Jacobite Train in Fort William

Absolutely false advertising. I cannot understand how a form of human transport can be so filthy. These cars need to be taken out of service and deep cleaned. For the price one pays, the cabin and seating should be pristine. Ventilation, cabin heating, and window defrosting should be considered mandatory for such a ride. Retired, dingy/dirty former public rail transit cars are not what we had in mind when we took to the website and booked this trip.

Absolutely horrible old hag of a worker ruined my experience.. came all the way to Scotland for this and she had such an awful attitude towards my dog, who’s very well behaved just for existing with hair.. kept coming over to not even ask but talk down to me, cos I look like a child maybe but I’m 30 years old. Literally scolded me in front of all other passengers (embarrassing herself since they loved my dogfor sitting on the seat.. even tho I put down my jacket, she sheds. I have a lint roller and planned on cleaning our seat but she got to it first, the trains are old and dirty, nothing special, and the fabric on the seats you can brush the hair off. The views from the train were great but that’s because the country is beautiful. I would never give a penny to this “dog friendly” train experience again. Ruined my whole day that “lady’s” attitude. Definitely shouldn’t work with the public but a stay at home position.. worst experience I’ve had in England.

The train portion of the experince was definitly a 5 star experience! The sound of the steam engine huffing and puffing, the smell of the coal, even the bits of coal soot that come in the window are all part of the expected delight of riding a steam locomotive. We were not able to puchases a private compartment (like they had in Harry Potterand were in the standard seating area (reserve WELL in advance!). It was still very nice, there were 4 of us and we were lucky to be sitting on the "good side" for the trip out and got nice pictures of the train on the famous bridge. Being a HP fan is was fun when they came about and asked "Anything from the trolly?" in just the right accent. Also, FWIW, the bathrooms on the train were very clean and functional. Oh, I almost forgot, when the train stopped in Malaig they let people go up into the engine. They even let me shovel a piece of coal into the burner.. fun!The reason for the 4 star review is the expeience in Malaig was lacking. We did eat at a very nice resturant for lunch but that was really it.. nothing much to see here. It is a ferry, fishing and shipping port with a handfull of souvenir shops. They try but dont get your hopes up here!

A pleasant ride, if possible sit on the left side of the carriage going out to Mallaig the scenery is much better. The public toilets in Mallaig are a fair distance from the shops and are unisex so go on the train. Mallaig is very nice, the seafood restaurants Very good. All in all an outstanding day out.

Excellent journey, friendly staff, about 20 minutes stop at Glenfinnan station. Signal box is worth a visit. Lucky to see the Royal Scotsman tour train in the next platform.

Why be in the Highlands if you dont take the Jacobite steam train? It was a nice way for two of us to spend the day enjoying the scenery and drinking a bottle of Prosecco.

The Jacobite, Train Trip was a Christmas present and was such a lovely experience. 1st class with extras, bottle of chilled champagne..Wish we had got the high tea as it looked really nice. Tea or coffee was also offered.Recommend this trip...

Great experience. The staff is courteous. Definitely recommend booking a ticket in advance. If you reach a little while before the train arrives, you can get to the front of the train and click amazing pictures (Hogwarts Express vibes!). When the train is nearing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, you can go to the last coach to get some amazing pictures of the Viaduct.Would have given a 5 star but giving it a 4 star as they were completely sold out on the famous Chocolate Frog which was quite a bummer. They dont restock even on the return journey. Otherwise the journey was great!

Great scenery, provided the weather is good !Dont need 2 hours in Mallaig as there is very little to do.Photo opportunity at Glenfinnan viaduct is disappointing as everyone wants to hang out of the window, so if you dont get to do that, then no photo for you. I asked a guard if I could quickly take one through the glass of his compartment but he point blank refused. Not an unreasonable request I thought.I doubt its best railway journey in the world, but probably worth the trip on a sunny day

If you’re taking the train up to Mallaig, try to sit on the left side of the train facing forward to get the best views of the viaduct. Otherwise go to the ends of the cars to get a standing view as you approach it.

The staff were fabulous nothing was to much trouble very helpful and kind The train views especially the viaduct are memories forever Definitely would recommend

This is a terrific day out for people of all ages. Everyone seems to love a train trip, especially when the scenery is so stunning. Crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct is definitely one to cross off the bucket list! The one and a half hours is enough for lunch and a look around. On the outbound trip you sit on one side of the train then you are allocated seats on the opposite side on the inbound trip, so you get to see everything. The staff were lovely. Lots of people line up for the fish and chip place at the end of the platform and then take it to eat at the jettys edge but we found a lovely quiet tea room that sold fresh prawn/scampi rolls that were delicious. As you go over the Viaduct you can stand and go to the window at the door to put your phone out to take photos but just be sure to take turns with everyone else.

