Scotland, with its breath-taking landscapes and rich history, provides the perfect backdrop for many iconic scenes from the Harry Potter films and yes, muggles can visit these places too because I will be sharing all the Harry potter locations in this blog

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Top Harry Potter locations to visit in Scotland

1. Edinburgh

You can’t talk about Harry Potter without mentioning Edinburgh as it is the birthplace of Harry Potter. But was Harry Potter filmed in Edinburgh? The answer is no but J.K. Rowling did write the book while living here and some of the character names are also inspired from this magical city.

So here are the few places that you must check out while visiting Edinburgh:

• The Elephant House Café – This is the birthplace of Harry Potter as Rowling wrote some of her very first books here. But sadly the café caught fire 3 years ago so it is temporary closed for restoration.
• Black Medicine Coffee Co – J.K. Rowling wrote a lot of the first book here. Well, not exactly in this café – this café was called Nicolson’s café before. There is a black plaque outside the building stating that “J.K. Rowling wrote some of the early chapters of Harry Potter in the rooms on the first floor of this building”.
• Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery – This is a very famous graveyard in Edinburgh and and most of the Harry Potter characters were actually inspired from this place. Sounds weird right!! but it is true, in this graveyard you will find graves of people with Names like Thomas Riddell, William McGonagall, Elizabeth Moodie which is said to have inspired few of the famous characters in the book like Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort), Minerva McGonagall and Alastor Moody (Mad eye Moody) respectively.
• Balmoral Hotel – She wrote the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Room 552 of this Hotel and the hotel has now named this room as ‘J. K. Rowling suite’ and you can book this room to spend the night (which is not cheap btw)

2. Glenfinnan Viaduct

This was the very first place I wanted to visit after arriving in Scotland but it took me 4 years to come here. But If you are planning a road trip to Scotland then you should definitely add this place to your list.

The viaduct was first featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where Ron stole the flying Ford Anglia with Harry to catch up with the train and they nearly got hit as they were flying just above the bridge. The bridge was featured again in Prisoner of Azkaban and the Goblet of Fire .

There is dedicated parking if you want to visit this viaduct and from there it is just a short walk to the viewpoint. The nearest parking spot is Glenfinnan Visitor Centre car park but that gets full pretty quickly but no need to worry, there is another parking spot just next to the visitor centre.

Address: Glenfinnan Visitor Centre, Glenfinnan, Scotland PH37 4LT

3. Loch Shiel

If you are planning to go to Glenfinnan viaduct, you should definitely visit Loch Shiel which is right next to Glenfinnan Visitor centre close to the Glenfinnan monument. This is the famous Hogwarts lake or Black lake which was featured in many of the Harry Potter movies. My favourite shot of this lake was the underwater task of the Triwizard Tournament in the Goblet of fire.

Address: Glenfinnan Monument, Glenfinnan, PH37 4LT

4. Jacobite Steam train – Hogwarts Express

It’s a dream of every Potterhead to ride the Hogwarts express one day which will take you to Hogwarts and I was one of them. So, this was the very first thing I did when I went to Scotland for the first time.

The Hogwarts Express, as we know it, is actually the Jacobite Train. It travels 84 miles between Fort William and Mallaig on the beautiful West Highland Railway Line. This train existed long before it became a dream journey for Harry Potter fans.

You can expect to see many scenic highlights on this magical train journey, some of them includes Britain’s highest summit – Ben Nevis, Europe’s deepest seawater lake – Loch Nevis and few harry potter movie locations like Loch Shiel, Loch Eilt and Eilean Na Moine island.

Hogwarts Express travel tips

The Hogwarts express runs seven days a week from April to October. From April to October, there will be at least one morning service each day which departs Fort William at 10.15 am and arrives Mallaig at 12.26. Additionally, from May to September, both morning and afternoon services will be available where the afternoon service departs Fort William at 12.50 and arrives Mallaig at 15.06.

You can check the train timings here – https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/timetables

Tickets cost £65 for a standard adult day return and £89 for first class.

Note that there are no one-way tickets. The Hogwarts Express is only a return journey. However, there are multiple tour operators in Scotland which offers one way journey of train in addition to the Scottish Highlands tour. You can check the tour details below:

5. Hagrid’s Hut

The filming location for Hagrid’s Hut is in the stunning Glencoe, Scotland. Although the hut will not be there but you can still visit the filming location and rest, you can leave it up to your imagination.

Here is how you can visit the filming location. This location is best covered by car where you need to drive towards the Clachaig Inn, a well-known landmark in Glencoe. From the inn, it’s a 5 min walk to the location. Note that the parking in the hotel car park is normally for hotel guests or those visitors who are stopping for their bar and restaurant facilities.

Once you park your car, exit the Inn and turn left. Almost immediately, you’ll see a small footpath on your right. Follow this path and soon you will reach the top of the hillside. This is where you will find Hagrid’s hut.

Once you have enjoyed this spot, you can climb further up to discover the spot where they built the Sundial Garden. This is where the standing stones are located, and it’s the iconic place where Hermione punches Draco in the face.

Address: Near Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Scotland PH49 4HX

6. Steall Falls

Steall Falls is Scotland’s second-highest waterfall, with a dramatic 120-meter (390 feet) drop. Known in Gaelic as “An Steall Bàn” or “The White Spout,” this breath taking waterfall is a must-visit for nature lovers and Harry Potter fans alike.

It appeared in several movies, most notably in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where it serves as the backdrop for the Triwizard Tournament and various Quidditch matches.

Visiting Steall Falls is an adventure in itself, offering a rewarding hike through some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery. The hike to Steall Falls is a relatively short but moderately challenging walk, taking about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. The trail begins at the car park (postcode mentioned below) and winds through the picturesque Nevis Gorge, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the cascading waterfall. 

Address: The Steall falls upper car park – Old military road, Fort William, Scotland PH33 6SY

7. Dumbledore’s Grave

This place was very emotional for me and I am sure it will be the same for all Potterhead. This is the same place where Dumbledore was buried after his death in Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince and where Voldemort stole the Elder wand.

If you’re taking the Jacobite steam train, you might catch a glimpse of this spot from the train. However, if you’d like to visit it yourself, you can use the postcode provided below. The island is just a 15-minute drive from the Glenfinnan Viaduct, making it an ideal quick stop. While there’s no dedicated parking, there is a small parking area nearby where you can park and walk for about 2 minutes to reach the island.

Address: Eilean Na Moine, Loch Eilt, A830 Road, near Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Scotland PH38 4LZ

8. Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor is a vast, boggy expanse known for its rugged beauty and unique ecosystem. This remote area, often referred to as “the last place of wilderness in Britain,” spans 50 square miles and is characterized by its blanket bogs, peat swamps, and desolate landscapes.

Rannoch moor holds a special place in Harry Potter series. It is the same place where Death eaters stopped the Hogwarts express in their search for Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. The best way to reach Rannoch Moor is by car and you can use the below postcode to reach the viewpoint where the movie was filmed.

Postcode: PA36 4AG

Please save the Google Map locations of all the Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland mentioned earlier:

Instagram reel for the Top Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland

I hope this guide will help you plan your trip to all the magical locations in Scotland. For more travel tips, follow me on Instagram.

The post Harry Potter Filming Locations in the UK – Scotland Edition appeared first on Travel with Shruti.