Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Hogwarts Express

We had a great trip with Highland Adventures from Inverness, riding the Jacobite train from Fort Willam to Mallaig and over the Glenfinnan Viaduct before returning via bus to be able to see the train cross back over the Viaduct, however, a user error on the controls meant no footage of the train crossing the viaduct was captured - much to my great dismay - hence only the photos taken whilst on the train are available for this video... Perhaps one day we shall get another chance to see the train cross the viaduct and to film it...

The Glenfinnan Estate now operates a NO DRONES policy - nicely illustrated with a couple of drones nailed to the sign - however you can still overfly the area as long as you do not Take off and Land from their land and maintain Visual Line of Sight with your drone according to the Drone Code. Landowners do not control the airspace, and unless there is an active NOTAM from the CAA they cannot prevent overflight as long as the flight is completed according to Drone Code and complies with GDPR regulations.

We were unaware of this restriction prior to arriving, hence the footage we have is taken from a good distance away - complying with the landowner's request not to fly from their land - which several other fliers did not, I saw 2 other drones flying much closer to the viaduct. As hubby was sufferring with his hip I was on my own for this flight, and added to the restrictions I didnt feel I could fly any closer to the Viaduct, hence the footage is from a good distance away.

It is a shame that permission is now withdrawn as there used to be a very reasonable £10 Take off fee, but this has now been increased to a £1250 filming license, which is not sustainable for a hobby flier like ourselves.

Very nice video!

Lovely footage.  Id heard about the £10 fee but Id hadnt heard that they withdrew it for a greedy 1250.   thats disgusting.

PS,   From your video I know realise the Loch Shiel was also in Harry Potter.

DAFlys Posted at 10-31 08:03
PS,   From your video I know realise the Loch Shiel was also in Harry Potter.

Yup, Hogwarts is supposedly just over the hill on the RH side of the Loch... I did look, but didnt see it...

Albion Drones Posted at 10-31 08:30
Yup, Hogwarts is supposedly just over the hill on the RH side of the Loch... I did look, but didnt see it...

Darn it,  that would be epic to fly around.    Last time I was there it had snowed.

DAFlys Posted at 10-31 08:34
Darn it,  that would be epic to fly around.    Last time I was there it had snowed.

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Invisibility spell matey, they must have been down on the day you visited... Even the Hogwarts Express was invisible to the drone - or was it I didnt press the record button... Lol

Nice footage. I was there in April and saw the nailed drones. As the weather was bad I didn't get any usable footage.

Depp Posted at 10-31 12:42
Nice footage. I was there in April and saw the nailed drones. As the weather was bad I didn't get any usable footage.

Yeah, they have the desired effect alright, seeing them produces a fear reflex - even though you know they cant 'shoot' them it still makes you pause...

Lovely compilation.    

Lovely scenes - even without the train

So can I take off from the carpark? If not where can I TOAL?

djiuser_2xHZh5mztNUv Posted at 3-15 08:14
So can I take off from the carpark? If not where can I TOAL?

You could take off from the beach, or anywhere that is public land... I walked down the path to the bridge form car park, and saw the sign, so retreated back over bridge and TOAL from there, meant I couldnt get too close, but got some good footage, just a shame I missed the train - didnt press record! Argh!

Excellent video

Codgerzh2 Posted at 8-13 14:34
Excellent video

Thank you

Hi looking at the OS  map of the area isnt there a PUBLIC footpath to and from the viaduct  which means if its a public footpath the landowner has no right to tell you not to launch a drone from there surley?