Tag: Harry Potter

  • Jacobite Train

    When I walked around Edinburgh with Darina she told me about this “Harry Potter train”, an old steam train that crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct (like in the movies) and passes many filming locations not only from “Harry Potter” but also “Outlander” and “Game of Thrones”. I didn´t get that train out of my mind, put it on top of the bucket list and to be honest it was kind of my excuse to travel to Scotland during the summer. (As you would need an excuse..)

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    There are different compartments like second class, first class and first class “Harry Potter Style”, which I picked – I just love to ride in style!

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    There is also a little “Harry Potter gift shop on board. But even if you´re not interested in that wizard-stuff at all, the train ride from Fort William to Mallaig is one of the most scenic train journeys alongside Loch Eil, Glenfinnan Viaduct and Arisaig.

    The route is also the same shown in the Harry Potter films. The company running the Jacobite service provided Warner Brothers with the train used as the Hogwarts Express in all of the movies and allowed them use of the Jacobite’s route for filming. The locomotive used to pull the Hogwarts Express in the films, the GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall, is presently located at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden and can be seen during studio tours. (Wikipedia)

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    The Jacobite Train starts from Fort William and ends 41 miles later in Mallaig.

    The Mallaig Extension of the West Highland Railway opened in 1901 and was operated by the North British Railway. It was intended to help open up this rural and remote part of the Scottish Atlantic coast, and the building of the line was heavily subsidised by the British Government. It became part of the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923, and British Railways at Nationalisation in 1948. (Wikipedia)

    Regular Steam Train services ended in 1967. In 1984 British Railways reintroduced a Steam Train on part of this route to boost tourism and called it the “West Highlander”, later renamed to “The Lochaber”.

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    After the privatisation of the British Railway, the licence for this route was granted to the West Coast Railway Company and they started their service in the summer of 1995 under the name “The Jacobite”.

    The image above shows the Glenfinnan monument shortly before the Glenfinnan Viaduct. My seat was on the aisle side so I didn´t see the viaduct but I made that up on the way back.

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    A longer stop at the Glenfinnan station, to shop at the Harry Potter gift shop in the train and to visit the Glenfinnan Station Museum or just look around the station. There is also an old Dining and Sleeping Car, which I have to try out next time.

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    We´re approaching Mallaig – hello again! This was already my starting point for Skye. The train stopped for around one to two hours in Mallaig which I spent just sitting at the harbour. Had to take in as much sea as possible before going back to Vienna.

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    Wouldn´t that be the perfect place to write, relax and just switch off?

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    Meeting the afternoon train at Glenfinnan station. That was my clue to get out on the aisle and watch the train ride from the window in the door.

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    The first view of the viaduct and I´m not the only one peeking out of the window.

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    About an hour later we arrived back at Fort William and I spent my last hours walking around the town and boarded the Caledonian sleeper back to London in the evening.

    And I can´t wait to go back to Scotland!

     

  • From Oban to Skye

    oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

    After a hearty breakfast at the Blair Villa, it was time to leave Oban and board the train further up north to Fort William. Another train ride I spent pressing my nose against the window to enjoy the stunning views! I could probably just spend days riding trains around Scotland (and the rest of the UK).

    On my arrival in Fort William I was already greeted by a guy from Easydrive who not only arranged to have brought my car over earlier but also gave my a first little “tour” of Ben Nevis and the other mountains. I must have looked a little bit shocked when his colleague arrived with my rental car – it was HUGE! Ok, maybe not huge but they had definitely had pumped me up from the small to a medium size, a super fancy Nissan Qashqai became my partner in crime for the next two days.

    oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

    While driving from Fort William to Mallaig I was passing by the Glenfinnan Viaduct and I had a short look and said hi!

    Do you remember the old 20 Schilling note? Train viaducts seem to be a favorite motive for notes – have a look at the Scottish 10£ note.

    oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

    oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

    Next stop: Mallaig ferry terminal. Just in time for a quick tea and off to Skye we went!

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    From Armadale it was just a short 7 miles drive to my Airbnb in Tarskavaig – but what a drive! A single track lane across the south part of Skye – from one coast to the other side – offering a first glimpse of the beauty of this island. I have no idea how often I said “Oh wie schön!” during those two days – probably way too often!

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    After being greeted by a little family of rabbits and my hosts I decided to do a quick supermarket run to the next town: Broadford – only a 30 minutes drive and as I slowly got the hang of using my left hand to change gear I could enjoy the surrounding landscape even more.

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    Dunscaith Castle (ruins) in the back.oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitzoban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitzoban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitzoban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

    Loch Dhughaill – my “home loch” – where someone had the idea to make it even more idyllic and to put a boat in the middle of the lake.

    oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

    Back at my cozy cottage I spent the evening with watching my “garden mates” – the bunnies – and just enjoying the view so the sea and the Cullins. Sunset was around 23:00.

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    I had booked only one of the three rooms at the Braeside Cottage but it happens that I was the only guest and had the cottage all for myself. If you´re looking for a cozy place a little bit outside of the main tourist tracks, it´s the perfect place for you!

    oban, skye, scotland, uk, travel, nature, beauty, ursula schmitz

     

     

     

  • Happy Potter-versary

    Today 20 years ago “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” – the first book of the Harry Potter series was published. And it wasn´t that easy for J.K. Rowling to find a publisher, her book was rejected many times, even trying it with a male pseudonym didn´t help. But we all know what happened after Harry hit the shelves – it became a huge success, was translated into 79 languages, people of all ages waited in lines for hours when a new volume was released and then there were the movies. And Rowling herself, somewhen between having that idea on a trainride to becoming the second richest woman after the Queen, she also became kind of a heroine herself not only on twitter.

    harry potter, london, uk,

    While writing her first books Rowling followed the tradition of many other writer before her – it was cheaper to buy a cup of tea or coffee than paying the heating at home, so “The Elephant House” and “Nicholson’s Café”(now a chinese restaurant) in Edinburgh became her writing space.

    harry potter, london, uk,

    In July I´m going to visit some more places linked to Hermione, Harry and Ron like the viaduct the Hogwarts Express travels on and can´t wait. Until then some memories from my last time in London.

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