One ticket to Hogwarts, please!

Despite the fact that Potteriana has long been out of fashion, she still has a lot of fans. Who dream of taking the Hogwarts Express and going to study magic at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft. Of course, everyone understands that this is just a fairy tale. But aren't adults doing these miracles themselves? Therefore, we offer you an amazing journey into the world of magic. And yes, we're going to buy a ticket for that magic train.

To create a fairy tale, we go to Scotland. It was from here that the famous writer J. K. Rowling began her creation. Of course, the magical community would not allow to give at least one hint of the existence of a school of wizards. Therefore, we buy a ticket for The Jacobite steam train. Yes, this is the train. It starts from the small town of Fort William and sends it to the station in Mallaig. This 84-mile journey is considered to be one of the most scenic railway routes in the world.

The daily schedule is already publicly available, only the departure hours are currently unknown. But, at least, you can already plan such an amazing trip. From April 6 to April 12, 2020, the Easter morning train departs. From Monday to Friday, the train will also depart in the morning hours from April 13 to October 23, 2020. And from May 2 to September 27, 2020, a weekend train will be added to the schedule. The daytime departure is scheduled from May 11 to September 11, 2020 from Monday to Friday. And on weekends, the day train will depart from June 13 to August 30, 2020. The travel time in one direction is just over two hours.

The cost of a one-way ticket on average is: £31.75 one way, for children under 12 years old - £18.75. If you take both ways, the price depends on the class of service. Standard for adults £37.75 and £20.75 for children. And the first class will go to an adult £59.95 and £32.90 for a child. There is also a table for two - £123.00. If you plan to book a specific seat on the train, you will have to pay extra £3.25. We gave an example of prices for 2019, in 2020 they may change. So that your trip to this place was not in vain, buy tickets in advance. Since there may simply be no free seats upon arrival.

And now we begin our journey.

Fort William can be reached from Edinburgh (about 5 hours away) or from Glasgow (about 4 hours away). The railway connection to Mallaig is not a tourist one, ordinary trains run here. Only The Jacobite is entertainment for locals and tourists. After all, this is a real coal-fired steam locomotive. Such a retro composition passes by the list of impressive beauties. Starting from the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, he visits Britain's westernmost mainland railway station, Arisaig. Also passes near the deepest freshwater lake in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river River Morar. And passes next to the deepest sea lake in Europe, Loch Nevis. The train stops on its way to Mallaig in the village of Glenfinnan. Beyond it are the beautiful villages of Lochailort, Arisaig, Morar and Mallaig. You can disembark at Arisaig on request. From here, on a clear summer day, you can see the "small islands". The train continues from here, passing Morar and silver beaches.

But not only local beauties deserve their attention. But also the atmosphere inside. Of course, you won't see people dressed like in Harry Potter here. But you will see a girl who delivers a cart with sweets, coffee and tea. The red carriages in which you will travel used to run all over Britain's railways in the 60s. Also in the composition there is one car fully decorated, as in the Harry Potter movie. But there's a whole quest to get there. You can buy a ticket for it only at the departure station and then if there are available seats. There is no other way to get into it.

And the most important thing for fans of Potteriana is the Glenfinnan Viaduct. If you think that the train, due to its age, will slowly pass through the local beauty, this is the main mistake of those who have not ridden here. The train is rapidly passing the entire route, so if you are hunting for successful shots, we give a couple of tips. To begin with, take a window at the vestibule, from where you will take pictures. Insulate your head and cover your ears, as a strong wind awaits you, and beware of branches that can damage not only your equipment, but also your face. But the best pictures from the viaduct are obtained from the last cars, in the front there is a lot of smoke and soot from the locomotive.

But the viaduct can be photographed by getting off the train at Glenfinnan station. Immediately from it follow the signs in the direction of the observation deck. It overlooks the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Arriving in Malaig, you will have two hours before departure in the opposite direction. And there is something to do here. For example, you can explore the harbor, climb a mountain, visit a restaurant with freshly prepared fish dishes, or take a boat ride on the islands, where you can sometimes see seals.

The Jacobite steam train is not only a trip to Potteriana. These are incredibly beautiful landscapes that will be visible all the way. It's not for nothing that the route is recognized as the "most". Even if you are not a fan of fairy tales, this retro composition will leave you with a lot of new impressions. In addition, getting off at any intermediate station, you can go on a further journey. And believe me, there is something to see here. For example, you can go on a cruise to the western islands, or on the waters of Loch Shiel, rent a bike and explore the area in search of amazing shots. Especially before the start of the new season, you still have a car of time, so plan your route very carefully, book tickets in advance and it will be the most incredible train ride in your life.