In 1654, General Monck founded the town of Fort William among Britain’s highest peaks to keep out “savage clans and roving barbarians.” But the town’s location on the banks of Loch Linnhe caused his plan to backfire; today thousands of Highlands-bound hikers invade Fort William. Despite the tourists, the town makes an excellent base for exploring the impressive wilderness, including Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain.
Locally, Highland Country Buses (☎ 01397 702 373) travel around Fort William and the surrounding area. From June to September, #42 departs from the bus station and heads to the Nevis Range, and another ...more
From the bus and train stations, an underpass leads to High Street, Fort William’s main pedestrian avenue. Tourist Information Centre: High St., Books accommodations for a £4 charge plus a 10% deposit ...more
Take care to reserve accommodations early on weekends, especially on rainy days when sensitive backpackers run for cover. Fort William’s B&Bs might outnumber their local residents, but “no vacancy” ...more
High St. offers classic Scottish food in addition to a smorgasbord of international fare with questionable authenticity but plenty of character. At the north end of High St., Tesco sells groceries. (Open ...more
While the magnificent vistas of the surrounding glens and highlands are Fort William’s main draw, the pedestrian-only High Street also teems with shoppers searching for that perfect swatch of Scottish ...more
The West Highland Way completes its 95 mi. track in Fort William. Hikers or cyclists hungry for more can venture another 60-odd miles along the Great Glen Way, which runs north to Inverness Castle ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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