I love this line. It’s beautiful, and amazing being on a historic train with great ties to the Iron Road to the Isles; however, the reason I can’t give it five stars is unfortunately not West Coast’s fault.The use of the line in Harry Potter has made it far more touristy and far more gimmicky. Ever since the film came out has became more popular amongst Harry Potter fans than train enthusiasts and natural beauty enjoyers like me.Seeing so many people line up at the viaduct and take pictures is a real shame when very little of them came for the actual reason of the Jacobite, which is historical preservation, something Scotland excels at.

It was a blast to be riding over the Glenfinnan viaduct and past Loch Eilt in the Jacobite a.k.a. the Hogwarts Express. But besides that the trip was full of wonderfull landscapes and lakes. Really a sight to behold!

Upgrade to First Class. It is worth it. Lots of good scenery. People seemed to get really excited about some bridge near Fort William?

Albeit plagued by Harry Potterheads and people arguing over best seats for the inevitable Glenfinnan Viaduct section, something which was always going to be unavoidable, this return journey to Mallaig through beautiful scenic countryside was amazing. Even with small pieces of coal coming through the open windows, our experience was not hampered in the slightest (all part of the sensory experience!). Having just long enough to buy ice cream and eat lunch by the busy working harbour in Mallaig, we would highly recommend this trip for lovers of steam trains, beautiful views and a good old day out!

Simply the best railway journey in the United Kingdom. Wonderful way to travel through the remote Scottish Highlands, taking in famous sites, and feeling like you are living in a previous era.This next section is not criticism, however, explaining why some of the reviews on here are almost preposterous.In terms of dirtiness:It’s a steam train, of course there will be smoke and soot, and that can get into the train because the windows haven’t been closed. If you want to stay perfectly clean, simply drive or take the modern train which runs on the same line at other times of the day.In terms of catering:Once again, it’s a train, if you are wanting the highest quality food, go to a restaurant - they can only serve what has been brought onto the train beforehand.In terms of condition:This is a preserved train, the carriages have been painstakingly restored to what they were like 70 years ago, so sadly, there isn’t any leather seats, or modern bathrooms.In terms of the train:A diesel train runs in times of dry weather, in order to eliminate the wildfire risk. Sorry, they don’t want to ruin the amazing scenery with potential wildfires.In terms of the destination:Mallaig is a working fishing port, and therefore isn’t primarily a tourist resort. You don’t take this train to simply get somewhere, it’s about savouring and enjoying the journey along the way.Overall, an absolute must-do if you find yourself in this part of the world. There is something truly magical and relaxing about the journey.

Overhyped mostly because of the Harry Potter viaduct. The A82 route via bus from FW to Glasgow is much more scenic for example

Tickets issued Friday for travel the following Thursday. Tickets cancelled on Monday due to train strikes which were announced weeks ago. No option to rebook and 21 WORKING DAYS for a refund. Not good customer service at all in my opinion.

Remember to book in advance. If you plans to take early trip of the day.

Highly recommend. 🤩 it was such a great experience.

Fabulous steam train. Lovely large seats in first class Mallaig was brilliant, just wished we could have stayed longer but its a round trip and you have to leave with the train!

We had a bad start to the day, car had broken down but we managed to get a lift to Fort William only to miss it by 3 mins. Managed to get on the train at Glenfinnan. Staff politeness on the train exceeded my expectations and really nice people. We also had nice people sitting next to us so we had a good laugh. All in all we enjoyed the experience, we had a bit of a wet day and windows misted a bit.

We were NOT PULLED BY STEAM. It was diesel for us there and back. For the money we paid to travel 1st Class it was a rip off. I spoke with a local in Fort William who advised me this happens regularly and theres NOTHING you can do about it as its in the small print. So if youre looking for a diesel Harry Potter experience thats fine. Otherwise avoid.

Very expensive for what you get. First class carriage had nice old feel and definitely better than standard class. Nice views highly dependent on weather. Mallaig has nothing much and very busy. So its waiting about for 2 hours for train back.High tea waste of money. Sandwiches 4 triangle of cheap bread and filling. 2 cakes and a hard scone served in box. I expected an afternoon tea tray with tea or coffee served for the price you pay. My husband bought a graze box in Mallaig from blooming Graze food truck at half the price and was so much nicer.Nice experience but overpriced and touristy. Customer service was ok with staff pleasant enough.

