Fort William is the principal town in the West Highlands.
It takes its name from a fort founded here in 1690 and named after
William, Prince of Orange.
As a busy centre it offers a wide range of shops
and services, including major supermarkets and businesses
selling outdoor and activity wear, books, tartans, tweeds,
woollens and crafts, mostly along its pleasant and
pedestrianised main street. Its location as a meeting-place
for West
Highland Way and Great Glen
Way also means it has a range of pubs, places to eat
and Scottish entertainment. The West Highland Museum in the
town's main square takes up the theme of Bonnie Prince
Charlie and the Jacobites, with many relics from those
times.
On the edge of town, to the north, The Ben Nevis
Distillery and Visitor Centre marks the entrance to Glen
Nevis. Only minutes down the glen is the Glen Nevis Visitor
Centre (Ionad Nibheis), a countryside and local heritage
interpretation centre (useful for weather reports and advice
if visitors are planning a Ben Nevis expedition).
Glen Nevis
itself, with the flanks of Ben Nevis rising on one side
also offers superb Highland scenery and a choice of walking
routes. At Banavie look out for
Neptunes Staircase, and visit the award winning Lochy Bar for great
meals
Only a minute or two further out, on the A830 "The Road to the
Isles", the Caledonian Canal drops down to Loch Linnhe at a spectacular series of locks,
"Neptunes Staircase", where there is always some canal activity to enjoy.
Chase The Wild Goose Hostel is a great place to stay.
Nearby, Treasures of the Earth at Corpach is an attraction displaying
fine collections of gemstones and crystals.
Signs on the main A82 north of the town point to Nevis
Range, the all year attraction on the slopes of Aonach Mor. As well as
Scotland's highest ski area, Nevis Range features Britain's only mountain
gondola to 2150ft (60m). Making good use here of the long open slopes of
the mountain, Nevis Range also has Britain's longest downhill mountain
bike track, which has played host to international events. Other
activities such as watersports, angling, golf, riding and trekking are
also available, and there is a dive training centre in the town
itself.
In summary, Fort William is a town with plenty for visitors
and makes a good base for exploring the spectacular West Highland
scenery.
Stay at Chase the Wild Goose Hostel at
Banavie near Fort William Scotland for comfortable, friendly
backpackers accommodation
