Fort William Things To Do

This is about 30 minutes drive south from Fort William so is likely to be your route to or from the town.

Glencoe is the reason to be in this part of Scotland / the world, and Fort William is just the nearby main town and service centre.

Please don't rush Glencoe!!! Take an hour off from Fort William and add it to Glencoe.

Another film location for the latest Harry Potter, with Hagrid's house up above the Clachaig Inn (useful food and drink stop - shelter from midge and rain!)

Clachaig Inn - not the friendliest owners in the world. Go to the climbers bar (right hand side around the back, past the kitchens - honest!) for a more sympathetic setting, mountaineers and a wood burning stove - and food / beer / music.

Glencoe is cared for by the National Trust - Glencoe

Address: A82 - Between Fort William and Glasgow

Directions: South of Fort William, 30 minutes drive. Train passengers will miss Glencoe - a good reason to take the bus or go on foot (West Highland Way)

Website: www.nts.org.uk

Other Contact: www.multimap.co.uk

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Visiting Fort William?

Read reviews about Fort William Hotels

Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.


	Drive or walk up Glen Nevis Tip Rating:

By frank_delargy on December 28, 2004

upper falls

by frank_delargy

Glen Nevis, at the foot of Ben Nevis has a small winding road (or parallel path) that winds its way up the glen about 5 miles until you reach Steale Gorge.
On the way there you will go past several beautiful waterfalls as well as the path up Ben Nevis. There are also a couple of interesting graveyards to explore.
The falls pictured here are the Upper Falls, about 2/3 of the way up the road. I used to jump off of the rock here into the pool below.
At this point the road becomes a single track road, but it is well worth continuing to the end (and beyond) On right past the upper falls you will see a stand of Scotch Pine.. Very old ones with their distinctive shapes.
At the end of the road, there is a parking lot where you can enjoy the great waterfalls rushing down from Ben Nevis or continue on through Steale Gorge, to an even nicer view.

Address: North end of Ft William and turn east

Directions: From the town center, go to the rotary at the north end of Ft William and turn right (east). It is well marked.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Cable bridge in Steale Gorge Tip Rating:

By frank_delargy on December 26, 2004

Jessica crossing the wire
bridge

by frank_delargy

If you drive or walk to the end of Glen Nevis, you can walk through Steale Gorge about a half mile past great views of the Nevis River as it rushes through the gorge on your right. Eventually you will get to a fantastic wide glen with a great waterfall (Marestail Falls). To get over the river to the wterfall, you will need to cross a rope (cable) bridge. It is quite a lot of fun to do this.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Glen Nevis - Beautiful Valley & Waterfalls Tip Rating:

By scotlandscotour on June 21, 2004

If you have wheels - get your selves to the end of the glen for some of the most beautiful country in Scotland.

Amazing geology (yawn) has caused fantastic landscapes (yeh) and its really unspoilt.

A fantastic walk beside the river to the Steall Falls (Serious walkers check out the Ring of Steall) .

Directions: Take the road towards the youth hostel and tourist path up The Ben (Nevis) - continue along road to its very end!!! Drive slowly.

Website: www.multimap.co.uk

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Harry Potter - Hogwarts Express - Steam Train! Tip Rating:

Updated By scotlandscotour on June 22, 2004

Jacobite Steam Train on
Glenfinnan Viaduct

by scotlandscotour

The Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig (Ferry to Isle of Skye) is the star of Harry Potter.

The scenery is beyond words - this is one of the world's great journeys - please do it. See the Train website for info. Other times the train is a normal diesel engine - the scenery is the same but .. Book on the steam train now!

Directions: West / North of Fort William - towards Mallaig

Website: www.multimap.co.uk

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Visiting Fort William?

Read reviews about Fort William Hotels

Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.


	The Road To the Isles - Towards Malaig & Skye Tip Rating:

Updated By scotlandscotour on June 21, 2004

A beautiful, beautiful journey ... along the route taken by the train to Malaig (see other tips) but by road you get to stop off at Glenfinnan to photograph the viaduct, to explore the beaches by Arisaig and generally soak up the atmosphere (as long as you leave the car!)

