Railway heritage at Mallaig and Glenfinnan 23 May 2025

 

Glenfinnan viaduct - well known before Harry Potter, famous after.

With a full day in Mallaig we decided to take the train to Glenfinnan to see the viaduct made particularly famous in the Harry Potter series. 10.15 train from Mallaig, and the 16.54 train back.  It takes 50 minutes each way, and is an extremely scenic route with sandy turquoise sea inlets, mountains and moorland, rough farmland, and many lakes.  

Proof that we were there!

Most of the day was sunny and warm.  There is a 35 minute walk from the train station to the view over the viaduct, and then more walking down into the valley to the shore of Loch Shiel and the site of the monument celebrating Prince Charles Edward (better known as Bonny Prince Charlie, but actually Charles Edward John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart.). The wildlife was reasonably good - we had seen Cuckoo and Red Deer from the train - however, this included a very healthy population of midges (the big jawed Scottish variety) that became more and more energetic as the day went on.

A Robin came looking for treats, staying within 2 feet of us for several minutes.  The Rhododendrons are widely spread, and although an invasive species, it is looking particularly good at the moment.  And we were very lucky to see several Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies in the open woodland on the valley side.

From a plaque at the base:  This monument is in the spot where Prince Charles Edward first raised his standard on 19th August 1745 when he made the daring and romantic attempt to recover a throne lost by the imprudence of his ancestors.  This column was erected by Alexander MacDonald Esquire of Glenaladale, to commemorate the generous zeal, the undaunted bravery, and the inviolable fidelity of his forefathers, and the rest of those who fought and bled in that arduous and unfortunate enterprise.

Coffee in the morning and a late lunch were both in the Glenfinnan Station Dining Car. Extremely good food.

An old carriage turned into a cafe, with wonderful food. For lunch we had
smoked salmon, seared sirloin, and fillet of cod.

Trains today. The Glenfinnan Station Dining Car, the Harry Potter special before it left for Mallaig, the train used during the building of Glenfinnan station (1900), and the Harry Potter special as it left.

In the Mallaig station a colony of Herring Gulls has taken up residence - we must have seen about 30 nests (there may have been more). The nest in the centre picture is immediately beside a track that is in regular use, and all birds seemed unbothered by the people going to and from trains.  Wonderful.

The bird list today, for Mallaig and Glenfinnan was 28 species.

































































































































































































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