is the amazing and wonderful country, in particular attractive in its mountain part. Exactly here it is possible to see unique natural landscapes, to visit traditional villages and to meet people whose tenor of life keeps many traditions which remained since the distant past. The Scottish mountaineers – the people absolutely special, not similar on any other ethnic groups of modern Great Britain.
Here, in the mountains of Scotland, on the very brink of the extensive lake Sucker Shil there is a village of Glenfinnan – hardly what different from a set of similar settlements through all other country, however, will of combination of circumstances, become some kind of sight. More than once these edges were chosen by the famous directors to shoot here the pictures, or any episodes from them. The name of this village both is mentioned in books, and in movies.
It is not surprising, the unique landscape of this area well fits also into historical pictures, and into genres of various fantasy, and into other styles. So, according to a plot of the famous movie Mountaineer, Duncan Macloud exactly here was born. However where the great popularity of the area was brought by other movie – the well-known Harry Potter which is so loved by a great number of children and adults, worldwide.
Many can remember Harry's travel from the station to magic school Hogwarts. And so, the most colourful piece of a way was removed exactly here, in Scotland, near the village of Glenfinnan where there is a huge stone viaduct. On its top railway tracks lie, and it is the best-known railway bridge in all Scotland.
Certainly, similar designs are available everywhere not only in the territory of Great Britain, but also in the whole Europe and to other continents. However the viaduct Glenfinnan is unique in own way, and not only due to shooting of movies on it. Being built at the end of the XIX century especially for railway traffic, it was one of the largest constructions of this sort around the world, and already then became is to some extent well-known and it is known well. According to a plan of architects, it consist of twenty one arches, and its height on the maximum mark equals to thirty meters – in fact, it is height of the ten-storied house. The one who had an opportunity to observe other viaducts in close proximity can easily estimate the sizes and imagine original scales of this construction.
The nearest towns from which it is possible to reach this place – Maleyg and Fort William. Therefore if someone happens to visit the western part of the North Scottish uplands, it will be possible to find time and to reach here. Irrespectively popularity of the viaduct, in the town of Glenfinnan is what to look and study, having taken away a set of quite good photos for memory.
However most of all viaduct is recognized among multimillion army of admirers of movies about Harry Potter. The fact that he, thanks to the sizes and original appearance was elected to a role of the shooting stage for a number of episodes made it popular around the world, and is far beyond limits not only Scotland, but also all Great Britain. Hardly there will be someone who watched the movie and would not learn an outline of this majestic construction. Therefore, at most of fans of Harry Potter the viaduct Glenfinnan is associated with the movie and with the road to Hogwarts school which runs, according to a plot, on this viaduct.
Certainly, the viaduct is very photogenic – not for nothing the film crew chose it, but not any other analog which is in other place – viaducts exists much! But Glenfinnan, thanks to the outstanding extent and some kind of grace of architecture was relevant to kinematographings. Today each tourist can make several pictures against the background of this design, having presented himself for a minute among heroes of the movie about the boy wizard. And how many this construction is capable to bring to joy to children who without separation watch adventures of the favourite hero, it is not necessary to explain – for many children an opportunity to see this bridge personally would be the real implementation of a dream and a reason for bright memoirs.
Glenfinnan it is impossible to look at the viaduct indifferently. Powerful stone arches, already more than hundred years the maintaining multiton structures, reliable support and the that mountain background which is directly behind the bridge make a serious impression. The viaduct a little archaically looks, and it is hardly possible to present flying on it modern trains – high-speed and streamline – but on it ancient engines with the smoking pipes and the trailer for coal very well would look.
Really, the viaduct has much in common with former, old Scotland. Throughout all history of railway tracks the similar constructions were built in mountains to connect by themselves two points at different tops. Therefore, in the image of the viaduct it is possible to feel a certain raid of old times, history and old times. Looking at it it is possible to imagine that now locomotive will be distributed it is booming, a ring of an alarm bell and, releasing clouds of dense smoke, on it will slowly pass an ancient engine – with the tender, a lattice in front and all in rivets.
However even stronger the imagination can be played at those who watched movies about Harry Potter. This viaduct appears in each of parts of the saga – the road to Hogwarts. How it is possible to remain indifferent if the fact that you saw cinema, appears at you in close proximity?! Certainly to visit near this design, to touch it and everyone who considers himself the true admirer of the movie would wish to take several pictures. It also causes popularity of this viaduct – here regularly there go tourists not only from all directions Great Britain, but also from other countries. Therefore if you after all are journey in Scotland, by all means find time and come here, to Glenfinnan! You are waited by really unforgettable impressions.