Private Harry Potter Tours of Scotland
Harry Potter Scotland Tours - Filming Locations
“Edinburgh is very much home for me and is the place where Harry evolved over seven books and many, many hours of writing in its cafés”
– JK Rowling
Scotland plays a massive role in the Harry Potter series, given JK Rowling living in Scotland while writing the books themselves. In the world of Harry Potter, Hogwarts Castle is located deep in the Scottish Highlands. This is reflected in the number of filming locations in Scotland throughout the series.
A Harry Potter Scotland tour gives fans the opportunity to visit the Scottish locations that provided the inspiration behind the magic.Our tailor-made tour packages can provide the full Harry Potter experience for you and your private group. Flexibility is at the heart of our tours, so if you have any special requests or would perhaps like to explore the Potter locations in England or Ireland as part of a wider tour then simply let us know. Your personal tour advisor and driver will be happy to accommodate you.
Continue reading to find out more about our unique Scottish Harry Potter tours and some of the significant Harry Potter locations in Scotland. Click on ‘Create my custom tour’ below to get in touch with our personal tour experts today!
Where are the Harry Potter Locations in Scotland?
There’s significant Harry Potter locations all over Scotland; from specific filming locations from the movies itself, to locations or landmarks where J.K Rowling got inspiration when writing the book. Here’s a full list of Harry Potter locations in Scotland that you may be interested in visiting:
Jacobite Express & Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite Express is often referred to as the “Harry Potter Steam Train”. It’s a steam train that travels across the Scottish Highlands, and serves as the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter. The Hogwarts Express features in several of the Harry Potter movies and is a popular attraction for fans of the series. The Jacobite Express travels across the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The Glenfinnan Viaduct features in several of the films, but is most recognised for the scene in the Chamber of Secrets, where Harry and Ron are chased on the railway line by the Hogwarts Express.
There is an opportunity for some great photographs as you can watch the Jacobite Express, or Hogwarts Express pass across the Glenfinnan Viaduct. If this isn’t enough, you can actually board the Jacobite Express itself! Feel like a student of Hogwarts as you travel the 84 mile round trip across the Scottish Highlands.
Loch Shiel
Loch Shiel is the fourth largest loch in Scotland and features in several of the Harry Potter movies. It serves as the Black Lake, or Great Lake and is often seen in the background in exterior shots of Hogwarts. It is the Black Lake where the students cross with Hagrid on their way to Hogwarts in the Philosopher’s Stone. Loch Shiel is most prominent in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where it is used for the underwater trial in the Triwizard Tournament.
When you visit the loch, you can imagine standing on the shores of Hogwarts as a student of the famous wizarding school. Standing in the same place that helped depict the Hogwarts grounds makes for a fantastic, magical experience.
Glencoe
Glencoe is a stunning region of the Scottish Highlands and is notably used as the scenic backdrop to Hogwarts. Glencoe is most recognisable in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as it is used for the surroundings of Hagrid’s Hut.
Glencoe features prominently in the film as the trio spend a lot of time in or near Hagrid’s Hut. They console Hagrid during Buckbeak’s trial, use the time turner to go back to Hagrid’s Hut, and take the Care of Magical Creatures Class with Hagrid.
You will notice Glencoe in other Harry Potter movies as it is regularly used for the surroundings of Hogwarts.
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is often referred to as the real Hogwarts Castle as so many of the exterior shots of Hogwarts are filmed here. It’s most famously featured in the Philosopher’s Stone where Harry has first flying lesson with Madam Hooch. The scene sees Harry first fly a broom and chases after Draco Malfoy to retrieve Neville’s Remembrall.
Alnwick Castle is also used in the backdrop when Oliver Wood teaches Harry about the rules of Quidditch. You can see Alnwick Castle in the Chamber of Secrets also, when Harry and Ron crash Mr. Weasley’s Ford Anglia into the Whomping Willow.
You can walk the grounds of Alnwick Castle and explore the castle itself, to get a real feel for the setting of Hogwarts.
Edinburgh
As we mentioned earlier, J.K.Rowling spent a lot of time in Edinburgh when writing the Harry Potter books. There are so many sights in Edinburgh worth seeing for die hard Harry Potter fans.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a graveyard in Edinburgh and one of the most significant Harry Potter sights in the city. When JK Rowling hit writer’s block and struggled to think of suitable character names, she would walk through the graveyard and look at gravestones for inspiration. Many of the characters you have grown to know and love actually came from headstones in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Some real life people whose names were said to be taken for Harry Potter characters include:
- Thomas Riddell – Tom Riddle
- William McGonagall – Professor McGonagle
- Robert Potter – Potter surname for James, Lily and Harry. JK Rowling also had family friends with the surname Potter.
- Cruickshanks – Crookshanks
- Daniel Scrymgeour – Rufus Scrimgeour
- Elizabeth Moodie – Mad Eye Moody
- Charles Black – Sirius Black
As you can see, there’s some big characters from the series above, most notably Tom Riddle/Voldemort. Visiting this graveyard can be a fantastic experience for Harry Potter die hards.
Victoria Street
Victoria Street is a beautiful and picturesque cobblestone lane in the heart of Edinburgh next to Greyfriars Kirkyard. It’s colorful buildings make it a popular destination for those visiting Edinburgh, but it also has a lot of significance in the Harry Potter series. As JK Rowling walked around Edinburgh while writing the Harry Potter books, Victoria Street was the inspiration behind the design of Diagon Alley. You can visit Victoria Street and just picture in your mind the likes of Ollivander’s Wand Shops, The Three Broomsticks and Gringotts Bank.
Glasgow University
Built in 1451 and the fourth-oldest English-speaking university, Glasgow University is said to have been JK Rowling got her inspiration for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry!
