If you’ve seen “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” you probably remember the part where Harry and Ron have to fly Mr. Weasley’s car to get to Hogwarts. In this scene, they follow the Hogwarts Express as it travels over a bridge. This is a real bridge, and I got the chance to visit it in Glenfinnan, Scotland. The bridge is called the Glenfinnan Viaduct and was constructed in 1901 as part of the West Highland train line. The film came out in 2002, and since then the viaduct has been a major tourist attraction. It is also located near Loch Shiel, which is featured in another Harry Potter film. It is the Black Lake, where the second task of the Triwizard Tournament is held in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” The viaduct is in a very beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands and is worth visiting whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Heriot-Watt University