Anna DanbyWhy you should put a visit to Fort William at the top of your Scotland holiday destinations!
Fort William is a small town in the west of Scotland. It’s true to say bits of the town itself might not be the most picturesque of urban locations but it’s not the human architecture that you should come for. A visit to Fort William is all about immersing yourself in Highland life, culture, and the great outdoors.
The town is the Outdoor Capital of the UK and offers endless potential for the nature seeking, adventurous traveller. Whether you enjoy short strolls in stunning locations, challenging mountain climbs, invigorating wild swims or scenic trails by bike or on foot the surrounding landscape has a lot to offer. The town centre has plenty to occupy while you rest weary legs or shelter from the weather. And if that’s not enough there is much more than a holidays worth of adventures to be had in day if Fort William is your base.
10 top picks to add to your list for a visit to Fort William.
Nature on your doorstep
Fort William is surrounded by nature including forests, hills, mountains, lochs and glens. Take a short stroll from the centre you’ll be in immersed in these landscapes with beautiful views in all directions. You don’t have to journey very far for this to be the case.
The shores of Loch Linnhe are a stones throw from the high-street and offer the chance to spot some great wildlife including seals, otters and birds of prey. Cow Hill sits above the town and is easily accessed on foot, choose to climb to its summit or just enjoy the leafy forest trails at its base.
From Coal, a suburb to the west of the main town, you can enjoy easy walking or biking along the Caledonian Canal. To the south along Lundavra Road, a very short and easy hill climb from the viewpoint takes you to a summit cairn at 287m with amazing views along Loch Linnhe and across the surrounding mountains. This is a great walk for enjoying the phenomenal west coast sunsets.
Experience Ben Nevis
It goes without saying that the highlight of many trips to Fort William is to experience the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Fort William sits at the foot of this mountain and makes the ideal base for hikers and climbers wanting to scale its heights.
Many have their sights set on its summit but there is plenty to enjoy about this mountain even if you don’t climb to its top. You can read more about the options for experiencing Ben Nevis in this previous blog: The Hidden Side of Ben Nevis.
For anyone who likes to take to the water then another great way to get a sense of this great mountain is from the brilliant views to be had on a boat trip with Cruise Loch Linnhe.
Glen Nevis and Steall Falls
Often branded ‘the best short walk in the country’ the walk to Steall Falls is a must for any visit to Fort William. An easy 1.5km trail takes you to dramatic wild scenery and the impressive sight of Steall Falls. This walk is especially impressive on a wet day when the water levels are high.
The lower parts of the glen offer endless opportunity for wildlife watching, wild swimming, hiking, running, climbing and biking or simply enjoying time in stunning surroundings.
Sensational Wild Swimming
If cold water immersion is your thing, then the surrounding lochs and rivers have got you covered. Loch Linnhe can be accessed from the beach next to West End carpark in Fort William (which is much more picturesque than it sounds) or from Coal beach which also offers great views of Ben Nevis and an impressive shipwreck to explore.
The River Nevis has great waterfall pools further up-steam from the Lower Falls or for something more adventurous there are various high mountain lochans on Ben Nevis and in the Mamores.
A walk or cycle along the Caledonian Canal will take you to Gairlochy Lighthouse, another great location to swim from. Not to mention slightly further afield you’ll find the stunning beaches around Arisaig and their crystal clear waters.
Nevis Range Mountain Experience
A few miles out of town is the Nevis Range, billed as the premier mountain resort in the Scottish Highlands. It makes a great base for a days exploring for any ability and suits a range of interests.
Visitors can choose from a low-level wanders through scenic woodland, mountain bike trails ranging from beginner to the world class downhill runs, a ride on the mountain gondola to view points high on Aonach Mor mountain or venture further afield to the summit. In the winter months if you’re lucky enough to get snowy conditions then sledging and skiing can also be enjoyed.
Once you’ve enjoyed your outside adventures there are café and restaurant facilities offering a variety of refreshments.
Welcoming Climbing Wall for all abilities
For a small-town Fort William is lucky enough to have a great indoor climbing facility. It’s perfect for a fun activity on wet days, holidaying climbers wanting to get in some training, or anyone looking to boost their climbing skills.
Three Wise Monkeys has a bouldering room, roped climbing wall and training room. You can climb independently or chose from a range of instructor led taster sessions and courses with something suitable for all abilities. If you are looking to take your climbing onto real rock, then try an outdoor climbing taster set in stunning Highland Scenery.
The climbing wall has a very welcoming atmosphere and is known for its friendly staff, great coffee and cake.
Best Bookshop in the Highlands
A visit to the Highstreet would not be complete without stopping by The Highland Bookshop. An expertly curated selection of books to appeal to every taste and deepen your knowledge and understanding when it comes to Highland history, culture and experience.
It’s not all about Scotland though they also have a brilliant selection of fiction, auto-biography, children’s books, guidebooks, maps, arts and crafts and more. Not the mention the second hand book collection which is a treasure trove all on its own.
Stop by, while away an hour and then head to one of the cosy high street cafes to enjoy your purchases.
West Highland Museum
Established in 1922 this small but impressively curated museum is well worth a visit for anyone looking to learn more about Fort William and the wider Lochaber area.
Most renowned for its unusual collection relating to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. It also has a wide range of exhibits exploring the human and natural history of the area.
Conveniently located in the town square and with free entry its perfectly twinned with a visit to the bookshop, climbing wall or neighbouring Highland Cinema.
Day Trips Galore
Once you’ve exhausted all the above options then there are endless possibilities for day trips from Fort William. Too many to list, but here are a few favourites:
- Take a ride on the scenic West Highland Line to Corrour station. Made famous by its appearance in the Trainspotting movies, this destination is unique as it cannot be accessed by roads. There are various options for low-level and mountain walks as well as one of the best café/restaurants in the area; Corrour Station House.
- Explore Arisaig beaches and Mallaig Harbour. The white sand beaches of Arisaig are a must visit whatever the weather and the small coastal town of Mallaig is a pleasant setting to enjoy an afternoon in the shops and cafes or take a boat trip from the harbour. Not to mention the treats on offer at The Mallaig Bakehouse.
- Visit Glenfinnan viaduct, famous for its connection to the Harry Potter movies. The area is also great for hiking, biking, swimming and strolls.
- Head north along the Great Glen and explore the famous Loch Ness and small town of Fort Augustus
No Car, No Problem
Although a small Highland town Fort William is relatively well served by public transport. Everything described here is possible to do on foot, by bike or using the local bus and train network. Meaning Fort William makes a great base for car free holidays.
Fort William has an e-bike hire scheme which is a great way to get around locally and there is bike hire available on the High Street from Off-beat Bikes.
