Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the first thing I concentrated on. I was thinking of a place of great order but immense danger, with children who had skills with which they could overwhelm their teachers. Logically, it had to be set in a secluded place and pretty soon I settled on Scotland, in my mind. I think it was in subconscious tribute to where my parents had married.
-- J.K. Rowling (Scott2002)
On this map, blue markers indicate cities and towns. Red markers indicate the location of magical creatures. The letter Q indicates a town with a Quidditch team. The building icons indicate famous wizarding structures. Links to each of these are found in the Related Links.
The magical creatures indicated on the map are Quintapeds on the Isle of Drear, Hebridian Black dragons on the Hebrides Islands, the Loch Ness kelpie, merfolk in Loch Lomond, and the various magical creatures at Hogwarts.
Commentary
Notes
Although most of the story over seven books takes place in Scotland, the country is seldom mentioned. In fact, it never states in the novels that Hogwarts is located in the Highlands. It wasn't until the publication of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2001 that Rowling even subtly acknowledged that Hogwarts was located in Scotland:
...the Acromantula is untrainable and highly dangerous to wizard and Muggle alike. Rumours that a colony of Acromantula has been established in Scotland are unconfirmed... [to which a scribbled note adds: ""confirmed by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley"] (FB)
She confirmed in an interview in 2002 (Scott2002) that she had from the beginning imagined her magical castle to be in Scotland.
