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Fort William Accommodation

Nevis Range Mountain Experience - world championship downhill bike tracks and winter sports in the snow

Take the gondola's up to the mountains for walks, viewpoints, or the start of mountain bike tracks

The purpose built mountain bike tracks at Nevis Mountain Experience

There's plenty of walks and hillwalking around Fort William

The Great Glen Way and West Highland Way pass through Fort William

Fort William is a great base for outdoor activities

Glen Nevis near Fort William is the starting point for Ben Nevis ascents

Fort William and Glen Nevis have an excellent choice of holiday accommodation

Lochaber Outdoor Activities Mountain Biking Skiing Snowboarding Hiking

Lochaber is the area around Fort William that covers the Nevis Range. It's marketed as the outdoor capital of the UK due to the endless opportunities for walking, hiking, watersports on the lochs and rivers, skiing when weather permits and of course mountain biking on world class purpose-built tracks of the Nevis Range Mountain Experience.

Fort William is on two long distance walking routes: The West Highland Way and The Great Glen Way. There are also lots of other informal walks all over the area as well as some of the best hillwalking and Munro bagging in the country.

Lochaber Outdoor Captial of the UK - Munro Bagging - Hillwalking - Climbing - Skiing - Kayaking

The Lochaber area around Fort William is a mecca for all outdoor types. There's a wealth of mountains, rivers and lochs for skiing and snowboarding, mountaineering, climbing, scrambling, hiking, paragliding, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, waterskiing and canyoning. As a result there are lots of organisations offering courses or skills development courses. The "Outdoor Capital of the UK" website (link right) has some comprehensive information on places to go for different sports as well as local activity providers.

For mountain and hillwalking the area has plenty of Munros (mountains over 3,00 feet) and mountain paths. The Scottish Mountaineering Club produce advice on hillwalking and guide books on walks all over Scotland. They can also provide GPS contour maps free. Check the links right for more information. There is a system of Hillphones that you can ring to find out the most up-to-date information on deer stalking times which can affect access to the countryside. Check the link right for more information. Calls to the Hillphones are charged at normal rates.

Lochaber contains some of the country's best opportunities for winter climbing, rock climbing and scrambling for all levels. The most popular areas are Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis, Glen Coe, Ardnamurchan, Aoanch Mor, Glen Etive and Mamores (11 Munros) and Grey Corries. There are several companies who run courses on all aspects of climbing as well as guides who can show you around the mountains. Check the link right for the "Outdoor Capital of the UK" for more information on activities in the Lochaber area.

For kayaking and canoeing there are over 37 rivers that offer everything from the calm easy waters for beginners through to raging torrents for the more experienced. October to April are the best paddling times of the year. For sea kayaking The Small Isles, Cuil Bay to Castle Stalker and the Loch Moidart areas are good.

Nevis Range Mountain Experience Fort William - Skiing Snowboarding Climbing Walking Mountain Biking

The Nevis Range Mountain Centre is a world renowned facility just outside Fort William, north signposted from the A82. It started life as a ski resort with gondola system but as winters have become unpredictable and snow isn't always great for skiing the centre has been used for other sports. In winter, snow permitting, skiing and snowboarding are still popular and several boarding competitions are regularly held here. Climbers also use the gondola to get up to Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag. There is a range of green to black runs for beginners through to off piste skiing totalling 20 kilometres of pisted runs and 35 kilometres of non-pisted runs. Courses are also available for learning to ski or improving your technique. Additional facilities for boarders includes the Boardwise Terrain Park with rails and jumps.

In the summer it's a centre for mountain biking, walking and snowsports like snowboarding and skiing. There are mountain gondolas that take you up 2,150 feet to Aoanach Mor. These are equipped to take skis and snowboards, mountain bikes and is useful for climbers, paragliders and hangliders. Alternatively you can just take a ride for the viewpoints and easy mountain trails on Aoanach Mor at the top.

The main attraction is the world class downhill mountain bike track. It covers a 2,000 foot descent over 3 kilometres. Times down it take from 4 minutes, for Europe's top riders, upwards for mere mortals. It is pretty fierce so it is recommended only for skilled riders. The track is open between mid-May to mid-September but it is best to check it's open before setting out as it can be closed for maintenance sometimes. Entry fees are by trip or you can buy a multi-trip ticket. Season passes are also available. There is also a cross country forest trail in Leanachan Forest that was constructed for the 2003 World Championship. Called the Witches Trail it incorporates fast flowing forest roads and single track climbs and descents. The start of the Witches Trail is at the Nevis Range base station where you can get a map of the route. In addition there are 25 miles of family forest trails graded from easy to expert. These are also good for forest walks.

There is a very large free car park, cafe and toilets at the Centre. Check the Nevis Range website for downloadable brochures of the different tracks and further information of the facilities. Nevis Range, Torlundy, Fort William, Inverness-shire PH33 6SW. Tel: 01397 705 825 or 01397 705 855. Fax: 01397 705 854. Email: info@nevisrange.co.uk

Bike Hire Fort William Mountain Biking

If you fancy trying the Nevis Range Mountain Experience but haven't got a bike there are plenty of places you can hire them locally.

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.

The West Highland Way

The West Highland Way is a long distance route covering just over 95 miles from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William. It was Scotland's first long distance route completed in 1980. It generally takes 7-8 days and there is some hill walking along the route.

There is a wide choice of accommodation all the way along the route so you can plan a whole walking holiday doing it in stages or just picking off sections depending on where you're based.

The Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way is a long distance walking route that stretches 73 miles from Fort William to Inverness.

The whole route can be walked in 5-6 days and there is plenty of accommodation along the way in the towns and villages that span the Great Glen. Alternatively you could just do sections of it.

Most of the route is low-level and takes in towpaths and woodland walks, but you can always divert off it to take in some more challenging mountain hikes.

You can also cycle the route or take off on one of the purpose-built mountains bike or cycling tracks.

The Ice Factor Kinlochleven Glencoe

For rainy days or if you want to give climbing a try, The Ice Factor in Kinlochleven has indoor climbing walls, a bouldering facility and the biggest indoor ice climbing facility in the world. There are also a bar and cafe, sauna, steam room and conference room, good for team building events.

The also run outdoor and indoor climbing courses and open instruction on rock climbing or ice climbing. The can also organise private guides for the surrounding mountains. Check their website for more information or give them a call to find out what's on when you visit.

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