12 Epic Travel Destinations for Fans of Fantasy and Science Fiction

20. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland: The Route to Hogwarts

Deep in the Scottish Highlands, the Glenfinnan Viaduct arches gracefully across a lush valley, its 21 stone spans creating a cinematic curve through the misty mountains. Though the viaduct was completed in 1901 as a marvel of Victorian engineering, it gained worldwide fame thanks to its appearance in the Harry Potter films, where the Hogwarts Express chugs across its high arches en route to the wizarding school of dreams. Watching the Jacobite Steam Train traverse this route in real life is a moment of pure magic—an experience that brings out the inner child in every visitor. Surrounded by the rolling hills and shimmering waters of Loch Shiel, the setting itself feels enchanted. Even without its Hollywood fame, Glenfinnan is the kind of place where you expect to hear the rush of wings or glimpse a stag in the mist. The area is also steeped in Scottish history—it was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard to begin the Jacobite uprising in 1745. But for Potter fans, it’s the embodiment of that first moment of magical escape: leaving the Muggle world behind and crossing into the unknown. Whether viewed from the hillside trails above or aboard the train itself, the Glenfinnan Viaduct offers a spellbinding journey into imagination and nostalgia.