Latest news with #HogwartsExpress
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Happy birthday, Harry Potter!
We imagine what Harry's friends — and some others — would write to him. *** Happy birthday, mate! Mum's gone and knitted you a special birthday jumper. It's in the parcel. Hope Pig didn't drop it along the way. She also made her special chocolate fudge — brilliant stuff — but Pig wouldn't carry it. Probably thought it might squash him flat. Fred and George claim they can charm the fudge to fly to you but Mum refused to let them try. I forgot to buy you a present, so I'll get you one during the first Hogsmeade weekend. See you soon! -Ron P.S. D'you reckon you can come round the Burrow for the rest of the hols? Dad says we can catch the Hogwarts Express together. *** Dear Harry, Happy birthday! I made you a detailed birthday timeline cross-referenced with key events in wizarding history. I thought you could use some light reading during the holidays. Ron says he's 'forgotten' to get you a present. Honestly, I've reminded him at least five times. Love, Hermione *** Happy birthday, Harry. Are the Muggles treating yeh right? I told Dumbledore I can visit yeh ter make sure but he says not ter. Summat abou' alarming the neighbours. I've got yeh a birthday gift but 's too dangerous fer Owl Post. Won't say no more here. I can' wait ter show yeh on your firs' day back at school. Visit me fer a cup of tea, won' yeh? -Hagrid *** Dear Harry, I wish you the happiest of birthdays. You are another year older — and, I dare say, a little bit wiser. A birthday is but a reminder of growth, not visible in the mirror, but a quiet kind of that shows itself as strength and resilience. By this measure, Harry, you are growing magnificently. I remain, yours most sincerely, Albus Dumbledore *** Potter, This is to remind you that you have detention with me on your first weekend after term starts. Should you fail to appear, the consequences will be... severe. Professor Severus Snape *** Dearest Harry Potter, It is Dobby's greatest honour to wish you a happy birthday, sir. Harry Potter is brave and kind and noble. Dobby has spent sleepless nights learning how to knit a special quilt for Harry Potter. Dobby hopes it keeps Harry Potter safe and warm. -Dobby *** Potter, I hear it's your birthday. How touching. I don't really care for birthdays — unless it's mine, obviously. Father always gets me the most extraordinary gifts. I suppose you're spending your birthday with whatever the Weasleys can scrape together. Jealous, Potter? -Draco Malfoy
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sub-tropical Scottish village with palm trees on world's fourth most beautiful train line
Plockton is a small fishing village in the Highlands of Scotland that has a surprising connection to a much more exotic location than the rugged west coast of Scotland One of the least-visited train stations in the country sits in the shadows of a ruined castle, not far from a palm tree-packed town. The Kyle Line in the Scottish Highlands is one of the most beautiful train lines in the world. And that's official. JRPASS analysed the most scenic train rides around the world and placed the Scottish entry at fourth, only just behind The Bernina Express in the Swiss Alps, the Flam Railway in Norway and The Glacier Express in Switzerland. This comes after the Bernia Express was dubbed 'the Hogwarts Express of the Swiss Alps'. Alongside four other stations on the Kyle line, which also feature in Trainline's top 50 least visited stations, is Stromeferry. Hardly anyone makes it there. In fact, during a 12-month period from 2019 to 2020, just 1,508 journeys were made to and from the station. That is less than five passengers each day. I have been one of those lucky few, having stayed at the Stationmaster's Lodge, which sits metres away from the train station and on the banks of Loch Carron. It's a handy spot, as the incredibly infrequent train can be heard from the living room, meaning you're not likely to miss it and then face another four-hour wait for the next one. Following this route through Strome Wood will lead you to a breathtaking view of Strome Castle, a now ruined fort that was built on the loch's banks in the 1400s. Head on a little further and you'll make it to a quaint fishing village that boasts a feature more commonly associated with the sun-soaked shores of Miami Beach. Plockton may receive three times fewer average sunshine hours than its Floridian counterpart across the Atlantic and see far less footfall from tourists, but it shares a unique characteristic - palm trees. Since the 1960s, a line of New Zealand cabbage palm trees has graced Harbour Street in the heart of the town, skirting the edge of Loch Carron. James Nicholson, in his book 'Beyond the Great Glen', refers to Plockton as having a "sub-tropical appearance" thanks to these exotic additions. Travel writer Barry Shelby has even dubbed it "arguably the prettiest village in the highlands", an opinion echoed by location scouts for TV series like 'Hamish Macbeth' and the film 'The Wicker Man. If you're seeking a slice of tranquillity, Loch Carron and the wider western Ross-shire are your ideal destinations. Here, golden eagles soar, highland cattle graze, and sheep abound. Solitude is easy to come by, unlike pubs, hotels, and shops. When I visited, our group spent several blissful days swimming, hiking, and climbing in Ross-shire, until