Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 13 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Trade the city’s bustle for a magical day in nature on this Harry Potter-themed excursion into the Scottish Highlands. In the morning, set off from Edinburgh and enjoy sightseeing stops en route, including the fishing village of Mallaig. Then, board the Jacobite Steam Train (a double for the Hogwarts Express) and travel along the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous in the films. Finally, see Glencoe’s dramatic scenery before your return trip.
- Have the special opportunity to ride the Jacobite Steam Train
- Round-trip transit from Edinburgh makes this a stress-free experience
- Discover Harry Potter filming locations and learn behind-the-scenes facts
- See Highlands highlights such as Mallaig, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and Glencoe
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Jacobite Steam Train one-way ticket (Mallaig to Fort William)
- Local English Speaking Guide
- Audio guides are available, but please bring your own headphones.
- Food and drink
- Hotel pick-up or drop off
- Tips
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Highland Explorer Tours60 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TB, UK
This tour departs from 60 High Street, on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB. We are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals, so please arrive at least 15 minutes before the stated departure time.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.7:15 am
Itinerary
Make your way to the meeting point in central Edinburgh and settle into the bus for the journey north out of Edinburgh and over the Forth Bridge.
Your first stop is the charming Highland village of Pitlochry where there’s time for coffee and a snack from one of the local cafés (own expense) and a stroll through town.
Next up is Glenfinnan where you get your first glimpse of the soaring Glenfinnan Viaduct and Loch Shiel, both recognizable from the Harry Potter movies. Upon arrival in Mallaig, there’s time to try the local speciality, fish and chips (own cost), before boarding the Jacobite steam train, which takes you on a journey through some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes.
On the way back to Edinburgh, make a short stop at Glencoe, a place of haunting beauty, which also appeared in the Harry Potter movies.
Your trip ends back in central Edinburgh.
Your first stop is the charming Highland village of Pitlochry where there’s time for coffee and a snack from one of the local cafés (own expense) and a stroll through town.
Next up is Glenfinnan where you get your first glimpse of the soaring Glenfinnan Viaduct and Loch Shiel, both recognizable from the Harry Potter movies. Upon arrival in Mallaig, there’s time to try the local speciality, fish and chips (own cost), before boarding the Jacobite steam train, which takes you on a journey through some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes.
On the way back to Edinburgh, make a short stop at Glencoe, a place of haunting beauty, which also appeared in the Harry Potter movies.
Your trip ends back in central Edinburgh.
Forth Bridge (Pass By)
1
Pitlochry
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Glenfinnan
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Mallaig
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Glenfinnan Viaduct
1 hour 50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Glencoe
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- Children under 5 years old, including infants who do not require a seat, are not permitted to travel. We are unable to accommodate any child under the age of 5.
- It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals.
- Please note that the Jacobite Steam Train service may be subject to alterations and cancellations at short notice, outwith our control
- Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
- It is not possible to upgrade your Standard steam train ticket to a First Class ticket
- Stopping at Glenfinnan to view the Viaduct with the coach is subject to availability.
- If downloading an audio guide, remember to bring your headset.
- The tour may operate with our sister company, HAGGiS Adventures.
- The order of the itinerary route is subject to change.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,722 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
It is a really long day however there are toilet and refreshment stops along the way. The stop to view the Glenfinnan viaduct was exciting. We decided to climb the hill for our photos.
The train ride was amazing and we were sitting on the right hand side so could view the front and back of the train as it travelled across the viaduct.
Our tour director/bus driver Touva was exceptional. He did talk pretty much the whole trip but told us Scottish history stories that were entertaining and always had a reference to a particular song. Very clever!
We loved our Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highland Tour. Thank you Highland Explorer Tours for a well organised trip.
My family and I had a great time on this tour! Our guide James was knowledgeable and kept us entertained on the bus ride to the various stops. We did everything on the Viator itinerary, just in reverse. We also got to see and feed hairy coos—a big highlight for my kids!
My only caution is because there is so much to see, the stops are quick (15-30 minutes max), leaving very little time to get through the queues to use the restroom, grab a bite to eat, or explore (as there are often 3-4 other tour buses at the same stop). We made the most of it, and we still had a wonderful time. It’s just good to know going in!
Our Driver was extremely knowledgeable about the area.
The Train experience was very disappointing! The Train was almost 2 Hours late! Zero communication between the Train Company and our Driver. When the Train did arrive it was a bunch of old rail cars from the InterCity rail line. We were suppose to be having a Harry Potter experience? We had a Coach Steward who was supposed to talk about Harry Potter but all we received was a safety briefing about taking pictures from the windows? They also cancelled the Steam Locomotive a few days earlier. The whole Train ride was extremely disappointing!
