MALLAIG

Train buffs and Harry Potter fans alike will be delighted by a visit to Mallaig. The small port town is the terminus of what is generally considered to be one of the great railway journeys of the world, an 84-mile round trip between Mallaig and Fort William on the The Jacobite steam train. The Harry Potter connection arises from the fact that the route was that followed by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films, with some of the Jacobite's carriages being used in the filming. The train runs from May to October, however outside this period some of the magic can be captured on normal train services, since Mallaig is also the terminus of the West Highland Line. The arrival of the railway in Mallaig led to a rapid growth in the local economy and the population. Aside from its rail links, Mallaig is something of a hub for a number of ferry services, to Armadale in Skye, the islands of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, and to Inverie in Knoydart. All this activity takes place against a backdrop of dramatic surrounding scenery and wonderful views over the Sound of Sleat to the Cuillin Hills on Skye. There is a Heritage Centre in the town with photographs and exhibits recalling the history of the locality.

Map of the area.

Mallaig Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 66439. Photo by Gordon Brown, via Wikimedia Commons.