Press release -
Harry Potter tourism drive
A Ford Anglia seen flying over the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets has touched down in Bo’ness to help Fetlar the snowy owl launch VisitScotland’s first ever Harry Potter holiday itinerary.
The online guide has been created ahead of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – the first of JK Rowling’s seven bestselling books about the boy wizard – which was first published on 26 June 1997.
Using the itinerary, fans of Harry, Ron and Hermione can enjoy a magical four-day tour of Scotland, starting in Edinburgh, where Rowling wrote the first and last novels in the series, and finishing in Glen Coe, which forms the stunning backdrop to the movies The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire.
It also includes a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train, the real-life Hogwarts Express which can be seen crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the West Highland Line in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
To celebrate the itinerary launch, one of the Ford Anglia 105Es used in the 2002 movie was at Kinneil House – a Historic Environment Scotland property – along with five-year-old Fetlar, a snowy owl similar to Harry’s beloved pet Hedwig.
The car is on display at Bo’ness Motor Museum, alongside such gems as James Bond’s Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me and Del Boy’s Reliant Robin from Only Fools and Horses, while Fetlar can be visited at the
Among its many feathered residents, the Centre is also home to Oulu – a 15-year-old Great Grey and real-life sister of Errol, Ron Weasley’s hapless bird who also features in The Chamber of Secrets.
Other locations on the itinerary include:
- The Elephant House, Edinburgh – the coffee house where JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- The Balmoral, Edinburgh – where the author penned the final book of the series, The Deathly Hallows
- Rannoch Moor, Highlands – the mysterious place where Death Eaters board the train in the movieHarry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Loch Shiel, Highlands – the loch which doubles for the Black Lake in the film series
- Steall Falls, Highlands – a beautiful cascading waterfall that features inThe Goblet of Fire,when Harry faces down a Hungarian Horntail dragon in the Triwizard Tournament
- Clachaig Inn, Glen Coe, Highlands – the inn next door to the site of Hagrid’s Hut in The Prisoner of Azkaban
Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Harry Potter is a truly global phenomenon that has brought joy to millions of people of all ages over the last two decades. As ‘the birthplace of Harry Potter’, Scotland boasts numerous locations associated with the bestselling books and the blockbuster movies. Our handy new online itinerary allows fans to follow in the footsteps of JK Rowling as well as the boy wizard himself and enjoy a magical tour of Scotland.”
To view the full itinerary, click here: https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/attractions/tv-film/harry-potter-itinerary/
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- film tourism
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
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- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh) 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology
- 2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging variety of new and existing activity to drive the nation’s tourism and events sector, boosting tourism across Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology begins on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2017. It will build on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Creative Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
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