Fort William Guide

Jul 31
07:09

2008

Niall Buchanan

Niall Buchanan

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This article is a guide for anyone visiting Fort William in Scotland with information on transport links, attractions and accommodation available.

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Fort William is situated in the Highlands region of Scotland and it is best known as being the outdoor capitol of the UK.  It gained this association due to the high number of outdoor activities that are available,Fort William Guide Articles with mountain biking being especially popular.  

This area offers visitors with a multitude of activities and an excellent chance to explore Scotland’s history.  There are some excellent hotels in Fort William with one of the top hotels in Europe just outside the town.

Transport

There are no air links to Fort William, the nearest airport you will find is in Inverness which is around 60 miles away.  Inverness has a few daily domestic flights available from airlines such as British Airways and Easyjet flying to Dublin, Edinburgh and London.

There is a railway station in the town centre of Fort William and from here you can get a direct train to Glasgow which takes around 3hrs 30mins.  From Glasgow you can connect to Edinburgh, Perth and other major destinations in Scotland.

The bus station is next to the train station in the town centre of Fort William and from here you can get a CityLink service direct to Inverness or other major towns in the Highlands.  There are also direct services to major Scottish cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow again with CityLink.

Attractions

  • Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom and it offers some breathtaking views from it peak which stands at over 4,400ft.  It is a popular mountain for hill walkers and it is so popular that there is actually a full path all the way to the summit.  It is ideal for people who are amateur hill walkers as navigation is relatively simple.

  • Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal is a total of 62 miles in length and it was designed by Thomas Telford in 1803.  The canal connects Inverness with Fort William and it runs through several lochs including Loch Ness, Loch Lochy and Loch Onich.

There are several firms which rent out small boats which offer comfort and a unique way to travel through the Highlands.

  • Glencoe

One of the most picturesque locations in Scotland and an area full of history, this was the setting for one of the most bloody parts of Scottish History.  The massacre of Glencoe took place in 1692 and involved 38 people from the Clan McDonald being killed for not pleading allegiance to the new King, William of Orange.

Today the valley and area offer some fantastic panoramic views and there is also a good selection of Munros for the keen hill walkers to climb.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Fort William ranges from the ultimate in five star luxury at Inverlochy Castle to budget backpacking accommodation.  If you have the money then Inverlochy Castle offers guests a truly unique experience and luxurious break.  It is multi award winning and was voted as one of Europe’s best hotels in 2007.

The area is a popular backpacking destination and there is a good selection of hostels available of various standards.  Prices start from only £10 per night and hostels are located both in the town centre and close to Ben Nevis.

Other reasonably priced accommodation can be found at the many bed and breakfasts and hotels available with hotel rooms starting at only £50 per night at town centre locations such as Bank Street Lodge.

From enjoying the magnificent scenery through a scenic drive or climbing to the summit of Britain’s tallest mountain Fort William offers a unique experience.  If you are looking for Fort William accommodation then try Rooms in Scotland for an excellent selection of hostels and Fort William hotels.