Five reasons to head for...
Ben Nevis-shadowed Fort William
For West Highlands history
1 If you’re making your first visit to this part of the world, a trip to the West Highland Museum delivers an excellent flavour of the rich history and culture of this Scottish region. Located in the heart of Fort William, the museum is famous for its extensive collection of archaeological, Jacobite and military exhibits, including a set of bagpipes played at the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn and Scottish folk hero Rob Roy’s sporran. Plus, entry is free!
To bag the Ben
2 The UK’s king peak, Ben Nevis, is likely the reason why most people stop over in ‘Fort Bill’, as the town is situated right at the mountain’s foot. From wherever you are in Fort William, the ‘Ben’ is omnipresent and the common starting point for the popular Mountain Track route is 2km from the town centre. If you’re off the hill late and need grub, The Great Glen pub is your best bet.
To ride the Hogwarts Express
3 Run by West Highland Railways, the resplendent Jacobite steam train has been said to offer the greatest railway journey in the world, while Harry Potter superfans will recognise it as the Hogwarts Express in the film adaptations of JK Rowling’s famous book series. During the 84-mile trip from Fort William to Mallaig, the Jacobite crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct, an iconic location in the early Potter movies.
To try a new sport
4 Being the official ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’, it should be expected that Fort William offers more than hillwalking alone. During the winter months the nearby slopes of Aonach Mor are popular with skiers and snowboarders, while there are excellent mountain biking tracks at the Nevis Range activity centre too. You could also try canyoning, gorge walking, white water rafting or paragliding without straying far from town.
For ‘Scotland’s finest’ distillery
5 Founded in 1825, the Ben Nevis Distillery is one of Scotland’s oldest. Take a tour of this historic place, learn about the mythical legend of Hector McDram (the Scottish giant who was said to have shaped Ben Nevis with his hands before brewing the ‘water of life’ itself to rest his labours), and then sample a dram of single malt Scotch whisky yourself.