It may have been many years since the last Harry Potter film was shot, and it may have been many years since the books were written, but the allure of visiting Harry Potter sets doesn’t seem to be fading. A new generation is discovering Harry Potter and people continue to flock to the Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland.
i wrote all Harry Potter location in Edinburgh It wasn’t too long ago, but I recently realized it might be time to write about all the other Harry Potter locations in Scotland!
I have visited most of them and plan to visit others in the near future. Many of the places are stunning regardless of their connection to the Harry Potter series, so even if you’re not a huge Harry Potter fan, I’d recommend considering these places on your Scotland itinerary.
However, I’ve always loved visiting locations in movies and books and associating those with a place.
I don’t know if it stems from growing up in New Zealand, the places I saw or read about on screen were always exotic and far away (until The Lord of the Rings, of course!), but it’s definitely one of my favorite places about The travel thing!
First, I’ve listed the Edinburgh Harry Potter filming locations with some info on each location, but you can check out my full post about the locations here.
So let’s take a look at the Harry Potter movie locations in Scotland, what was filmed there, what to see there now, and how to find them!
edinburgh
Edinburgh has many Harry Potter locations waiting to be discovered!you can read my Post all about them in full herebut also the most popular snippets below.
Writing Cafes – Elephant House and Nicholson’s Café
JK Rowling is known to have written most of the early Harry Potter books in cafés near Edinburgh. It is said that it is cheaper to buy coffee outside than to buy heat at home, but as someone who often works in cafes, I would also say it is more enjoyable and fun!
The Elephant House on the George IV Bridge is widely considered the “birthplace” of Harry Potter, but it wasn’t actually the first café where JK Rowling began creating the series. That honor goes to Nicholsons Cafe, located above what is now the Black Medicine Cafe on Nicholson Street.
It was owned by her brother-in-law at the time, then a Chinese restaurant, another cafe called Spoons, and now another Chinese restaurant. However, you can still see a plaque on the wall outside the street.
The magnificent view of Edinburgh Castle from the back windows of the Elephant House was undoubtedly the inspiration for Hogwarts School.
It’s also close to Greyfriars Kirkyard, another Edinburgh Harry Potter location and George Heriott’s School, which is said to have also inspired Hogwarts. Please note that the café was destroyed by fire but is currently being restored.
Greyfriars Church Courtyard
Greyfriars Kirkyard has several tombstones that inspired names in Harry Potter. JK Rowling admitted she used some but not others, including Professor McGonagall and Thomas Riddle.
George Herriot School
The famous school has four towers and four houses, which some say was the inspiration for Hogwarts.
edinburgh castle
It’s clear how Edinburgh Castle inspired the Hogwarts school located in Scotland. Both are perched on top of a huge rock!
Victoria Street
This crooked street full of colorful shops and dining options, said to be a bit like Diagon Alley, is now a popular place to take pictures and browse the shops, some of which sell Harry Potter merchandise.
Balmoral Hotels
JK Rowling finished the final Harry Potter book in a suite at Balmoral. A far cry from having to write in a cafe to keep warm!
You don’t get access to the suites (unless you book, of course), but the afternoon tea at Balmoral is great and I highly recommend it.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is already iconic, but has become even more popular after being featured in the Harry Potter series, especially as the Hogwarts Express, aka the Jacobite steam train, runs across it.
You can also take a regular train across the viaduct, but we personally think the best view is from outside the train and watching them go by.
Parking is limited on the Glenfinnan Viaduct so we recommend arriving early if you want to see the trains go by. Please do not park dangerously!
There are several vantage points to see the Jacobite Stream Train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct. From under the viaduct not far from the car park, or go further under the viaduct and turn left for its iconic views around the bend.
Jacob’s steam train
This stunning old steam train runs between Fort William and Mallaig and was used as a filming location for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.
As mentioned above, you can ride the Jacob train yourself! But book early, as train tickets are now sold out months in advance!
Hill Lake
The lake has been used as the backdrop for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Witchcraft in several films, as well as the Black Lake in The Prisoner of Azkaban and the Half-Blood Prince.
itif l.
Loch Etive was used as a filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and most specifically, Glen Etive, although they have also been used in other films.
Most famously, Lake Etty is where Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped off the back of a dragon after escaping Gringotts.
You can take the A82 (also recognizable from the James Bond film Skyfall) along the Glen Etive to Loch. Loch Etive is actually a sea loch extending just past Oban.
Rannoch Moor
One of our favorite spots in Scotland!
Rannoch Moor is a stunning wild landscape you pass on your way from the south to Glencoe, one of our favorite drives.
The Hogwarts Express passes by briefly in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but most notably, it’s where the Dementors stop at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Black Rock Canyon
A narrow gorge in the Scottish Highlands that was used as a filming location for parts of the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Specifically, the dragon challenge when Harry is chased into a canyon by a dragon.
If you want to see it, you can walk into the canyon. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, 2.5 miles round trip.
Glencoe
Glencoe is arguably one of the most scenic spots in Scotland, so it’s no surprise that it was chosen as a filming location for the Harry Potter films.
The most popular part of the film is near the Clachaig Inn (well worth a visit!), Hagrid’s cottage built on the hill above Torren Lochan in Clachaig Gully.
Obviously the set and cabin are gone, but you can take a walk around the area and see what you recognize!
Going through the inn itself, you’ll see a narrow path next to the road to the ferns. It only takes about 10 minutes.
Lake Elter
Loch Eilt has been used as a filming location for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Prisoner of Azkaban scenes.
The most famous is Eilean na Moine, a small island in a lake that is also where Dumbledore’s tomb is located.
Hagrid can also be seen throwing stones into the water at Lake Elter after Buckbeak was sentenced.
It was also used for the Hogwarts exterior shots of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
However, you might not recognize it so easily because in the movie, Loch Arkaig and Loch Eilt are mixed together because the director didn’t like the shape of Loch Eilt from certain angles.
Steall Falls in Glen Nevis
Steall Falls is a beautiful waterfall and not a strenuous walk in Glen Nevis (I did it while pregnant!).
It appears in many of the Harry Potter films, most often as the backdrop for their broomstick-flying Quidditch match, and for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland
People often think the castle must be in Scotland so we include it here, but it’s in England! However, it’s often included on Harry Potter tours from Edinburgh or around the Borders, as it’s only a few hours’ drive away.
The exterior of the castle was used in the first two Harry Potter films, notably halfway through the first broomstick training in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Sometimes they “fly” lessons in this exact spot!
How to Visit a Harry Potter Location in Scotland
If you’re driving around Scotland, it’s easy to fit most of these into your itinerary, as you’ll likely pass through them if you visit the generally touristy areas.
If you’re heading north, you can drive through Rannoch Moor, around Glen Etive, then through Glencoe and stop at the Clachaig Inn. Visiting Oban means taking a detour to visit Loch Etive.
However, some places will be a bit further off the beaten track, such as Black Rock Gorge, which is a bit north of Inverness and requires walking, but is still doable if you stay there.
Tour the filming locations of the Harry Potter movies
There are countless tours that include Harry Potter locations around Scotland, although there are also some Harry Potter-specific tours.
Some tours also include the Jacobite steam train, so it’s well worth checking out if you haven’t bought your own tickets.have This trip to Inverness and this one is from edinburgh.
Hope you enjoy these places as much as I do!
Sonya X
