So you’re on your way! The train has set off from Platform nine-and-three-quarters and you’ve got Scotland in your sights. Except, it’s not the Hogwarts Express, and you’ve set off from a very typical Kings Cross platform. Perhaps six or seven. One of the boring ones.
But that doesn’t mean you’re on an adventure that’s any less magical! Here at Ariescape, so many people who use our motorhome hire tell us that they were inspired to visit by the Harry Potter books or movies.
This was, quite simply, the biggest phenomenon in both literature and movie history, with the books selling over 500 million copies and the movies making over $7.7 billion worldwide.
Visiting Scotland can be a great way to realise your childhood fantasies, experiencing some of the most famous locations in Harry Potter firsthand. So exactly should you visit? Below, we’re going to walk you through our favourite Harry Potter locations in Scotland and what makes them so magical.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is probably the most famous viaduct in the world, having featured in multiple Harry Potter films with the Hogwarts Express racing atop of it. As we mentioned before, you’re likely not taking the Hogwarts Express into Scotland – sob! – but you can experience the next best thing.
The Jacobite Steam Train is available to book from Fort William to Mallaig, or if you’d rather stick to your motorhome, you can park up nearby and watch it ride past. The train itself runs twice a day from April to October, with crossings happening between 10:45 and 10:55 in the morning, and 15:10 to 15:20 in the afternoon.
The Highlands: Glencoe
If you visit anywhere in the Highlands, you’re likely to get a feel for Harry Potter. With the rolling hills and snow-capped mountains evoking a sense of magic, this is a gorgeous part of Scotland that feels like it was taken straight from the mind of JK Rowling. If you want a more specific filming location, however, Glencoe was often used for the outdoor scenes of Hagrid’s Hut – one of the most beloved characters in the Potterverse!
Glen Etive and Loch Etive were also featured in two memorable scenes in the last two movies. The first was as the backdrop for the camp Harry, Ron, and Hermione used during the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and the second was the loch the threesome jumped into from the back of the Gringotts Dragon.
The Elephant House
While this isn’t exactly a filming location, The Elephant House, in Edinburgh, is probably one of the most important Harry Potter locations you can visit. This is the cafe that JK Rowling frequented while writing the first Harry Potter book.
Now, a lot of cafes in Edinburgh claim that JK Rowling used to frequent them, but with a load of photographs showing her at one of the tables with a pen in her hand, it’s hard to refute this one. There’s even a plaque above the door that says: ‘The Birthplace of Harry Potter’!
That being said, if you were hoping to have a coffee or even write something yourself, you’re going to be a little let down. Due to a fire in 2021, The Elephant House has been closed for over two years, with an estimated re-launch planned for later this year.
Victoria Street
One myth that can be debunked is that Victoria Street, in Edinburgh, was the inspiration for Diagon Alley. JK Rowling has come out herself to refute this. But with the long, winding street, and the colourful, quirky shops, it’s not hard to see why the rumour started.
If you want to feel like you’re actually in Diagon Alley, this is the best place to go, with a handful of Harry Potter shops – including a museum – available to pop into on your way along it. It might feel a little touristy, but a lot of places in Edinburgh are touristy by nature, so it shouldn’t affect your enjoyment.
Just nearby, too, is Greyfriars Kirkyard, which was a location Rowling used to stroll through when looking for ideas. Here, you can even find the tombstone of Thomas Riddell, which was used as inspiration for the series big-bad: Tom Riddle, AKA Lord Voldemort.
Isle of Skye
Okay, okay, we’re cheating again. The Isle of Skye was never actually used as a shooting location for Harry Potter, but we had to include it on this list, as it’s one of the most magical places you can visit in the country. Known for its otherworldly landscapes – including the Fairy Pools, Quiraing, and the Old Man of Storr – this is the perfect spot for Harry Potter fans.
And there are no broomsticks required! Because of the Skye Bridge, built in 1995, it’s possible to get to the Isle of Skye directly from your motorhome. So if you’ve run out of Harry Potter locations, but want to keep a sense of magic to your Scottish adventure, this is definitely the place to go next!
