Glenfinnan

Glenfinnan is at the head of Loch Shiel, 16 miles west of Fort William, 26 miles southeast of the port village Mallaig. Isle of Skye Ferries depart from Mallaig.

Glenfinnan is popular for its Visitor Centre with Museum, Shop and Cafe free of charge, the Jacobite Monument with great views from the top, huge Viaduct seen in a Harry Potter Movie with Hogwarts Express Steam Train, Train Station Museum, and Boat Trips on Loch Shiel. The Steam Trains only run April – October though. Postcode: PH37 4LT

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The small Glenfinnan Train Station, half of a mile west of the Visitor Centre, has a small Rail Museum with vintage carriages to explore and a dinning car for meals.

The image top is of the Visitor centre with a shop, cafe and museum covering the Last Jacobite Rising led by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.

Glenfinnan is an area of only a few houses, Saint Mary & Saint Finnan Church, Prince's House Hotel and Glenfinnan House Hotel.

Saint Mary & Saint Finnan Church was completed in the 1860s by the MacDonald's, Lairds of Glenfinnan.

Prince's House Hotel is on the west side of Glenfinnan with a Restaurant, with the earliest parts built in 1658 as a Coaching Inn.

Glenfinnan House Hotel is in a country estate under 1 mile southwest of Glenfinnan, originally built as an Inn between 1752 and 1755 for Alexander MacDonald of Glenaladale who was wounded at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, fighting for Prince Charles Edward Stuart / Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Large Image from the Monument

The 3,159ft / 963m Sgurr Thuilm and 3,136ft 953m Sgurr nan Coireachan are popular Mountains to hike from Glenfinnan. Hike Information.

Glenfinnan History

1658 - the earliest parts of the Prince's House Hotel were built as a Coaching Inn.

1745 - Prince Charles Edward Stuart traveled from France to Western Scotland in an attempt to gain the throne of Great Britain for his father, landing close to Glenfinnan.

Charles was a Catholic Stuart who claimed his father had a greater right to the throne than the Protestant George II who was made King of Great Britain in 1727.

1745 August - Charlie met MacDonald's, Cameron's, Macfies and MacDonnells at Glenfinnan where he raised his standard to start the Last Jacobite Rising.

1745 December - the Jacobite's had advanced south into England with victory seeming possible. The Jacobite's then decided to return to Scotland to try and strengthen their forces. This allowed the British Government time to get its far larger forces together to hunt down the Jacobite's.

1746 April - Charlie's army was defeated at the Battle of Culloden by Inverness 83 miles northeast of Glenfinnan, ending the Last Jacobite Rising, the last major battle fought on the British mainland.

1746 Sept - Charlie left on a boat from a spot 13 miles west of Glenfinnan, now marked by the Prince's Cairn. He returned to France where his family lived in exile.

1752 - the earliest parts of Glenfinnan House Hotel were built as an Inn by MacDonald's.

1812 - Thomas Telford constructed a new road from Fort William to Glenfinnan then on to Arisaig on the coast.

1815 - the Glenfinnan Monument was built for Alexander MacDonald of Glenaladale to commemorate the Jacobite Risings. Monument Large Image.

The Monument is 60ft / 18m high with narrow steps to the top.

1835 - the Statue of an Unknown Highlander was erected on top of the Monument.

1860s - Saint Mary & Saint Finnan Church was built by MacDonald's.

1901 - the Glenfinnan Viaduct was completed at 416 yards / 380m long, longest viaduct in Scotland, allowing Trains to run between Fort William and Mallaig on the coast. Ferries run from Mallaig on the 5 mile crossing to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.

Viaduct & Steam Train large image.

1901 - a small Station was opened at Glenfinnan that now has a Museum with old carriages and a dining car.

1938 - the Glenfinnan Monument was taken over by the National Trust for Scotland. They allow visits to the top for great views in summer with a small charge.

2002 - the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is released with the Steam Train named Hogwarts Express filmed crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct with a flying Ford Anglia car.

Today - many Photographers walk a path from the visitor centre, 200 yards west alongside the main road, through the hiking car park, under the Viaduct, then onto the hillside above the Viaduct to take photos of the Steam Trains that run between Fort William and Mallaig in summer. The first Steam Train traveling up to Mallaig crosses the Viaduct about 10.50. The afternoon Steam Train traveling up to Mallaig crosses the Viaduct about 15.00.

There is also a steep path up to a viewpoint above the visitor centre that also gives views of the train crossing the viaduct.

High Point large image.

The Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and Hiking car parks can be full in summer so you may have to park up at the Train Station half of a mile west and walk down to the visitor centre on a roadside path.