Reader offer: Join Carol Kirkwood on a tour of Scotland on the real-life Hogwarts Express

For years, the wooded hills and glens and the crystal-clear lochs of The Trossachs in Scotland have inspired visitors from all corners of the globe. Now here’s your chance to experience the area on the world-famous Jacobite train – familiar to anyone who’s watched any of the Harry Potter films as the magical Hogwarts Express.

Travelling by steam train is a wonderful experience and there’s nowhere more atmospheric to do it than in the stunning highlands of Scotland.

On this exclusive four-day break, you’ll be joined by the weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, who grew up in the West Highlands.

Spectacular: On The Mail on Sunday’s exclusive four-day break you’ll experience the Trossachs on the famous Jacobite train – aka the Hogwarts Express – pictured here steaming across the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Mysterious: On the tour you’ll pass through Loch Morar, Britain’s deepest freshwater loch (pictured)

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST 

You will be joined by Carol Kirkwood

Joining you in her native Scotland will be Carol Kirkwood the weather presenter. She has been forecasting for more than 20 years and danced with Pasha Kovalev in the 13th series of Strictly.

Your 41-mile steam-hauled journey starts near Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, passes its deepest freshwater loch, Loch Morar, and travels over the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct to arrive on the shores of the Atlantic next to Loch Nevis, the deepest seawater loch in Europe.

You’ll pass through Morar, where Carol grew up, and she’ll tell stories of the Loch Morar monster, as well as her twice weekly train journey to school in Fort William.

Your packed itinerary also includes three unique boat rides: one on The Falkirk Wheel, a trip on picturesque Loch Katrine, and finally a cruise following the trail of Rob Roy on Loch Lomond.

Reasons to book

Ride the Jacobite: Frequently voted the world’s greatest scenic railway, you’ll puff past rugged scenery, craggy coastlines and beautiful lochs on a line which opened in 1901.

Stay in the Trossachs: The dramatic scenery here inspired artists such as Turner and Wordsworth and you’ll get a flavour of it as you’ll be staying in the centre of it at The Winnock Hotel, an 18th Century inn near Loch Lomond.

Travel with Carol Kirkwood: Weather presenter Carol will give a talk about her life, career, love of Scotland – and her thrilling experience as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. The region will be brought alive as Carol talks about what it was like growing up in Morar.

Scenic Lochs: Enjoy a cruise on Loch Lomond and hear the story of Scotland’s celebrated outlaw Rob Roy. You’ll also sail the waters of Loch Katrine.

The unique Falkirk Wheel: This, the world’s only rotating boat lift, will take you from the water at New Port Downie to the Union Canal 115ft (35 metres) above.

Scottish history: You’ll visit the mid-18th Century neo-Gothic Inveraray Castle, home of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the Clan Campbell.