one day we timed our walk to coincide with one of the two daily summer trains at Stromeferry. We hopped aboard and journeyed towards Plockton. Capturing the essence of the brief 12-minute train ride from Stromeferry to Plockton is a challenge, but Visit Scotland encapsulates it well. "The Kyle Line leads through charming Highland villages such as Achnasheen and Plockton before arriving in Kyle of Lochalsh. Completed in 1897, the line was the most expensive rail project of its day: the last 10 miles between Stromeferry and Kyle needed 31 cuttings and 29 tunnels and had to be blasted out of solid rock," the tourist board explains. "The result is a gem of a railway passing over deserted beaches and through fishing villages and offering views of mountains and herons and possibly the odd eagle or otter." Several factors have conspired to make the delightful village we found ourselves in so enchanting. One is the warming North Atlantic Drift and the relatively sheltered bay that Plockton nestles in, making its climate surprisingly mild and palm tree-friendly for its northern position. Another was the advent of a local laird who transformed the community into a thriving fishery, then chose to reinvest much of the profits into enhancing the village in a planned style that still feels both tidy and quaint today. More recently, the enormous success of the Kishorn Yard oil rig construction site, just a few miles from the village in the 1970s and 80s, saw 3,000 well-paid workers flock to the area, injecting cash into the region. Today, the industry that keeps Plockton ticking over is tourism. Like many before us, we savoured an ice cream from Meghan's as we strolled along the promenade, before pausing for a portion of chips at the Harbour Fish Bar. This was all washed down with a pint of local ale in the seafront garden of the Plockton Inn. A simple but perfect day out, capped off by a harbour tour courtesy of the village's most famous modern son Callum Mackenzie, who has taken numerous television crews around Loch Carron in his River Thames Police Launch to spot the abundant seals that bask there. Simply idyllic. Booking it The Plockton Inn offers rooms from £251. A little further afield, the Lochlash Hotel has rooms from £225 per night, based on two sharing. An off-peak day return ticket for an adult from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is priced at £45.00. Accompanying children can travel for a mere £1 return each, with up to four children allowed per adult.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK's most remote and underrated train station that rivals Hogwarts Express line
The Kyle Line runs through the Scottish Highlands from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and is officially one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Duirinish is one of its least visited stations. A train station at the end of one of the most scenic rail routes in the world is one of the least used in the country. In the never-ending travel quest to find somewhere little-trod and original, you may well be wise to hop on Scotland's Kyle Line and head for Duirinish. The Kyle Line runs through the Scottish Highlands from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and is officially one of the most scenic train rides in the world. JRPASS analysed the most scenic train rides around the world and placed the Scottish entry at fourth, only just behind The Bernina Express in the Swiss Alps, the Flam Railway in Norway and The Glacier Express in Switzerland. This comes after the Bernia Express was dubbed 'the Hogwarts Express of the Swiss Alps'. That means that the Kyle Line, which offers some spectacular views of the Scottish Highlands and only costs £32 for a ticket, trumps the Hogwarts Express line when it comes to beautiful railway routes. In the Harry Potter films the fictional line is depicted by the West Coast Railway steam service from Fort William to Mallaig. However, a hidden gem it is not. When I visited the famous section of curved bridge on that line, several kilt-clad bagpipers were providing mournful entertainment to the hundreds of Potter fans who were braving the mizzle to view the famous viaduct. If you're after somewhere much less visited and trumpeted about, then Duirinish on the Kyle Line is a good bet. Trainline recently highlighted it as one of the most underrated, isolated destinations on the UK rail network. A spokesperson for the ticketing app told the Mirror: "The penultimate stop on the Kyle line, the UK's most remote yet underrated railway, and with only 17 passengers booked via Trainline in the last year, Duirinish is frequently overlooked. "This quaint township provides insight into crofting, a practice unique to the Highlands, with the opportunity to spot Highland cows thanks to a nearby dedicated tour. Built in 1826 by Thomas Telford, famous for his part in the construction of Somerset House – it has so far retained its heritage, untouched by modern architecture. As it's a request stop, passengers will need to signal to the driver if they wish to board or get off the train." Getting there won't be much of a hardship. The scenic Kyle Line journey crosses from shore to shore, including Loch Alsh and Hindland scenery, as well as offers views of Isle of Skye. While you're there, you can get off at the market town of Dingwall for the Far North Line for more distinctive mountain range views and the Torridon Peaks.
