Water, wildlife and wonders... a road trip around Scotland COMPLETED 11/6 - Page 30 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Great landscape and would be ideal for hiking, the pictures are beautiful but I imagine it is much better in person.
To be honest, I did look at the photos when I posted them this morning and thought "this is just as beautiful as I remember it", so I'd say the photos did a good job of depicting what we saw.
Some of those photos with the landscape remind me of Hawaii or Kauai. Especially, as you said, because it's so very green! If only it were warmer there.
It is a lot like Hawaii now you say it. I hadn't thought of that. Yes, warmer up there would be good...
We headed into the café at the Glencoe Visitor Centre, which I thought was very well done…
… and grabbed lunch. I got a sandwich and a small pot of Scottish honeycomb ice cream, which was very nice.
Mark got a sausage roll…
We had a browse in the shop, and I got a ceramic tile with Highland coos on it, and he then bought me a tea towel with more… guess what?... Highland coos on it!
We then made our way out, heading for Fort William, and passing Loch Eil on the way…
Fort William was probably the biggest town we’d seen since Glasgow, but we weren’t stopping there, as we had somewhere else we were heading for…
Now all I knew about this place was that this was the viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films, but there was a lot more to it. I knew the time the steam train the Jacobite Express would be heading across the viaduct, and we were there an hour before, and the car park was packed even then!
The viaduct has a total of 21 arches and was originally built around the start of the 20th century, opening on 1 April 1901. It’s the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at 380 metres, and crossed the River Finnan at a height of 30 metres. In total, it appeared in four of the Harry Potter films, and as I think I mentioned in the pre-trip report, that’s attracted such interest with tourists that the police have had to tell people not to walk along the viaduct, after several near misses with trains.
We had a browse in the shop first, and Mari may just have had a cuddly Highland toy coo fall into her hands, so she kind of had to buy it…
We then toured the exhibition all about Bonnie Prince Charlie, which was really interesting, and not something I knew much about before seeing this.
We then went over to visit the monument, which honours those who died fighting for the Jacobite cause. Now remember I mentioned Bonnie Prince Charlie? Well, what happened is that, less than a year before the Battle of Culloden (more to come on that later in this trip report…) Prince Charles Edward Stuart (to give him his proper name!) raised his father’s Standard at Glenfinnan, which marked the start of the 1745 Jacobite campaign. An army of 1,500 rallied to join him and they marched as far south as Derby, before having to retreat. And… well, as for what happened then, you’ll find out at a later stage when we visit Culloden…
The memorial was built here in 1815, with the lone, kilted highlander at the top providing a poignant reminder of the clansmen who gave their lives to the Jacobite cause. Unfortunately, it was closed to the public, because we think they didn’t have enough volunteers to open it, which was a shame. Still, the views here were still quite something.
I'm learning so much through this report! The monument is very well done. It stands out this way. Almost looks like it could be part of some ruins, actually.
Looking forward to the Harry Potter bit!
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Tanya
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I'm learning so much through this report! The monument is very well done. It stands out this way. Almost looks like it could be part of some ruins, actually.
Looking forward to the Harry Potter bit!
I suspect that everyone will be! I couldn't believe how many likes the photos I posted on Facebook from this part of the trip got....
Great pictures from your drive to Glencoe and Glenfinnan! What a great visitor center at Glencoe! Love all the pictures of the coos! Can't wait to hear more about Glenfinnan!
Very poignant memorial with that sole kilted clansman! Most of my knowledge of the Jacobite uprisings comes from reading an historical novel series that included graphic depictions of battles and then reading research notes of those as well. Can't wait to see the viaduct.
Amazing mountain scenery as always and just so beautiful! The exhibition of Glencoe was very well done with so much detailed information. Looking forward to seeing the viaduct portion as I;ve seen a number of the HP movies.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
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Very poignant memorial with that sole kilted clansman! Most of my knowledge of the Jacobite uprisings comes from reading an historical novel series that included graphic depictions of battles and then reading research notes of those as well. Can't wait to see the viaduct.
