Choices to make in Scotland

You can drive parallel to the " potter " train .
There's often hundreds waiting to take photos of it passing at Glenfinnan ( toilets n cafe available)
The beaches at Arisaig are amazing and feature in the film Local Hero and absolute classic..The crossing from Mallaig to Skye is short and cheap too

Thank you for the information! We just watched Local Hero over the weekend.

I think I’d take what you can get on Skye as accommodation gets booked up hugely far in advance. If you have a car there (which is absolutely a must as it’s a big island), Portree would be where most head for, but there may be options in other places like Broadford. I’ve stayed in a good hostel at Portnalong which while a hostel may not be up your particular strasse, the area is nice. I guess I’m saying there’s no reason to give up on Skye if you can’t get somewhere in Portree.

Ian

Hi, Rochelle,

The hostel which Ian is referring to is the Skyewalker Hostel (two puns, since the hostel is Star Wars themed!). We stayed there in 2016. At that time, they had two en-suite doubles, and the rest were dorms. It was quite comfortable, but just a wee bit pricey. It looks as they have converted the dorms into two, three, and four bunk rooms. They also have two outside yurt-like structures which they call Jedi huts. Each of those accommodates two guests.

If all else fails, you could try the Dunollie Hotel in Broadford. It's not the Ritz, but it's clean and comfortable, and some of the rooms look out on to Broadford Bay. It's a favourite overnight for tour bus groups, so it can get pretty noisy, and busy first thing in the morning. At this late date, it might be a good option, especially with seven of you travelling together (or separately!).

As far as Edinburgh goes, one of the chain hotels like Premier Inn or Ibis might be your best bet there, or Travelodge if you can't find anything else.

Best of luck with your plans!

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: As you're heading out to Mallaig on the A830, a side trip on the B8008, which runs through Arisaig, will take you to Camusdarach Beach, the prettiest beach on the "Road to the Isles." It was used as Ben Knox's beach in Local Hero.

The normal service train from Fort William to Mallaig travels the same route as the Jacobite train. It is cheaper, more frequent and views from the coaches are probably better.

Try Grenitote B&B in Portree. I booked via email last summer and I don't think they showed up on booking.com. Rooms are smallish, but breakfast is great, lots of parking, very short walk to the center of town.

The normal service train from Fort William to Mallaig travels the same route as the Jacobite train. It is cheaper, more frequent and views from the coaches are probably better.

Seconded. The Jacobite Train also has nothing to do with Potter. The engine used in the films is in the studio at Leavesden.

No one pretends that the Jacobite train as a train does have anything to do with Harry Potter. But it does pass a number of locations used literally or digitally in the Harry Potter movies, of which Glenfinnan Viaduct is only one.
Driving the route allows those to be visited properly rather than just seen through a train window.
And many people just enjoy the spectacle of steam. Yes the service train uses the same route and is cheaper and more frequent, and is what I and the locals use.
But some people, a lot, ride the steam train for the overall experience- an ambience and experience normal trains don't have. Even I have ridden the Jacobite for the experience and in first class. A splurge which I don't regret. And I have zero interest in Harry Potter.
The OP is using common shorthand, I think.

June, 2022 we stayed at the Eilean Donan apartments which are very close to the castle and not too far from the Skye Bridge. You might find that location useful since you have a large group.

Love these responses. Checking everything out! We'll have a rental car so we may try to drive alongside the train, although it does sound like fun. Trying to book places in or near Skye and Edinburgh. Appreciate further comments, as well. Thank you!

I didn't think "Local Hero" was diverse enough.