Harry Potter Movie Train is the the Jacobite

The Jacobite Steam Train is run by West Coast Railways, a company based in England that runs a few other railway lines. They have only been operating the Jacobite since 1995, but it is now their most successful line, thanks to the popularity of the Harry Potter films.

The journey goes through some of Scotland’s most splendid scenery. Starting in Fort William, it travels along the shores of Loch Eil, stops for half an hour at Glenfinnan and continues to Mallaig, where there is a ferry service to the Isle of Skye.

The highlight of the journey is when the train crosses the Glenfinnan viaduct, where passengers get a stunning view towards the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel.

If you miss the train, or if it is full, then the A830 road from Fort William to Mallaig drives very close to the railway line, and there are several small bridges that you can stand on whilst the train passes below you. The train only does about 50mph so it’s easy to keep pace with its route.

For a great photo, be at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre at 11.20 am or 3.00 pm when the train crosses the viaduct: a “magic” sight for Harry Potter fans.

Jim's ride on the Jacobite

http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/Jacobite.cfm

Steaming and stomping though the Highlands

My husband Jim is now in Scotland and I hope to share some of his adventures here soon. His first big adventure will be riding the steam train from Fort William to Mallaig know as the Jacobite. It will cease running until next season at the end of the month so Jim just managed to get a ticket before it shuts down until next year. This line is the one used in the Harry Potter films and it is really an amazing ride from what we have read.

Visits to islands and churches up

There was a rise in visits to religious sites


The Highlands and Islands saw a larger percentage increase in tourist visits during July than any other part of Scotland, new statistics have shown.

Figures compiled by Glasgow Caledonian University for VisitScotland recorded a 12.% rise for the Western Isles and 11.3% for the Highlands.

Among Scottish attractions showing an increase in visits were churches, abbeys and cathedrals.

Fewer people toured gardens and visited Ayrshire and Arran than July 2008.

The figures were produced for the monthly Visitor Attraction Barometer.

The review of 524 sites showed 4.7 million visits during July, more than the 4.5 million at the same time last year.



In June, Highland Council officials said tourism offered "some optimism" in the Highlands, amid rising unemployment caused by the recession.

The paper had painted a bleak picture in the north with a higher than average percentage rise in benefits claimants.

Officers warned that the rate of unemployment was expected to worsen.

But they added that VisitScotland reported the industry was "upbeat" and positive about the summer season.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8238448.stm