Oh wow, you're going to find some of the later parts of this trip report fascinating, as there's a lot more to come on the Jacobites....
Amazing mountain scenery as always and just so beautiful! The exhibition of Glencoe was very well done with so much detailed information. Looking forward to seeing the viaduct portion as I;ve seen a number of the HP movies.
Thursday 15 June – part six: what a magnificent sight.
We then made our way up towards the viewpoint, so that we’d be able to see the Jacobite Express cross the viaduct. I really think they should’ve had a warning at the bottom, as we were told it would only take us five minutes to get there. Well sort off.. it was quite steep in places, and there were a lot of steps as well, made even trickier in the slippery conditions, as it had been raining on and off for quite a bit of the day. I stopped to sit down halfway up, and get my breath back, and then we set off again.
We also got some great views back across the monument and Loch Shiel on our way up.
I was so relieved to see a couple of benches at the top when we got there, and grabbed one. Literally within seconds of me sitting down, the rain started, but I was happy. I was on a dry bench, and well bundled up in all my waterproof clothes.
I was a bit concerned that someone would walk in front of me while we waited for the train, and I reckon we were there about 15-20 minutes or so, but I was pleasantly surprised that no-one did. However, what did amaze me were the mountain goat antics of some other people there. I was just dumbfounded by where people were climbing up to. I was waiting for someone to slip and do themselves some serious damage, but no-one did.. amazingly! There was one woman who slipped in the mud, and frankly it served her right, as good grief, she was in a pair of fashion boots. Those are not suitable to go through mud, and climb on to rocks.
Finally, the Jacobite Express came through, and it was a magnificent sight. I’m no particular Harry Potter fan, I just love the image of a steam train coming across a viaduct, as I’m sure it’s a throwback to a bygone era…
It was well worth getting soaked up there, and then we all gingerly made our way back down to the car, fortunately all in one piece. I do think the National Trust for Scotland do need to start charging people to go up to the viewpoint, as the public are making such a mess up there, and sooner or later, the trust are presumably going to need to spend money sorting out that mess, which just doesn’t seem fair.
We then headed off for Mallaig, where we’d be staying the night. Now here I need to update you guys on something. I’d spoken to both Mark and Mari and said that I thought a change of plans would be a good idea for tomorrow. We were due to go to the Isle of Skye, and I knew it would be a tough day for Mark, with a lot of driving – about five and a half hours in total. After last night’s debacle with the fire alarm, we were all exhausted today, and that didn’t seem right to make him do that. I was also concerned about how rough some of the water seemed to be, especially even enclosed water. I figured a 45 minute ride on a ferry tomorrow morning across to the Isle of Skye may not leave any of us in that great a state.
Therefore, I suggested that perhaps we should ditch Skye and do something else instead, to which they immediately agreed. We all felt we needed an easier day tomorrow…
As we drove along, it was pounding with rain, and it was showing no sign of letting up. Mark stopped from time to time to let Mari and I get some photos…
Here, we even got a glimpse of Skye. Ok, so it would be as close as we’d get this trip, but you know what? That was fine with us.
Love the shots of the train, especially the one with the train disappearing into the hill and all the steam. Sounds like switching up the day tomorrow is a good idea.
You won't follow this line of thought because you didn't read the books, but bear with me as I babble.... I think one of the things that was so appealing about the Harry Potter movies was the fact that these wizards and witches of modern times still dressed, ate, lived in such a way as their ancestors did. It was all very old, but in today's time. That's why the train is so fascinating - that it actually exists! Like you say, it's a bygone era yet it's what the wizarding history is all about. Old traditions still being upheld today.
Your Harry Potter lesson for the day, if that makes any sense.
And I wouldn't be surprised if they start charging for the climb up that hill. That's unfortunate that the fans are disrespectful like that.
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Tanya
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Still, the views here were still quite something. 
sort off.. it was quite steep in places, and there were a lot of steps as well, made even trickier in the slippery conditions, as it had been raining on and off for quite a bit of the day. I stopped to sit down halfway up, and get my breath back, and then we set off again. 
Mark stopped from time to time to let Mari and I get some photos… 
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