Dusty was our tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about everything Highlands from its history to the films and shows that have used it for filming. The Highlands itself was beautiful, both on the drive to the Jacobite train station and on the train ride back. I loved seeing all the Harry Potter stuff, and Glen Coe must be seen in real life to be believed. Gorgeous area of Scotland. Loved the tour!
I was having a great time on the tour until there was a conflict with other attendees on the bus and the driver, Ryan handled it horribly. A group of women from Singapore were a part of the party and had been getting harassed all day by a couple. After one of our last stops of the day, the couple had carelessly thrown two of the Singaporean women's belongings in another seats and took theirs. When one of the women was understandably upset, Ryan sat back and said nothing and proceeded to almost humiliate the Singaporean women over the speaker saying that this is a subject he talks to kids about. It was handled very poorly and unprofessionally and ruined the experience afterwards as a result. The couple was also mocking the women which made me think they might have been racist.
Otherwise, the stops and the Jacobite train were lovely. I really loved seeing Glencoe.
It was a long day but trip worth it. Tom our guide was informative and polite. Tom was the best! Highly recommend this tour.
I took the train into Edinburgh for this tour. I arrived at the meeting point 5 mins after meet-up time. The tour had already left. I took the earliest train listed!
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!
I have wasted almost $500 on tours that I was told I couldn't go on, reschedule, or be refunded for! I have done almost every attraction I missed...ON MY OWN!!!
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THESE THEIVES!!!
I would give them 0 stars, but that's possible....
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Timothy,
We understand the frustration you have expressed at missing your tour and appreciate the disappointment this caused. Our team discussed this matter with you on Friday morning and empathised with your position in that you had not been in the city on the morning of the tour. We must however respectfully highlight that it is the responsibility of all passengers to allow sufficient time to travel to the departure point and arrive before the tour departure time. We are unable to accept responsibility for travel arrangements made independently of our tour even in the event these plans are disrupted. We ask all passengers to obtain travel insurance covering their tour with us for such situations and are always happy to support with providing an insurance letter should any passenger wish to pursue an insurance claim to recoup any loss of their tour.
In all pre-departure communications, we advise passengers that they must arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time shown on their ticket. We also make clear that, regrettably, we are unable to accommodate late arrivals or delay the departure of our day tours.
This policy is not intended to be inflexible. Rather, it is necessary to ensure that all tours operate according to schedule. In the case of the tour you had booked, the itinerary is carefully planned to ensure a timely arrival for the rail journey included within the package, which operates to a fixed departure schedule and is provided by a third-party supplier. As the train journey represents the core inclusion of this tour, it is imperative that we meet the fixed departure time.
The timings of the tour are designed to balance driving distances, sightseeing opportunities, scenic photo stops and comfort breaks, while ensuring all elements of the itinerary can be delivered as advertised.
For operational and safety reasons, we are also unable to permit passengers to rejoin a tour once it has departed from the meeting point. As the route and timings may be subject to change due to factors such as traffic conditions, road closures or diversions, we cannot take responsibility for any attempts to meet the tour elsewhere along its route.
When you arrived after the tour had departed, our team took the time to explain why we were unable to offer a refund or provide a place on the missed tour. In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, we offered you the opportunity to join an alternative tour departing the following day subject to our availability. Unfortunately, this option did not suit your personal travel commitments.
While we appreciate that this was not the outcome you had hoped for, we are satisfied that our booking conditions and departure procedures were communicated clearly prior to travel and that our team at Highland Explorer Tours acted appropriately and fairly in the circumstances.
Kind regards,
Amy
Sales & Reservations Supervisor
You get to see many sights from the Harry Potter movie and even one from the Outlander series. We had a blast!
Don our tour guide is top notch! He’s funny and knowledgeable about the Scottish history. I learned a lot
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a great review about the fantastic Don! We are so glad to hear that you felt you learned a lot while on tour.
We will be sure to pass this feedback onto Don.
We hope to welcome you again soon,
Kind Regards, EJ - Sales and Reservations
Don guide was perfect, car is good and Highland Explorer company well organize thank you long ama very satisfied day thank you again Don
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star review for your recent journey with us!
We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Kind Regards, EJ - Sales and Reservations
but we weren't sure several times. Don't get me wrong the train portion was wonderful, what a treat! But getting there and back was a long, drawn out, and tense experience. Somehow our driver would catch up to small cars and things would improve until our driver would pass the car. I would hate to own this bus with him driving. I would recommend driving yourself to the train but see the train.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the rail portion of your tour package and found this aspect of the experience worthwhile.
We were, however, concerned to read that you found parts of the coach journey uncomfortable and that this caused you some concern. Following receipt of your review, we conducted a review of the vehicle tracking data for the coach that operated your tour on 24 August. Our findings show that the applicable speed limits were maintained throughout the journey. One instance of harsh braking was recorded on approach to Fort William; however, this occurred while passengers were travelling on the train portion of the tour and was the result of a vehicle ahead making a sudden stop.
