Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness
5
Hogwarts Express and the Scenic Highlands Day Tour from Inverness
By Highland Explorer Tours Inverness
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 5-99, max of 30 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: German, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish
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- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Jacobite Steam Train one-way ticket (Fort William to Mallaig)
- Local English Speaking Guide
- Please note that the itinerary will be reversed on dates when the tour starts at 9:30am.
What's not included- Lunch
- Restroom on board
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Entry/Admission - Urquhart Castle
- Start:
- 15 Union St, Inverness IV1, UKMeet 15 minutes before departure, across from the Victorian Market entrance, for check-in. Look for a blue or yellow bus.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5211P32- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Please note that the Jacobite Steam Train service may be subject to alterations and cancellations at short notice, outwith our control
- It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the bus or refund for any late arrivals.
- Return times are approximate and subject to road conditions and weather. Please ensure you allocate sufficient time for any onward travel plans, allowing at least 3 hours after the scheduled return time for connections or activities.
- From 1st April 2025 the 7:30 am tour will return at 7:30 pm.
- It is not possible to upgrade your Standard steam train ticket to a First Class ticket
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5211P32
From
£191.00
per adult
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Itinerary
- 15 Union St, Inverness IV1, UKMeet 15 minutes before departure, across from the Victorian Market entrance, for check-in. Look for a blue or yellow bus.
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Pathfinder7116570 contributionsAwesome!It was an incredible tour thanks to Amber, our guide, who told us about the history of this place in a very detailed way and also told us the legends that surround this island. We were totally impressed with the landscapes. We also discovered that Scotland is not always rainy! The sun did not stop shining and even the moon was visible throughout the day!Written 7 February 2025
- X344WVneilc0 contributionsFantastic Isle of Skye tourFantastic tour loved it so much. Willie was a great driver very knowledgeable and such good fun he really made the trip for me.Written 4 February 2025
- Trail603213277190 contributionsBeautiful, entertaining tour, complete with hairy coos!The views were gorgeous the whole way, and Willie did a great job of pointing out interesting sights and giving info about the history of the area. It was an excellent introduction to a gorgeous part of the country - I only wish it were longer!Written 4 February 2025
- L7441PHjohnm0 contributionsIsle of Skye tourAbsolutely fantastic tour. Willie was fantastic and far exceeded my expectations of the trip. He was extremely knowledgeable about everything. Made us feel very comfortable throughout. He is an asset to the Company.Written 4 February 2025
- lifeabroad20150 contributionsAmber for PrezAmber was hands down the best tour guide I ever had. I wish she never stopped telling stories, it’s remarkable what she’s got on her repertoire to make a truly amazing day. Wind and rain wouldn’t ruin the day, but it tried its best and Amber carried the whole experience on her back. Would absolutely recommend!Written 3 February 2025
- pierregV7687ZZ0 contributionsAmber for President - again !We had an amazing trip with Amber today. She has so many stories to tell, either on Skye Island or about Scottish history. We've spent the day seeing amazing sights and listening to Scottish legends one after another. Many stops to toilets were appreciated. We had enough time for every stop.Written 3 February 2025
- Parth D0 contributionsRecommend with Donnie guideExceeded expectations Donnie was our guide and he was everything you can ask for in a guide. Sit in comfortable van, listen to Donnie’s stories, admire the views, capture the photos and visit soo many places in 1 dayWritten 2 February 2025
- kellybS5348DZ0 contributionsWonderful Tour! Loved every minute!I highly recommend this tour! The isle of skye was beautiful and we got to see all the main sights! We never would have been able to see as much by ourselves. Our stay in Portree was also wonderful! Amber was such an amazing tour guide and gave us so many great recommendations! I would definitely go on another tour by her again! A big highlight was the Jacobite train. It was amazing! Just overall an amazing tour!Written 2 February 2025
- kellybS5348DZ0 contributionsAmazing Tour! Highly recommend!This was an amazing tour! The sights were wonderful and our tour guide Duffy was the best! He was very knowledgeable and great at showing us the sights. Sadly, we didn’t see puffins but we saw other wildlife and I still highly recommend this tour. One of my favorite tours!Written 2 February 2025
- 900heidil0 contributionsCairns, whisky and more!!So many historical and interesting places...Craig took great care of us and took us to a couple of out of the way spots. Highly recommended for a fun day trip out of Inverness.Written 1 February 2025
