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
