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Glenfinnan
The world-renowned story of Bonnie Prince Charlie's fight for the British throne gathered momentum at Glenfinnan where he raised the Jacobite standard and rallied his clansmen for battle.
| The long reaches of Loch Shiel are veiled by
steep mountains, and the rallying there of some 1,200
Highlanders must have been an awe-inspiring sight when
the Prince arrived from Loch
Nan Uamh on 19 August 1745. Some 70 years later, the Glenfinnan monument was built by Alexander MacDonald of Glenaladale in memory of all the clansmen who had fought for the cause. The tower is now in the custody of the National Trust for Scotland and a Visitor Centre here (open April - October, tel/fax: 01397 722250) which tells the Prince's story.
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| The imposing arches of the famous viaduct carry the railway across the glen to Glenfinnan Station where the Railway Museum transports the visitor back to the land of steam trains. This picturesque railway station was sold by British Rail some years ago, and now restored with the original chalet style buildings and railway coaches, it offers a fascinating display of memorabilia from those bygone days. |  |
In the summer months, the Jacobite steam engine runs from here to Fort William and Mallaig and ordinary trains are available the rest of the year (timetable information). The line from Glasgow reached Fort William in 1894 but was only extended to Mallaig in 1901 and is now considered to be among the finest railway journeys in the world, offering a perspective of scenery not available by road.
The line is all the more remarkable for its world famous concrete viaducts at Glenfinnan and Loch Nan Uamh, designed by the famous rail and road engineer, Robert McAlpine, who became known as Concrete Bob. The viaduct at Glenfinnan carries the train across a 1,000-feet span, 100 feet above the ground. The Loch Nan Uamh viaduct holds the remains of a horse and cart which fell into the concrete structure before it set.
| Filming of the second and third
Harry Potter books, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets' and 'Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban'
took place in September 2001 and in 2003/4 with 'Hogwarts
Express' calling at Glenfinnan. Pupils from Lochaber High
School were dressed in wizard robes as pupils of Hogwarts
Castle, the School for Wizards. Photo courtesy of West Word. |
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Visit the destinations on the
online tour:
Fort
William - Glenfinnan - Lochailort - Arisaig - Morar - Mallaig - Small Isles - Knoydart - Isle
of Skye
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