- saschakE4887BH0 contributionsGreat fun!!Thank you very much for the amazing tour Amber! We loved all the little bits and bobs of information you told us in-between, the little stories and jokes :) Loved how enthusiastic you were about everything and not just repeating a script for 50th time😁 Our favourite by far was the clock though, unbeatable 🤣🤣 Highly recommend the tour, it has been fantastic and the timings were really good. Plenty of time to see everything without having to wait for ages in between sites!Written 31 January 2025
- Curiosity485300577070 contributionsAmazing trip with WillieHad an amazing day on the trip with Willie keeping it lively with his anecdotes and jokes. Highly recommend for the scenic beauty of the highlands!Written 31 January 2025
- aninditan20240 contributionsExcellentThe journey to Isle of Skye is scenic and picturesque. Our tour guide and driver Wilie has been wonderful throughout, not only with his wit but also with his informative talk. I personally envied his impeccable driving skills, making through the turns and twists. ThanksWritten 31 January 2025
- Jet191694380620 contributionsTrip of Isle of SkyeThe views are beautiful and the tour guide was really nice and interesting. If you prefer nature, then it's a trip for you.Written 31 January 2025
- lynseys5760 contributionsAmazing TourEmma was amazing. Very knowledgeable with lots of recommendations. We had plenty of time at each stop to explore. Coming from Scotland we thought we knew everything about our country, but we have found out a lot of information we didn’t know. Would highly recommend.Written 30 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
860 reviews
Excellent
789
Very good
48
Average
11
Poor
4
Terrible
8
Cee
5 contributions
Despite duck murder and a car on the wrong side of the road, we had a fantastic day! We had so much luck with the weather, and Amber made the 12 hours fly with her commentary and knowledge (and great manoeuvring on the winding roads). The Jacobite Steam Train was wonderful with a steward on board guiding us through (sit on the left side from Fort William if you want the best view of the viaduct). We were even lucky enough to squeeze in an extra stop to see the train pass over the viaduct on the way back (would recommend walking up to the viaduct to get the best experience).
We did the equivalent tour from Edinburgh in October when the train was cancelled due to weather conditions and were so pleased to find out that this tour was also 5/5! Amazing way to discover and learn more about Scotland and the highlands.
We did the equivalent tour from Edinburgh in October when the train was cancelled due to weather conditions and were so pleased to find out that this tour was also 5/5! Amazing way to discover and learn more about Scotland and the highlands.
Written 17 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review. Amber is a brilliant driver guide and we will pass your feedback on. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour. We look forward to seeing you again.
Thanks
Keith
Written 7 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Breeanna1994
Queensland, Australia13 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
This was a truly magical day for our family group. I travelled with my parents and grandparents and we all enjoyed every aspect of the tour. Our guide Willie had so much local knowledge and kept us entertained with his stories and accounts of the history. He got us safely to Fort William, made sure we all got on the train, then met us at Mallaig to transport us safely back to Inverness with several stops along the way to lovely little towns for shopping, photo opportunities, and toilet stops. He also gave our group lots of tips including recommendations for great food spots in Mallaig and Fort Augustus. Can’t sing his praises highly enough! We very much enjoyed the entire day and would highly recommend it to anyone considering this tour.
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian C
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
What a great day! Amber was very sweet and took excellent care of us. She was very knowledgeable, made sure we always knew where to go or what to look out for and really went the extra mile to fit in as much as possible for us. The tour was a great combination of on bus time and off bus walking or on train activities and the day went so quick.
Written 10 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review.
We are thrilled to hear you had such a great time exploring Scotland with the fantastic Amber. We are thrilled to hear that you had plenty time to truly take in the beautiful surroundings. It is a long day but definitely worth it!
We hope to see you again soon!
Kind Regards,
EJ
Written 10 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah J
3 contributions
Naming the tour “Hogwarts Express” is misleading. Most of the tour is spent on a coach bus with about 2 hour or so train ride that was not a steam train as advertised. Adding insult to injury was that our group was placed in the regular coach seating as opposed to first class carriages when we paid $250pp. The only Harry Potter reference was a snack trolley that sold harry potter themed snacks. Save your money and do a different tour or multiple days as they barely give any time at the stops. You will barely have enough time to eat and use the restroom due to long lines from other tours also stopping at those locations.
Written 18 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Sarah,
I am sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the tour. It is unfortunately beyond our control if West Coast Railways have to sub the steam engine for a diesel engine if it is in need of essential maintenance.
