iKnow Scotland
- Aviemore
- Fort William
- Glen Coe
- Grantown-on-Spey
- Inverness
- Around Inverness
- Loch Ness
- North East Highlands
- North West Highlands
Fort William Accommodation
Fort William's bustling town centre
The Nevis Centre for family entertainment
Fort William's West Highland Museum full of interesting Highland memorabilia
Fort William's closest distillery Ben Nevis Distillery
Take the distillery tour and sample a wee dram of the "Dew of Ben Nevis"
Fort William's green parkland in the town centre
Fort William's Tourist Information Centre on Cameron Square
Fort William's town centre is great for shopping Fort William Sightseeing Scottish Highlands Cheap B&B Fort William
As you travel to Fort William up the Great Glen you really feel you've entered the Scottish Highlands. The roads are flanked by lochs and stunning mountains, - just what you expect of the Highlands of Scotland.
Fort William and in the small settlements around the town are ram-jammed with a huge choice of holiday accommodation. Fort William itself has several attractions that can keep you busy for a few days sightseeing including the Hogwarts Express trips on the Fort William to Mallaig train.
Fort William Tourist Guide Scotland Highlands
Fort William is something of a centre for the Scottish Highlands. It is situated by the side of Loch Linnhe below Ben Nevis to the east of the town. As such it's become one of the main centres in this area of the Highlands and an excellent base for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Fort William has excellent transport links with both a bus station and train station conveniently located next to each other at the north end of the High Street. The bus network run services from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness through Fort William and on to Mallaig on the West Coast. Services also run between Fort William and Oban. Check the links right for up-to-date timetables.
You can reach Fort William by train from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. From Fort William Scotrail runs services to the West Coast all the way to Mallaig where you can get a ferry to Skye.
Being a centre there is a good choice of cafes and restaurants in and around the town centre. The High Street is lined with shops, many geared for providing for outdoor needs, as well as high street chain stores. There is a large, busy Tourist Information Office in Fort Wiliam at the Cameron Centre, Cameron Square, Inverness-shire, Fort William Highlands and Islands, Scotland PH33 6AJ. Tel: 01845 22 55 121. Email: info@visitscotland.com
Fort William to Mallaig Steam Train Rides on Hogwarts Express
In the summer the fantastically scenic journey from Fort William to Mallaig on the West Coast of Scotland can be made by steam train - all 84 miles of it.
West Coast Railways run the Jacobite Express from Fort William to Mallaig. You can either do it as a day-trip or explore the West Coast and the Isle of Skye at the other end.
Here's a bit of Harry Potter trivia for you - the steam engine and carriages were used in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express. Part of the journey over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, 16 miles west of Fort William, has also been featured in the Harry Potter films.
Book tickets on tel: 01524 737751 or 01524 737753 or click the links right for more information.
Sightseeing Fort William - West Highland Museum
Fort William's attractions are mostly related to the outdoors but there are a few sightseeing attractions.
The West Highland Museum near the Tourist Office on Cameron Square is bigger than it looks and has an eclectic array of exhibits. The exhibits are separated into numbered rooms that you work your way round. There's everything from Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts, items of and actually used by Bonnie Prince Charlie and scary punishment devices including thumbscrews and a birching table! The artefacts together tell a comprehensive story of Highland life through the ages. A particularly good comparison piece is the traditional tartan Highland dress alongside that of the somewhat gaudy Victorian interpretation. Open all year: Jun-Sept Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm; Oct-May Mon-Sat: 10am-4pm; Jul-Aug Sun: 2-5pm. West Highland Museum, Cameron Square, Fort William, Scotland PH33 6AJ. Tel: 01397 702169. Email: info@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk
The Nevis Centre is a multi-purpose venue in the town centre that hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. Sport events, live music and ceilidhs are held throughout the year including Fort William Mountain Film Festival in February, Highland Games Ceilidh in July and of course a Hogmanay Show. There is an area for youngsters which has a ten-pin bowling alley. It's within walking distance of the town centre and looks a bit like a ski-lodge.
Check their website for more information on current events. The Nevis Centre, Fort William, Scotland PH33 6AN. Tel: 01397 700707. Email: whatson@neviscentre.co.uk
Ben Nevis Distillery Fort William Single Malt Scottish Whisky
As you head out of town north up the A82 don't miss the Ben Nevis Distillery and Visitor Centre. This is the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland established 1825. You can take a tour around the distillery from the Visitor Centre and see how it's made as well tasting a wee dram.
They produce both single malts of varying maturity as well as blended whiskies. The Ben Nevis Distillery also has a cafe, restaurant and of course a shop where you can purchase the range of whiskies either in full size bottles or handy trail sizes.
The distillery is open all year: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Easter to September Sat 10am-4pm. Jul-August Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 10am-4pm, Sun: 12pm-4pm. Oct-Easter Sat-Sun and Evenings by appointment only.
Ben Nevis Distillery (Fort William) Ltd, Lochy Bridge, Fort William PH33 6TJ. Tel: 01397 702476. Fax: 01397 702768. Email: colin@bennevisdistillery.com. Visitor Centre direct tel: 01397 700200
Bike Hire Fort William Mountain Biking
Being so near to the Nevis Range Mountain Experience (see our Lochaber Outdoor Activities page, link right) mountain biking is popular and you can hire bikes in Fort William if you haven't brough your own from the following companies:
Nevis Cycles Inverlochy, 4 Lochy Crescent, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6NG. Tel: 01397 705555. Fax: 01397 705555. Email: john@neviscycles.com
Off Beat Bikes, High Street, Fort William. Tel: 01397 704 008. Fax: 01397 704 008. Email: info@offbeatbikes.co.uk
Bike Hire, Top locks, Banavie Fort William. Tel: 01397 772 373.
Loch Linnhe Cruises Boat Trips
From Fort William pier you can take cruises on Loch Linnhe where you might see grey and common seals as well as an array of birds including grey herons, oystercatchers, guillemots, cormorants, eider ducks and swans. There is also a resident pod of porpoises in the loch.
The trip takes around 90 minutes. Check their website for timetables and prices. Enquiries tel: 01397 703 919.
Seaventures offer one and a half hour cruises on Loch Linnhe to spot seals and porpoises as well as the spectacular Ben Nevis scenery. They also offer longer trips - all on either a cruiser or high-speed RIB vessel.
Seaventures Scotland Ltd, 3 Kincardine Place, Fort William Inverness-Shire PH33 6UZ. Tel: 01397 701 687. Mobile: 07766 138 538. Email: Wardventure2@aol.com
Click Search
