Fort William is the largest town in the Scottish Highlands. The beautiful diverse scenery ranges from sandy coasts to lush mountaintops and the location has been featured in Braveheart, Rob Roy and the Harry Potter movies. The town is a mixture of medieval to modern aged buildings and structures located side by side with quaint stores and eateries to explore. Fort William is filled with tradition, culture and folklore in addition to history and heritage. Whether guests arrive at Fort William to relax or to experience adventure, the Highlands has something for everyone.
Anyone with a fondness for jewellery, gems, geology or archaeology should visit Treasures of the Earth, a popular archaeological, geological museum and shop. The facility contains dinosaur fossils and casts, semi-precious and precious gemstone exhibits in addition to precious metals. The displays are uniquely presented to resemble caverns, caves and mining sites. Gold, silver, unique crystals and geodes measuring 3 to 7 feet in length are but some of the unusual displays. www.treasuresoftheearth.co.uk
History buffs will appreciate the history and culture represented in the West Highlands Museum. The location is home to exhibits dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age through medieval times. Guests view native wildlife displays, Jacobite artefacts and the personal belongings of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Displays highlight Highland dress, jewellery, personal items and a taste of Victorian splendour. www.westhighlandmuseum.org.uk
The Ben Nevis Distillery welcomes visitors to learn how real Scottish Whiskey is made. The distillery dates back to 1825, and is one of the oldest in Scotland. Guests are provided tours of the facility and have the opportunity to taste some of the products. www.bennevisdistillery.com
Visitors have a wide range of hiking trails to choose from when venturing around the local countryside. A path through Nevis Gorge in Glen Nevis, allows individuals to view the second tallest waterfall in Britain, the Steall Waterfall, which climbs 120 meters. A path on the south side of Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain, is designed for those with little climbing experience. A mountain gondola takes visitors on a scenic journey of the area.
Those seeking exercise and adventure can go to the Leanachan Forest. The area contains the infamous Witch’s Trails, which are popular with the mountain biking crowd. Trails start at the car park and range from easy to severe. The location has public restrooms, a playground, a café and bike hire companies. This is a favourite destination in the winter for skiing and snowboarding. www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/NFD-6NLEYH
Guests can also board the Jacobite Steam Train and venture to Mallaig or the Isle of Skye to hike and observe the wildlife. The scenic journey travels up through the mountains, down to the lochs, and across the famous 21 arch viaduct (featured in Harry Potter). Along the 84 mile round trip, stops are provided for visitors to walk and tour a fishing village and the station museum.
A one way trip to Mallaig allows passengers to visit the Armadale Castle Gardens and Museum of the Isles. The massive fortress dates back to the 16th century and is situated on 40 acres of carefully manicured gardens. The area welcomes visitors and holds special events throughout the year. www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/Jacobite_Home.cfm and www.clandonald.com
Individuals travelling to Fort William can get up close and personal to local history by visiting the Old Inverlochy Castle. The site was built in the 13th century by Normans whose name were Comyns, and played a major part in Highland history as many battles were fought here through the 1600’s. Located on the River Lochy, a road constructed by the medieval military leads to the castle ruins and back to Fort William. www.inverlochycastle.co.uk
The Crannog Restaurant offers fresh seafood dishes and a taste of Scotland cuisine. The restaurant is located on the town pier in Fort William and overlooks the Loch Linnhe. Crannog also offers cruises to Seal Island and visitors view jumping salmon, families of porpoise, the grey seals of the region and the scenic coastline along the way. www.crannog.net
Visitors have the unique experience of watching ships travel through Neptune’s Staircase, which is a succession of 9 lochs from Fort William to Inverness. The local museum displays photographs and videos documenting sightings and ongoing investigations into the local legend. Live webcams surveil the site 24 hours a day in case the beloved Nessie should make an appearance. The location also contains the ruins of the Eilean Donan Castle. www.nessie.co.uk
When to go: anytime but during the winter it gets cold and the area is busy with traffic for the skiing.
How to get there: By bus, drive or train.
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