We do not advertise anywhere that we book first class seating, in fact we do make it clear it is standard class.
Thank you for leaving your feedback.
Best wishes,
Ayla
Written 10 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nichole B
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Friends
This tour was such a disappointment. I am honestly confused by all of the 5 star reviews. Where do I even start? The highlight of the tour was our guide, Sonia. She was funny, knowledgeable and did a great job of telling us about what we were looking at. The majority of this trip is just hopping off of the bus at one tourist trap after another to take a quick picture. Our lunch stop was in Ft. Augustus where most of the restaurants are closed on Monday and the ones that were open largely didn’t open until noon—it was 11:30 when we arrived and we were to be back at the bus by 12:45. We were able to make a stop at the viaduct at see the train come across the bridge, but this is not guaranteed. There are a limited number of parking spaces available and we were lucky to squeeze into the last one. We then went to Mallaig where we were left to try to find dinner (very few options) to take on the train with us. The train was disgustingly dirty, had no ventilation, no one provided any context for what we were looking at and there were no services offered. Several of the bathrooms were out of service and the ones that were open were dirty. At this point in the trip my friends and I just started to laugh hysterically because the day had been so comically awful. Upon arriving at the train station in Ft. William we disembarked from the stiflingly hot train to find that the bathrooms in the train station were closed. We spent no time in Ft. William and got back on the bus. We made a stop at Ft. Augustus again on the way back to use the public toilets. I can’t speak for the men’s room, but the women’s room had standing water (good gosh I hope it was water, but the smell suggested otherwise) all over the floor and the waste bins had not been emptied all day so were overflowing with used sanitary products. If any of this sounds like your cup of tea then this tour is for you. Otherwise, I would save several hundreds of dollars and do literally anything else while you’re in the Highlands.
Written 27 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Nichole,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback on your recent tour.
Firstly I would like to thank you for your kind words on Sonia, I will be sure these are passed on.
With regards to the itinerary, it is carefully planned to ensure the group cover highlights of the Highlands along the way. Highlight or "tourist trap" is determined by yourself and what you wished to get out of this tour.
Regarding the stops in Fort Augustus and Mallaig - it is true that some places close on a Monday, however there are still places to go and sit in for food, and also to get things to take away for the train journey.
With regards to the train itself, I am sorry to read that the experience on this occasion of the Jacobite was not a pleasant one. I will be sure to pass on your comments to West Coast Railways, and would advise you can also get in contact with them yourself to pass over any feedback.
Thank you again for sharing your feedback.
Kind regards,
Ayla
Written 29 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nicole
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
Short version: pick a different tour. Long version: Today we had a tour with Darren, and it was awful. Every time I’ve done these tours, the guides have been lovely and provided information about the stops (as you’d expect based on the description). I think Darren said maybe 20 sentences to us over 12 hours. Our first stop was Urquhart Castle. Normally you would expect a guide to explain what it was you were seeing, some historical context, etc. Not here. Darren stopped the bus, got off without explaining anything, walked 100 feet from the bus without saying a word and said “you can take some photos if you want” and walked away. We were forced to read the guidebook to figure out what we were seeing. This same pattern continued throughout the day. We drove past Loch Ness for 90 minutes, and not once did he mention it (or anything- 98% of the day the bus was in total silence). When we got to the actual train station, Darren told us to meet him in a certain area and he walked through the area without collecting the group and just onto the train. When getting on the train, he got off without telling us where to meet after or what was going on. How no one got left behind today I’ll never know. Finally, the driving during this tour was rough. Multiple people felt ill and a child at the back threw up. This “tour” is very expensive compared to other options, and all we got was basically a chauffeur taking us from place to place with no information.
Written 11 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello there,
Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback of your recent tour with us.
Firstly, I would like to apologise that you had an underwhelming experience on tour. As you can see from our reviews, we have a great team of driver-guides who are extremely passionate about what they do, and always strive to go the extra mile for our customers.
We have very high standards and customer satisfaction is at the heart of what we do. We adore Scotland, and we love sharing its stories, traditions, and history with our visitors.
It sounds like, on this occasion, we have fallen short of these standards so please accept my apologies.
The driver you had on your tour is new to the team, so we will be taking this feedback seriously and conducting a full investigation.