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
New Harry Potter attraction launched in iconic Scots movie location
Scroll down for times and tickets THAT'S MAGIC New Harry Potter attraction launched in iconic Scots movie location Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW Harry Potter attraction is launching in Scotland this summer. Fans of the book series and movie franchise have long flocked to the north to visit locations featured in the flicks. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The Scottish landmark was used in four films 5 Harry Potter and his pals travelled on the train to Hogwarts over the viaduct 5 Now bus no. 9 ¾ will take visitors to the village 5 Scots schoolboy Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter in the new HBO series Credit: HBO Glenfinnan Viaduct has been one of the favourites, as the Hogwarts Express travelled across the famous bridge in four of the films. Now a new weekend bus service is being introduced to encourage more of the 600,000 annual visitors to Glenfinnan to leave their cars behind and travel a little more magically. And the bus line has a name inspired by the books, being called no. 9 ¾ - or 934. This is in a nod to Platform 9¾, the magical place Harry and his pals caught the Hogwarts Express when heading for school. According to those behind the bus journey, the service offers a 'spellbinding alternative to driving' with comfy seats and scenic views. The new timetable is part of a community-led effort aimed at helping plug a gap in public transport provision to the tiny village on the shores of Loch Shiel in Lochaber on Saturdays and Sundays. It's a pilot scheme to gauge public appetite for a motor-free day out and help relieve pressure on local car parks, which quickly fill up at this time of year, leading to hazardous kerbside parking and traffic congestion along the famous road to the Isles. The National Trust for Scotland (NTS), Glenfinnan Community Council, Glenfinnan Community Facilities Charitable Trust (SCIO), Glenfinnan Station Museum and HITRANS have each contributed to the cost of the buses. Local authority councillors have also backed the project by supporting an application to The Highland Council's Discretionary Budget, while local bus company, Shiel Buses, will operate the service. Glenfinnan businesses are also offering 'green rewards' as a thank you to those visitors who show them a valid bus or train ticket. Harry Potter legend breaks his silence as replacement cast in HBO TV series These include the NTS Visitor Centre offering a complimentary hot drink, and two-for-one on climbing Glenfinnan Monument, along with a range of other discounts. Kate Forbes MSP commented: "Glenfinnan has become an iconic destination for visitors, with thousands of visitors every year. This has created pressures on local infrastructure, which I have been working to resolve with local residents. 'A few years ago, the community successfully built a much larger car park. However, this has quickly become too small. As such, I have been chairing a task force to identify solutions over the last few years. HOW TO GET THERE THE summer weekend bus service will run four times a day at the weekends, between Fort William and Glenfinnan, from now until September 7. It is just one of many train and bus services that travel to Glenfinnan seven days a week. Visitors will be able to get on the Glenfinnan weekend bus at Fort William bus station, Lochaber High School (free parking available at weekends), Kilmallie Hall in Corpach and Linnhe Caravan Park. Times for the new service, along with timetables and prices for all other buses and trains, can be found in the 'Guide to visiting Glenfinnan without a Car.' This can be viewed and downloaded from 'I am delighted to see a new solution to get more people out of their cars. This will hopefully be transformational, as more visitors choose to share transport. 'I am enormously grateful to all the key stakeholders – The Highland Council, HITRANS, Shiel Buses, National Trust for Scotland and every local resident that has been helping drive this forward.'