FAQ’s From Muggles
Here’s a list of some frequently asked questions from Harry Potter fans:
Can you visit the Hogwarts Castle in Scotland?
The actual Hogwarts Castle sadly does not exist and was produced through CGI. However, Alnwick Castle is often referred to as the real Hogwarts as so many exterior shots of Hogwarts were filmed here.
Is the Harry Potter train worth it in Scotland?
For a Harry Potter fan, the Jacobite Express is an amazing experience. It feels like you are a student boarding the Hogwarts Express, sitting in private carriages as seen in the movies. You can pass the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a memorable location from the Chamber of Secrets.
Even for those that aren’t interested in Harry Potter, the Jacobite Express is highly recommended. It’s been described as the greatest railway journey in the world, as it takes you through the heart of the Scottish Highlands, and some breathtaking views along the way.
Is Diagon Alley in Scotland?
Yes! Victoria Street is the real life inspiration for Diagon Alley and is situated in the heart of Edinburgh.
Where in Scotland was Hagrid's house?
Glencoe. Glencoe is the backdrop to Hagrid’s Hut in the series.
Customize your Harry Potter tour
With a flexible tailor-made ‘Braw’ tour, you decide how you want to plan your Harry Potter experience. When it comes to providing a fully customized in-depth tour of Scotland’s most iconic Harry Potter locations there is no better choice than Braw:
Local expert knowledge, gossip, and insight from your private driver/tour guide
Over ten years of experience guiding small private tour groups to famous landmarks and destinations immortalized on screen
A bespoke itinerary fully customizable to your interests
Completely flexible so that you can spend as long at each destination as you like - avoiding tourist traps and congestion.
4 Day Harry Potter Scotland Tour
Although our Harry Potter tours can be completely customized, we’ve created a sample itinerary below to give you a rough idea of what to expect from a Harry Potter tour in Scotland.
Day 1 - Edinburgh
Your driver-guide will be waiting to greet you at Edinburgh Airport, ready to welcome you to our beautiful little country and take you to your luxury tour vehicle. From the airport, we’ll drive through the city center, stopping at any of Edinburgh’s many amazing tourist spots along the way to your hotel.
Once you’ve dropped off your bags, checked in, and freshened up after your flight, we’ll spend the rest of the morning exploring Edinburgh’s Old Town. You’ll get to walk along cobblestone streets, explore winding alleys, and see the architecture that inspired J.K. Rowling when she wrote the Harry Potter series.
Afterward, we’ll head to The Elephant House for a relaxed lunch and coffee break with breathtaking views of Edinburgh Castle. Following this, your driver-guide will take you to Greyfriars Kirkyard to see some famous headstones from the series. If time allows, you and your driver-guide can take a short hike up Arthur’s Seat to enjoy a beautiful sunset over Edinburgh’s Old Town before heading back to your hotel.
The evening is yours to explore Edinburgh’s lively bars and restaurants or relax at your accommodation before an exciting 2nd day.
Day 2: Glasgow University – Rannoch Moor – Fort William
On the morning of day two, we’ll head to Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Your driver-guide will give you a quick tour of the city center before we head to the stunning West End and Glasgow University. When you arrive, you’ll instantly see why J.K. Rowling found inspiration for Hogwarts here, with Glasgow Uni looking very similar to Hogwarts. After exploring the campus, we’ll stop for lunch at one of the West End’s lovely restaurants before continuing our journey to Fort William.
On the way, we’ll pass Rannoch Moor (where the Death Eaters boarded the train in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) and drive through Glencoe. If time allows, we’ll catch the sunset over the beautiful Ben Nevis area.
That evening, your driver-guide will drop you off at your hotel in Fort William.
Day 3: Glenfinnan Viaduct – Hogwarts Express
On day three, your driver-guide will take you for a short drive to catch the Jacobite Express, or the Hogwarts Express, to Mallaig. Your group will get to enjoy a private carriage, just like in the movies, on a two-hour journey to Mallaig, where your driver-guide will meet you to continue the tour.
During the train ride, you’ll cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct and enjoy a stunning view of Loch Shiel, another familiar sight from the series. After arriving in Mallaig, your driver-guide will take you to the Heritage Center and some fantastic local eateries, followed by a short tour of Scotland’s beautiful west coast.
You can either hop back on the Hogwarts Express to return to Fort William in the evening or, if you prefer, your driver-guide can take you on a scenic route with stops to take pictures of the Glenfinnan Viaduct and other attractions before returning to your hotel.
Day 4: Fort William – Glencoe – Steall Falls – Loch Etive – Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport
On the final day of your Harry Potter tour, your driver-guide will pick you up from your Fort William accommodation and take you to the breathtaking Glencoe area.
One of the highlights of this region is Steall Falls, a waterfall featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire during Harry’s face-off with a Hungarian Dragon. A short hike into the Nevis Range will get you there.
Next, we’ll visit Loch Etive, a beautiful loch south of Glencoe where Harry, Hermione, and Ron were dropped after escaping from Gringotts in the last movie. You can enjoy a walk around the area, taking in the stunning views and dramatic peaks.
In the evening, your driver-guide will take you down the West Coast, returning to Glasgow or Edinburgh in time for your flight, depending on your onward journey.
Book A Spellbinding Scottish Harry Potter Tour
Harry Potter is a global phenomenon and our experienced drivers have been providing tours to the movie location to both domestic-based and international customers for several years now.
Simply complete the booking form below and your personal tour manager and driver will contact you with a custom tour itinerary tailor-made to ensure you get the absolute most out of your luxury travel tour of Scottish Harry Potter locations.
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