National Geographic Traveller India – July 2019

SCOTLAND

JULY 2019 | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER INDIA 87

TOP STOPS

GREYFRIARS KIRKYARD

GEORGE HERIOT'S SCHOOL

ELEPHANT HOUSE

POTTEROW PORT

VICTORIA STREET

1 Harry, Ron and

Hermione in a

still from the

first movie. 2 The

gravestone of

Thomas Riddell is

a popular spot in

Greyfriars Kirkyard.

3 J.K. Rowling

frequented cafés

in Edinburgh for

their free heating

when she wrote

the Harry Potter

series in the 1990s.

4 The 17th-century

Gothic facade of

George Heriot's

School was the

likely inspiration

for Hogwarts.

5 Potterow Port

conjures images

of the Dementor

attack on Harry and

Dudley in book five.

Order of the Phoenix. We end our tour

at Victoria Street, a sweeping crescent

street built in the early 19th century and

flanked by colourful buildings with tall,

arched windows. The street is lined with

independent shops. My mind instantly

conjures up an image of Diagon Alley—

Victoria Street is said to have inspired

Rowling to create the magical lane. Now,

if only I could spot the Leaky Cauldron,

I wouldn’t mind a drink. Or two.

We settle for a coffee at The Elephant

House. Bidding goodbye to Will, we

make our way back and get a table in

the backroom. The window overlooks

Greyfriars Kirkyard, and further in the

distance I see Edinburgh Castle perched

on a hilltop. Rowling probably sat right

here as she wrote the books and it’s easy

to see why Edinburgh inspired her so

much. I head to the ladies’ restroom

which is almost entirely graffitied by

fans with ‘thank you’ messages and

quotes from the books. I draw a small

Deathly Hallows sign in a corner (it’s

not vandalism!) and thank Rowling for

bringing some magic into our world.

5

2

ESSENTIALS

The Potter Trail (pottertrail.com) is

a free tour—tips appreciated—that

typically lasts 90 minutes. Tours run

daily at 12 noon & 4 p.m. from April

to August and daily at 2 p.m. from

September to March.

THE HOLLYWOOD ARCHIVE/DINODIA PHOTO LIBRARY

(1), PHOTO COURTESY:

POTTER TRAIL

(2),

FEATUREFLASH PHOTO AGENCY/SHUTTERSTOCK

(3),

RODOLFO CONTRERAS/DINODIA PHOTO LIBRARY

(4),

JURAJ KAMENICKY/SHUTTERSTOCK

(5)