Walk: Glenfinnan whistle-stop tour

Highland | Glenfinnan | Half day walk | ★★★

[Glenfinnan Viaduct with the "Jacobite Express" crossing]

Bonnie Prince Charlie, Harry Potter, beautiful scenery - Glenfinnan brings in visitors by the bus load for a variety of reasons. The area welcomes greater numbers of tourists year-on-year, but most only walk to the foot of the viaduct; in fact, the only decent views are from above it, requiring a little more effort but worth every step. Excellent paths and tracks link all the various sights conveniently together here - if you can time your arrival at one of the various viaduct viewpoints with a steam train, even better. Train times are advertised at the National Trust visitor centre and at the station museum.

[Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan Monument, seen from the viewpoint behind the visitor centre]

📌 Walk: Glenfinnan whistle-stop tour ★★★
Start / finish at Glenfinnan Monument car park (charge, and gets full), A830 half a mile east of Glenfinnan, G.R.: NM 907807 ///hopefully.indicate.glory. Alternative start point at Glenfinnan Station, halfway along the route.

▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 170 m | ⌚ Half a day | ⬤ Moderate
Features: Glenfinnan Viaduct; Glenfinnan Station and Museum; Glenfinnan Monument, viewpoint and exhibition
Terrain: Excellent but fairly steep path between viaduct and station with only a couple of wet patches. Minor road back to start, with further good paths beyond - steep up to viewpoint.

Route & map

Car park - Glenfinnan Viaduct - station & museum - village - start - monument - exhibition & viewpoint - start

Route credit: Walkhighlands (modified)
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On our visit

Wildlife: Plenty of dragonflies and butterflies beyond the viaduct.
Weather: Warm sunshine with scattered clouds and gentle breeze.

Also on this walk

📌 Glenfinnan Monument ★★★
💬 Monument to the final Jacobite rebellion, overlooking Loch Shiel. Good viaduct viewpoint behind the visitor centre and exhibition.
By the A830 half a mile east of Glenfinnan village, G.R.: NM 906805 ///havens.foggy.sprain
Monument interior & visitor centre open daily (pre-Covid). Rest of site: always | Monument interior: £5 adult / £3 child / free for National Trust for Scotland members. Rest of site: free

📌 Glenfinnan Station Museum ★★
💬 Tiny museum on the station platform, containing interesting memorabilia about the line. Excellent sandwiches in the nearby, stationary dining car.
By the A830 in Glenfinnan village, G.R.: NM 899810 ///wizard.quickly.nudge
Open daily, Easter to October, plus some winter dates (phone to check) (pre-Covid) | £1 (2017), or free if you purchase food in the dining car

📌 Glenfinnan Viaduct ★★★
💬 Elegantly-curved viaduct on the West Highland Line over the River Finnan. Famous for its appearance in the Harry Potter films and on some Scottish £10 notes.
Off the A830 half a mile northeast of Glenfinnan village, G.R.: NM 910814 ///perused.reactions.same
Always viewable, or take a train | Free to view

💬 If visiting the viaduct on its own, park at the walk's start and follow the first part of the route to the viaduct - approximately a 10-min walk on a level, surfaced road.

[Glenfinnan Station]