Thank you once again for highlighting this matter to us. If you do wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at info@highlandexplorertours.com
Kind regards,
Ayla
Written 12 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nat B
2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Firstly, our tour guide, Sonia, was great. She was the only highlight of the trip. I would hire her to drive us around due to here knowledge and great attitude. This trip is really just frequent stops at touristy locations followed by a miserable train ride. If you are into the get off/get on every 30-45 minutes you may love this. We were looking forward to both the viaduct (lived up to expectations) and the train ride (terrible). The train is old, has no ventilation, uncomfortable seats and there was no catering the day we were there. We were told they have had issues all of 2024 with the reliability of the train and service level. They should not even be offering this tour right now with the issues with Jacobite trains. If you are booking this only to do the train (like we did) avoid this tour, especially in 2024.
Written 25 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Nat,
Thank you for your feedback on the tour, especially your kind words on Sonia - I will be sure to pass these on.
I am sorry to hear the train element of your coach trip was not enjoyable.
This is a very popular tour, and despite the difficulties with the operations of the Jacobite Steam Train, the tour has run very successfully since the train has been back up and running again.
If it is just the train you did not like, I would advise to get on touch with West Coast Railways directly to offer your thoughts.
We thank you again for your feedback.
Best wishes,
Ayla
Written 29 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Péter F
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Couples
Amber was the most amazing and lovely tour guide. The fact she ignored the itinerary and got in front of the other bus so we could see the train pass the Glenfiann Viaduct is great, she gave most of us a memory for life and she was so casual about it. Always positive, good vibes even at challenging times like when she miscounted or (nearly) scratched the bus. For real, the best of the best, MVP. Amber for president.
Written 19 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KathCher
Caledonia, Canada5 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Great all round tour! A bit of a drive from Inverness to Fort William but beautiful views of Loch Ness and a history lesson although with humorous anecdotes about Scottish life. Driver/guide Fraser filled the time with chat and music representing Scottish music through many eras. The train ride on the Jacobite was fun and going over the Glenfinnan viaduct (a once in a lifetime event), followed by seeing the train going over the viaduct from the ground later in the day. After several stops for lunch/snacks and a wee dram, we were treated to a scenic drive along the opposite side of Loch Ness and told about eco-tourism opportunities in this area of Scotland and managed sunset at the end of Loch Ness. A long day but filled with history, spectacular views, one of a kind events and fun!
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erika P
1 contribution
We booked this day-long adventure based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, desire to see the Scottish countryside with a guide, and on our love of Harry Potter. The Scottish countryside did not disappoint, but our guide barely spoke to us the whole day. I have already communicated with the company directly, so I will not be naming him. We knew when to expect certain things, like approximate times to be back on the bus, but very little was said otherwise. My seatmate, a non-native speaker of English, had been sent an email with a downloadable audio guide of the stops, of which some of us became jealous! The day gets three stars because the train ride was perfect, and the tour guide’s driving of the huge bus on tiny Scottish “highways” was incomparable, in my opinion. I sat in front, thinking I would be hearing all kinds of geological tidbits and clan lore, but instead got to see him expertly handle the bus instead. That I should not be taken from him, no matter how little he said all day. My mom, who tired of the rain and waiting for the view of the train (not to be confused with the ride on the train), spent more time with him and said that he knew an amazing amount about the area and was very interesting to listen to. Maybe having two people for tour is a safer idea! One drives, one talks.
Written 20 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Erika,
Thank you for leaving your feedback on your experience, and thank you for getting in touch with us directly to discuss this, I do believe all has been resolved now.
All the best,
Ayla
Written 29 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Boa tarde.
Reservei para 17/9/2024, saindo 9h30 de Inverness. Como o trajeto será invertido? Chegaremos de trem em Mallaig ou Fort William? É porque não voltaremos a Inverness; iremos para Edimburgo e preciso ver os horários de transporte. Obrigada
Written 17 August 2024
What time does the 7.30am tour arrive back in Inverness.
Written 23 July 2024
Sonia Pui Ka T
Hong Kong, China
At what time will the tour that starts at 9:30 AM return to the meeting point?
Written 10 June 2024
With the Hogwarts Express out of commission will there still be a train ride to Mallaig on a different train or will there be a change in the itinerary?
Written 26 March 2024
Does this not operate in January, or are the dates just not open for then yet.
Written 28 April 2023
Is there a bathroom on the train?
Written 31 March 2022
jacobite Stream train - Does this include first class tickets, or can you get an upgrade?
Written 20 February 2022
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