With the news of a new Harry Potter television adaptation on the way spreading across the internet, fans around the world will be celebrating the news with a rewatch of the iconic film series.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that a "faithful adaptation of the iconic books" will be coming to streaming service Max—formerly known as HBO Max. The new show is planned as a decade-long series and will feature an all-new cast.
Many details about the project are still unknown, including where it will be filmed. As fans of the original films will know, a significant proportion of the movies were filmed in destinations all over Scotland.
From the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which played a starring role in the famous Hogwarts Express chase scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets back in 2002, to the stunning loch that was featured many times across the series, all eight original movies fully took advantage of Scotland's natural beauty.
One gorgeous Scottish spot that featured in the films that is less discussed is Steall Falls, also known as An Steall Bàn. This waterfall, which is the second largest in Scotland, is located in Glen Nevis near Fort William in the Highlands.
The waterfall was featured in multiple movies as the backdrop of numerous Quidditch matches, though its largest role came in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005. Fans will know that the story sees Harry entered into the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, in which he must compete in a number of dangerous tasks.
One of these involves the participants each attempting to collect an egg by getting past a dragon. Harry uses his Quidditch skills to try and retrieve the egg by air, leading to a thrilling scene in which he is chased around the Hogwarts grounds by the dragon.
It is in this scene that you can see Steall Falls if you pay attention. During the chase, keen-eyed viewers will notice there is a waterfall in the background—and that is in fact Steall Falls!
The waterfall itself can be reached via a scenic walking trail, with the trailhead situated at the last parking area at the end of Glen Nevis Road—approximately seven miles southeast of Fort William. From here it is a short and scenic walk through woodland and up to the waterfall.
While the walk is relatively simple, those wishing to venture to Steall Falls should check the weather beforehand and ensure they are wearing appropriate hiking boots. Taking a couple of hours to complete, the walk is well worth it however, as you are treated to one-of-a-kind views of Ben Nevis.
While it remains to be seen if the new Harry Potter series returns to Steall Falls, it is well worth checking out for yourself in the meantime.
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