See my General Tip about the hospital!
It was on this journey I had a bad cycling accident, resulting in the ambulance driving 20+ miles from Ft William to scrape me off the road. I'll spare you the details!

Funny story - Two passers by stopped their cars and brought first aid boxes to help me, as I lay bleeding. Both boxes contained miniature whisky bottles - so be warned - Scottish first-aid may be a bit primitive!!!
(Despite 'shock' I had the sense to refuse such hospitality - makes you think of the word though ... hospital.)

Good Map

Directions: Fort William - Malaig - Isle of Skye - A830

Website: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=210000.635645269&Y=770000.031339036&width=700&height=400&client=public&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&addr1

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Ben Nevis Tip Rating:

Updated By scotlandscotour on June 21, 2004

The Highest but not the prettiest mountain in the UK.
Location Map

Have a look at this Webcam image of Ben Nevis viewed from Fort William. Dull isn't it?

1344m / 4409 ft above sea level. Fort William is at sea level, so it may not be very high - but its a long pull up for tourists. 3 hours up.

For most average folk, Ben Nevis is boring, but a challenge - and any mountain uplifts the mood when you sit on its summit and survey your world.

A Warning: The weather on the summit will kill the unprepared. Take the cautions seriously, understand the insidious threat of hypothermia, and don't think its low altitude means it's a softy. Ben Nevis is the scene of many deaths due to poor preparation and human error.

An exciting and memorable way up "The Ben" is via Carn Mor Dearg and it's superb narrow ridge - breathtaking - with views of climbers in the Northern Corries. Infinitely preferable to the Tourist Path plod up from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. Do some planning! Detailed on-line map

Directions: Glen Nevis - SE of Fort William, 4 miles.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Old Inverlochy Castle Tip Rating:

Updated By frank_delargy on August 18, 2005

Inverlochy castle

by frank_delargy

When I was about 10, visited my aunt & uncle who lived in Fort William. Within about 15 minutes the kids were invited to go outside and play. My cousins took me right over to scramble around the local ancient castle. At the time, it seemed like it had more of a structure than it does today. As seen in the picture, I went back with my nephew and invited him to scramble around.
The castle itself is very interesting.
It was built around 1200 and was the primary fort in this area. Of course as is true with most castles, the one you see now, stands on top of an older one.
While you are down by the castle you will be right next to a few other things to note, including the Lochy River, the water effluent from the Aluminum factory and the tracks that the Jacobite train (of Harry Potter fame) passes by.

Address: This is not the 5 star Inverlochy Castle Hotel

Directions: Drive north of Fort William past the mini-roundabout and you will see a sign pointing you toward it on your right. I think it is across from a petrol station these days.

Website: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/fortwilliam/inverlochy/

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Look for the tree on the rock on the way up Tip Rating:

By frank_delargy on December 28, 2004

Granny's tree

by frank_delargy

When you drive on the A82 on the way up to Fort William try to notice the solitary tree on the moors. It sits by itself on top of a rock, protected from the sheep and deer.
This tree is a landmark on my many trips back and forth from Glasgow to Ft William.
When I got to the tree, it was literally downhill from there to Ft William, or from there to Glasgow.
My grandmother used to love to stop at the tree to marvel at it. I remember as a kid that the tree was very very small. Now, a few years later :) it is bigger.. but not much!
On one lovely evening I remember seeing a very large stag posing just below the tree and rock. That was the one time I didn't have my camera of course!

Directions: Going North on the A82 just after you climb the big hill past the Bridge of Orchy you will see it on your left.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Glencoe Tip Rating:

Updated By frank_delargy on August 22, 2005

Glencoe

by frank_delargy

About 20 miles south of Fort William is Glen Coe, a striking glen with steep walls and a wonderful, but tragic story. Glencoe has some wonderful mountains and has been used by some to train for climbing Everest.
There is a visitors center in Glencoe that will give an overview of the surrounding geology (ancient volcanic) and of the story of the Campbells and MacDonalds. The brief version: The loyal (sold out to the English) Campbell clan snuck up on the Sleeping MacDonald clan (not too friendly to the English) and slaughtered them in their sleep. There is still a touch of contempt between the clans today.
I married a MacDonald, My brother dated a Campbell :-)