The National
7 days ago
- The National
Harry Potter inspired Glenfinnan bus service launches to tackle overtourism
The new weekend 934 service – inspired by the famous Platform 9 ¾ the boy wizard catches the Hogwarts Express from – is being introduced to encourage more of the 600,000 annual visitors to leave their cars behind and travel more sustainably. The community-led initiative will aim to plug a gap in public transport provision to the Highland hamlet, where the lives of residents have been increasingly impacted by the tourists visiting to see the Jacobite Steam Train cross the viaduct. West Coast Railways – which runs The Jacobite steam train that crosses the viaduct - provided the steam engine and carriages used as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films and the viaduct features in the famous flying car scene in the Chamber of Secrets. READ MORE: Calls for 'farcical' North Berwick parking plans to be shelved Villagers have previously told The National how their daily lives have been taken over by tourists, who often behave irresponsibly as the fight to get a glimpse of the train to share on their social media accounts. The bus will initially be a pilot scheme to gauge public appetite for a car-free day out and help relieve pressure on car parks, which are usually all full by around 10am. This has led to hazardous kerbside parking and traffic congestion along the famous Road to the Isles. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who represents the area as an MSP, has been chairing a taskforce over the last few years to try and resolve some of the issues the village has been facing. She said she hopes the bus will be 'transformational'. (Image: Kate Forbes) Forbes (above) said: "Glenfinnan has become an iconic destination for visitors, with thousands of visitors every year. This has created pressures on local infrastructure, which I have been working to resolve with local residents. 'A few years ago, the community successfully built a much larger carpark. However, this has quickly become too small. As such, I have been chairing a task force to identify solutions over the last few years. 'I am delighted to see a new solution to get more people out of their cars. This will hopefully be transformational, as more visitors choose to share transport. 'I am enormously grateful to all the key stakeholders – The Highland Council, HITRANS, Shiel Buses, National Trust for Scotland and every local resident that has been helping drive this forward.' With Glenfinnan's visitor numbers continuing to rise year-on-year, it is hoped this new bus will relieve pressure on what has become a bucket list location in Scotland. The NTS Visitor Centre welcomed 14% more visitors between January and June 2025 than during the same period in 2024. READ MORE: Scottish community-owned island announces boycott of Israel The summer weekend bus service will run four times a day between Fort William and Glenfinnan up until Sunday, September 7. It is just one of many train and bus services that travel to Glenfinnan seven days a week. The NTS, Glenfinnan Community Council, Glenfinnan Community Facilities Charitable Trust (SCIO), Glenfinnan Station Museum and HITRANS have each contributed to the cost of the buses. Councillors have also backed the project by supporting an application to The Highland Council's Discretionary Budget, while local bus company Shiel Buses will operate the service. The weekend bus service pilot is part of a wider community action plan to address the long-standing challenges facing the village, which has become a bucket list destination in Scotland. In 2024, bollards and double yellow lines were introduced along the carriageway to physically discourage illegal roadside parking. This was reinforced in summer 2025 when Highland Council gained enforcement powers on the A830 around Glenfinnan. Parking enforcement officers are set to visit Glenfinnan regularly through the summer season, helping to educate drivers or issue penalty charge notices as required. While seeking to dissuade anti-social behaviour, the community is passionate about encouraging responsible and sustainable tourism has produced a simple 'Guide to visiting Glenfinnan without a car.' This combines timetable information for ScotRail trains, local buses and The Jacobite service in one place for the first time and aims to help visitors plan their visit by public transport. Glenfinnan businesses are also offering 'green rewards' as a thank you to those visitors who show them a valid bus or train ticket instead of using their car. These include the NTS Visitor Centre offering a complimentary hot drink and two-for-one on climbing Glenfinnan Monument. Visitors will be able to get on the Glenfinnan weekend bus at Fort William bus station, Lochaber High School – where there is free parking available at weekends – Kilmalie Hall in Corpach and Linnhe Caravan Park. Times for the new service, along with timetables and prices for all other buses and trains, can be found in the 'Guide to visiting Glenfinnan without a car.' This can be viewed and downloaded here.