The best advice I got: Book your tour in advance online! The tickets sold out quickly in August. Highly recommends this tour for the scenic view (we were lucky and enjoyed the most beautiful weather), but Harry Potter and steam train fans alike would appreciate the aesthetics. If you enjoy longer train rides and pretty mountains, definitely worth the ticket! They sell little souvenirs on board, but nothing really noteworthy in our case.

DON’T DO IT!!!!We paid a hefty price for a 1st class table and it was a huge disappointment. Issues are as follows:1Not enough ventilation with only small windows that open. The family next to us didn’t use deoderant and we had to smell them there and back. It was also stuffy in the car.2Coal powered and smoke filled the car making it tough to breathe. Coal pieces all over table, clothes, and food. I am surprised with the amount of pollution that thing belched it is still allowed to function and that the staff doesn’t all have lung cancer.3Service sucks, we needed to talk to someone about the above issues but the only people visible were managing the food trolly. The ladies handling the food trolly were very abrupt. No one even at the stations starting or arriving we coule talk to. Attendant closing doors outside of train wasn’t in the mood to answer any questions.4Tea service was in a box when we got on the train. Cup of tea was served, little patience from ladies when taking your order.5Dirty windows obstructed views.6Scenery was pretty but not near as good as the drive to get to Ft. William.7Destination sucks with nothing to do for two hours while you wait to go back. Just a couple of souvenir shops….that’s it.8Uncomfortable chairs that required you sit straight up for four hours- no recline in the seats at all.Save your time, irritation, and money. Just go to the viaduct bridge and watch the train pass and get a great picture. Then eat better food, take a hike, and breathe fresh air.

I made a mistake on my days and missed the train. We went and asked about taking it but was told we had to pay full fair. Our loss and I really wanted to go on this ride.

Doubting between 3 and 4 stars.The train ride, scenery, steam train as such are great.But... it could so much better (and the area could benefit so much moreThe wagons are run down, giving just a little bit more attention to how guest arrive at the station etc Furthermore three town of Malaig is just terrible. We saw 3 drunk / high people laying on the street in a town of 800 people.

This was super fun for the whole family! My kids loved it and we got to see the a lot of the Scotland countryside while riding the Harry Potter train. It was a nice relaxing train ride. There is even a sweet lady that goes through the train selling Harry Potter memorabilia and chocolate frogs. My kids loved this! Truly a wonderful afternoon and one that sticks out in our lovely memories of our trip to Scotland. On a side note, I did not know it stops for a couple of hours in Mallaig, so make sure you make a reservation to eat lunch or dinner, depending on your train time. You will be glad you did, as dining reservations fill up quickly. Also, make sure you buy tickets far in advance...if not they do have some tickets available the day of, but you will need to stand in line. :)

Lovely long train journey, great chance to talk to other tourists and just enjoy the stunning scenery that just keeps on comming.Definately not for small kids or people who dont like monotonous travel, some soot will enter the cariages (but hey its a steam train).If youre just in it for the Harry Potter experience, maybe just go to one of the viaduct viewpoints.

What a great experience! I recommend this adventure to young and old. The kids loved it and we lived our childhood fantasy of riding the Hogwarts Express.

Stopped here to photograph train ahead of our trip on the train a few days later. Great view of the viaduct. Car parking available at cost. Our trip on the train was awesome in first class carriage with afternoon tea box. Weather drab on the day so hard to see views from train through windows at times.

One of the best experiences I’ve ever had. This is not just a must see/do adventure for Harry Potter fans, but for anyone who can appreciate the beautiful Highlands of Scotland and the wonderful architecture of the Viaduct. I hope to make it back one day.

Great day out some Wonderful scenery, lovely town of Malaig at end of journey for lunch and a walk around before return trip to Fort William

I hear kids get attacked during travel! This blatant safety disregard and I cannot believe these kind of things are allowed to continuously happen and the company gets away scott free!

Absolute horrid customer service.Missing our trip due to unforseen circumstances like this heat wave that caused shutdowns, fires on multiple tracks, and broken engines all across the board was said to "not be their problem".They said we didnt contact them, but we tried everything in our power to do so beforehand. We sent 4-5 emails, some of which bounced back because their inbox was full, we tried calling over and over and over with results of either not getting through or them not answering.Once we finally got through a couple days later, they said they saw our emails and had no intention of responding to them.Zero offers of trying to solve this problem, they didnt care in the slightest and were very open about the fact that they only care about the money.

The best scenic tour of scotland can be done in jacobite express and please book well advance as it might be fully booked in holidays.

