When you’re away from home, there’s nothing nicer than trying new things and having experiences you’ve never had before with your travel companions. And sometimes, that involves visiting the most beautiful things in the area.
That’s why @theolivetreefamily shared a video of the train journey they took while on holiday, because it’s been recently announced as officially the “world’s most beautiful train journey”. And if that’s not enough to pique your curiosity, we’re not sure what will be!
The video explained the train is “The Jacobite Train at the Glenfinnan Viaduct,” and mega-fans of Harry Potter will likely be well acquainted with this train and the journey already, as it appears in the films as the Hogwarts Express.
It’s part of an 84-mile round trip from Fort William to Mallaig, Scotland. Visitors can ride the train for a scenic journey through the Highlands or view it from the ground at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, where it stops for photos on its way to Mallaig.
The father of The Olive Tree Family explained they were visiting the Scottish Highlands, and knew they must go on this train as part of their epic journey – and were so glad they did.
He explained they stayed in an Airbnb in Fort William, and it was a 30-minute drive to the train they were getting on.
If you want a picture of the train going past, he explained you can get the “exact shot at two different times of the day”. First is 10.45am, and the second is 1.20pm. If you want the money shot though, you’ll have to get there early, as the carpark gets rammed very quickly.
“Get there 30 minutes before the train arrives […] and for the best view of the train, they call it the bridge view, go towards the back of the car park passing this small coffee hut,” he explained.
It’s a 20-minute walk to the bridge from the car park, and if you’ve got a pram, you’ll be able to push it “most of the way”. However, there are some “rocky steps,” which is also worth noting if you’re with somebody disabled.
He said you then just wait on a footpath, which is “a bit of a strange experience as everyone is just waiting for a train,” but he managed to keep his kids entertained with snacks. “And when it finally comes, it doesn’t stop, everyone cheers, and then we all just leave,” he joked.
“You can walk further along up the hill to extend your visit, you can visit the old station museum, and there’s this lovely church too,” he shared.
But they “went back to the car park,” where of course, there is a gift shop, but across the road is the Glenfinnan Monument. It’s also “right on the banks of Loch Shiel,” which is also really pretty, and entertaining as his kids “spent some time throwing rocks into the water”.
He said they were all “glad” they got to see the Jacobite, especially as it’s “one of the last steam trains in operation”.
“They don’t know how long they can keep it running for,” he admitted, despite the fact it’s been voted the most beautiful in the world. So, if you want to see it, it’s best to book your holiday to Scotland soon, as it likely will not continue running forever.
In the comments, someone advised: “Depending on when you’re visiting, getting there an *hour* early may be best – the car park really does fill up fast and they do close it up! Also, if there are dry conditions, they sometimes don’t run the steam train due to risk of wildfire.”
Another wrote: “It’s best actually being on the train. It was so much fun.”
However, it isn’t cheap to actually ride the train. A standard adult ticket will set you back £69 for a return, and a first-class return will cost £105.
