable, humourous and had excellent time management. Really enjoyed the stories he shared on the trip, and he took such great care of every guest. Give the man his winning whisky! He deserves it!
Lokee
14/06/2025Great trip. Well organised. Beautiful scenery through Glen Coe on the way to Fort William to pick up the Jacobite train to Malaig. Special thanks to Tim, our driver, who was so knowledgeable and informative about the history and geology of the Highlands.
Ray
12/06/2025100% recommend this tour with Alistair! He was AMAZING. Provided so much information on history of Scotland, movie references and filming, history of the land, and how to sight the animals. He was a smooth and safe driver. I normally get motion sickness and I was completely fine.
Jay
05/05/2025An extraordinary tour! From the bright yellow minibus, the views, stops but most importantly our fantastic guide Ryan P. The trip was fun filled with factual knowledge, comedy and film recommendations especially braveheart 🤪. Would 100% recommend to anyone who is wanting to explore the highland in a one day compact trip with great experience.
Sophie
17/05/2025I’m also in the tourism business and I can honestly say Ryan was one of the best tour guides I've ever had. He is knowledgeable, an excellent public speaker, funny, and genuine. His facts are not boring and they complement the tour really well.
Veronica
14/05/2025Ry and Paul were awesome! They were so knowledgeable and full of such in depth historical stories. It was a very educational experience! They were very accommodating to all of the passengers and gave us plenty of time at each spot while keeping us on schedule and not rushed. All around a wonderful tour and couldn’t have asked for better guides!
Jennifer
10/04/2025Great tour! the highlands are beautiful and our tour guide Cara was amazing! Very kind and we loved all the story's she knows and shares while driving trough the highland roads like a champ. This was a "wee" day as we joked about but we really enjoyed this day, the views, the story's, the train ride, everything!
Connector
11/04/2025t was amazing wholesome experience. The tour guides were fun to experience the highlands. Loved the entire Tripp!!! Musttttt experience ❤️
Kajol
08/04/2025Everything went as expected. The tour was very well organized and extremely interresting. Our tour guide, Graeme, did a very good job at keeping us entertained through his many stories about both the history of Scotland and the local legends of the towns we passed through. Graeme was also just an awesome person to speak to and ask questions. This experience was everything I was hoping for and more. I would not hesitate to book another tour! 100% recommended!
Voyage
06/10/2024Ryan was absolutely brilliant. Excellent story telling, both educational and funny. Great sense of humour. Totally worth the trip all the way from Australia
Shani
14/09/2024Loved stopping off to see the viaduct at Glenfinnan before going on to Mallaig to join the train. Also our driver/tour guide Cara was so good, she clearly enjoys her job and her enthusiasm really shone through. She drove us safely while telling us loads of interesting information about the places we passed and where we were going and also Scottish history. Although it was a very long day we had plenty of stops and thought it was worth the money.
David
20/08/2024Ride the Jacobite Steam Train with @highextours
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your Jacobite Steam Train tour departs from Edinburgh city centre. For departure details and pick-up location, visit our Departure Info page.
Your Jacobite Steam Train tour from Edinburgh spans approximately 13 hours*. It's one of our most-popular day trips, featuring a magical one-way journey aboard the Jacobite Steam Train, picturesque coach rides through the captivating Highland scenery, and plenty of opportunities for memorable photo stops and breaks in the Highlands.
*Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.
Yes, the Jacobite Steam Train ticket is included in the tour price.
All essential information about the Jacobite Steam Train on our tours can be found here.
Coach seating operates on a first-come, first-served basis, but allocated seats are provided for the Jacobite Steam Train ride. If you and your travel companion(s) have booked separately, simply reach out to us at least 24 hours before departure to ensure you're seated together.
For most of the journey, you'll be travelling on a midi-coach, except for the 2-hour Jacobite Steam Train trip in the afternoon. Your Highland Explorer guide will accompany you to Mallaig station for smooth boarding onto the train. Upon arrival in Fort William, your guide will greet you, and the tour group will return to Edinburgh by coach.
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.
Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.
It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.
Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.
Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.
If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.
Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.
- Home
- 1 Day Tours
- Scottish Highlands & Jacobite Steam Train
Feast your eyes upon the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the stunning drive up the West Coast. The next time you see it will be when you’re travelling across its iconic arches on the Jacobite Steam Train from Mallaig!
After your experience on one of the world’s most beautiful railway lines, your guide will be waiting for you at Fort William train station to escort you back to the coach. We’ll then take you straight to Scotland’s most dramatic landscape, Glen Coe, which was used as the backdrop for some much-loved scenes in Harry Potter.
We continue through the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor, entertaining you with tales from Scotland’s past. Our Jacobite Steam Train tour comes to an end as we arrive back into Edinburgh in the late evening.
Please note that the route is subject to change.
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
Learn all about Edinburgh’s connections to Harry Potter, as we depart the city and journey north towards the Highlands, past the magnificent Forth Bridge, the Kingdom of Fife and Perth.
Feast your eyes upon the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the stunning drive up the West Coast. The next time you see it will be when you’re travelling across its iconic arches on the Jacobite Steam Train from Mallaig!
After your experience on one of the world’s most beautiful railway lines, your guide will be waiting for you at Fort William train station to escort you back to the coach. We’ll then take you straight to Scotland’s most dramatic landscape, Glen Coe, which was used as the backdrop for some much-loved scenes in Harry Potter.
We continue through the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor, entertaining you with tales from Scotland’s past. Our Jacobite Steam Train tour comes to an end as we arrive back into Edinburgh in the late evening.
Please note that the route is subject to change.
Day Highlights
Departure Point
60 High Street, EH1 1TB, Edinburgh
We depart from our blue corner shop at 60 High Street, centrally located on the Royal Mile in the Old Town of Edinburgh. A useful landmark to find us is the Radisson Blu Hotel, situated just one street above.
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Tours Dates & Prices
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