We appreciate that, for some travellers, journeys on the more rural roads of the Scottish Highlands can be uncomfortable due to the nature of the route. Many Highland roads are narrower, more winding, and in some areas single-track, particularly when passing through mountain glens and valleys. Our midi coaches are specifically selected for these road types and operate on them regularly. In addition, all of our Driver-Guides receive extensive training to ensure our vehicles are operated safely and appropriately at all times.
Based on our investigation, we believe that factors inherent to the road network and terrain, rather than the operation of the coach or the actions of the Driver-Guide, were likely the cause of the discomfort you experienced. Nevertheless, we are sorry that this affected your enjoyment of the tour.
To help break up the journey from Edinburgh, the itinerary includes a number of photo stops, comfort breaks, and an extended lunch stop, providing passengers with opportunities to stretch their legs and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Thank you again for your feedback. We value all customer comments and have shared your observations with the relevant team as part of our ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible experience for our guests.
Kind regards,
Amy
The bus ride and driver were excellent. The driver was very well versed in the area we were driving through and offered commentary the whole trip. Where the trip fell short was during the train ride. There was no commentary to point out any Harry Potter references. We expected to have been pointed to areas throughout the ride relevant to the movies, but there was none. They did go around with a cart with Harry Potter snacks, but that's it. It was just a standard train ride and nothing special about it. The view was breathtaking and beautiful, but that's about it. I recommend this as long as you are not expecting much in terms of Harry Potter.
It’s a long day but the guide/bus driver, Connor, fills the day with information and stories. The Jacobite train is the highlight.
We ended up riding the diesel train instead of the iconic steam train for the glenfinnan viaduct route
Apparently some of the other travellers were ill-informed too and started complaining on the day itself
We received a notification via in-app messaging only. We all left our mobile number and email to contact for any changes, no other notification was sent.
Its along ride but you take enough stops its not bad. Cara is a great guide! The highlands are so beautiful
The views of the highlands were spectacular and the train is once in a lifetime. Chip took amazing care of us and we felt safe. Everything ran very smooth. Would highly recommend.
Laurie was the best tour guide. She drives like a Formula 1 driver through the highlands and it paid off because we beat everyone to the viaduct and even had time for a bonus stop to see highland cows. Her history lessons and playlists made the drive educational and entertaining. Make sure to sit on the correct side of the train so you can see the viaduct as you pass over it.
The stunning views and the nostalgia we felt on the Hogwarts Express was well worth the money! Our tour guide was fantastic and everything ran on time!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello, thank you for your review. That is wonderful to read that you enjoyed your journey on the Hogwarts Express and it was like being transported back in time. So pleased that oyu enjoyed the tour overall and had a good time with your driver guide too. Kind regards, Louise
Looong day but 100% worth it. Checked off so many things for the week in Scotland. Son got to see and ride the train, we got to see and explore the west of Scotland. Glen Coe was a highlight for the parents. Tour guide Charlie was a pleasure too!
Sadly the train was not running, but Wendi was an absolute winner on the bus tour. She made sure we saw lots of great sights.
It was so great and awesome. I never feel so wonderful Spirits... Thank you to our nice Driver Karis! ❤️
This tour was amazing, we had Cara as a driver and she was phenomenal! So knowledgeable and hilarious. It wasn’t a 100% Harry Potter tour but both Cara and the train staff was absolutely incredible at pointing out every Harry Potter point of interest. Bus was also comfortable.
This was quite the long day for both the guest and the guide. Our driver/guide was Tiegan. Foremost she did a great job of driving for a large portion of the trip. She was exceptional at offering commentary that covered every aspect of the drive and multiple locations that we visited. The train was enjoyable especially since we had a mostly sunny day.
Excellent trip, really enjoyed all aspects. Saw more than expected. Connor has a great sense of humour and is a natural story teller.
Paris was so wonderful. She really made the tour. Loved the jokes and the engagement throughout. Would highly recommend.
One thing I will mention that if you get motion sick like I do to reach out ahead of time so that you can face the right direction on the train as seats are assigned for you. Also if you are a group of three and want to sit together you would need to ask to sit at the same table as they put you in the same row not the same table.
Beautiful scenery and Allie made the day fun and she was well diversified in knowledge and she took care of her people,
Great experience overall! We had a great tour guide. It was worth the cost overall. I would recommend the tour to a friend.
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.
Definitely a must do! Our tour guide was amazing and was also our driver. She was extremely knowledgeable and professional throughout the entire day.
There were a couple of things that happened that were beyond her control and she adapted quickly.
Only thing to keep in mind while booking is the train cars are from the 1960s and do not have air conditioning (if you are booking in the summer). This was not a problem for us although we booked on a very warm day. We’re very lucky to have such nice weather for the experience.
The whole experience was awesome. Dusty the bus driver was funny, kind, and just awesome story teller.
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