Nice train ride. Not worth the money though. Didnt even have a steam engine only a diesel. Fort William train station is not a well looked after place. The coaches are old with worn out seats. Not at all the charm that one is made to believe in the advertising. The staff on board are very friendly and helpful its just a shame that they are let down by the management or those that cash in on all the money that is paid by unknowing customers.

Nothing impressive & total Tourist trap. You can encounter the same Scottish scenery all over the island for free. The destination town of Mallaig is nothing except a small fishing village with a few souvenir shops.

This was not what I expected. Yes, you saw beautiful views and went over the Harry Potter bridge. But it was not worth it. Also the windows were open on the train which brought coal from the train all over my clothes, food and drink. I even got some coal in my eye. Not worth it. I’d be cooler to wait at the viewpoint and take a picture of the train going across the bridge from below

Very expensive so if budget is an issue and you really want to do this rail journey just get the regular train. On the other hand the first class cabin was clean and comfortable (veryand the people operating the food trolleys were great. The buffet car was fun to visit and they had cold beer/wine. It was probably made better by the excitement but can’t find fault with any part of the experience.

The scenery was fantastic however, this is where the positives to this experience end. The train was run down inside, had a funny smell and the staff did not appear to be engaged. The whole thing is tired and needs a revamp!.No one checked any tickets the entire journey.The "high tea" was a box of sanwiches and cakes which looked terrible and was dumped in front of you at the start of the journey.The complementary tea was like dish water and no care or attention was given throughout.I would not recommend this trip.

Fantastic trip and excellent staff on board the train. Felt VIP as people waved when they saw the train over the viaduct . Would recommend to anyone visiting Fort William.

A lovely Christmas present from my husband. The day was perfect, weather sunny and bright. The journey was so good, beautiful views and we also went first class which was a treat. The carriages were very clean and the staff polite helpful. Regretfully the cream tea was not so good. I am coeliac so asked for gluten free so I have alot of experience of g.f. food, the bread was hard and stale, I had 3 pieces of cheese sandwich which fell apart as there was no spread to keep them together ( lots of g.f. spreads available, most naturally g.f.the 4th was egg but still very dry. G.f. bread will freeze if not all used. The cake had the usual overload of baking powder which seem to be the usual thing to do now which spoils the taste in a cake. The cream and jam was delicious!! I havent the heart to tell my husband because he was so happy to book this for me as my present, but I think it spoilt the trip for me. I have been a chef for 40 years and the art of baking without b.p. has been lost, it is an easy alternative. Beautiful trip but food awful. 🙈

Very beautiful steam train passing the famous glenfinnan viaduct. Well known from harry potter. Insane prices and booking (you have to book months in advancebut youll have to blame the bloody tourists.

There is no beauty like the Scottish highlands. Save time for visiting the shops and take lots of photos.

We paid a fortune for first class tickets and looked forward to the trip for months. We were on the less scenic side travelling out. No problem, it means we get the scenic side on the return journey. However the engine failed, so we got a non-steam replacement and were raced back. Maybe they dont understand we pay for the journey not the arrival. We missed our dinner reservation for which we had paid a deposit. We also sat next to some really annoying thick oafs who passed the time playing loud obnoxious music on their phones. One selfish man hogged the open window in the door to video the train going over the viaduct when several people were queueing to take photos.The scenery was stunning but you can see it for a fraction of the price on the normal train, albeit through smaller windows.Edit: updated to 3 stars as theyve offered a 50% refund. Would have given 1 more if it had run as planned and another one if it werent for the people issues. It had the potential to be fantastic.

Great Experance! Be sure to pack a snack as its a few hour tip from Ft. William up to Mallaig. We included this option as part of the Five Day Highland explorer tour. We had a one way trip from Ft. William up to Mallaig. The train was really neat. Seats were comfortable and there was a table to share. Be sure to get to the door area about 5 mins before the glenfinnan viaduct to get some good photos. Make sure you keep hold of your phone as well.

Best steam railway journey we have ever been on. Booked again to go back in July 2022 and can’t wait. Whether you are going for the scenery, the experience of travelling on a vintage steam railway or like us just crazy Harry Potter fans, you’ll definitely have a good day out. Two services daily to the small port of Mallaig. There’s not much to do when you get there beyond eat, drink and shop. The railway journey is breathtaking and found the experience worth every penny. The staff are amazing and found the carriages to be comfy and clean. The staff warn you in advance of going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct so you can have your camera ready although remember it’s a steam loco so if you open a window to take some snaps you will find wee flecks of soot soon appear. Only reason i mention this as some reviews complain the train is dirty when it’s not, it’s just unavoidable due to it being a steam loco and understandably passengers wanting to open the windows to take photos or get some air. If you have a day free we would highly recommend you grab some tickets and get on board.