Outdoor activities in Fort William

Rockhopper Sea Kayaking is based near Fort William on the West Coast of Scotland. We offer half, full or multi-day kayak trips through some of the most spectacular coastal, mountain and island scenery in Scotland. This area is rich in wildlife and you may be lucky enough to encounter seals, dolphins, porpoise, otters, a huge variety of coastal birds or perhaps even the white tailed sea eagle. Whether new to the sport or an experienced sea kayaker, we will provide an unforgettable experience. Our Sea kayaks are long, stable and easy to control and we have large double kayaks available for youngsters or those who are a little apprehensive. All equipment is provided by us. Families, groups and individuals are all welcome. We also provide a canoe hire service and equipment.

Kirkhope Mountain Biking is a bespoke Mountain bike guiding and coaching company based in the Highlands of Scotland. We offer half or full day coaching courses and single or multi day guided trips through out Scotland and specialize in big adventurous days out in the many varying landscapes that Scotland has to offer. Popular trips include: • The Torridon loop • Cairngorm adventures • The devil's staircase and the Ciaran path Please get in touch via email at scott@kirkhopemountainbiking to discuss what mountain bike adventure you would like next.

Learn to take better digital photographs on one of our photography courses. Digital photography is a fantastic, well-developed medium for capturing great photographs and video. Its never been easier to take good photos - with a little help and advice. I offer personal One-2-One photography courses, tuition and excursions in and around the Fort William and Ben Nevis area to anyone who wishes to learn more about their digital camera, and who wants to take better photographs. If your interest is in landscape photography or video; portrait photography or outdoor sports photography, I can help you get the best out of your camera. Each field trip can be tailored to suit individual needs. I can arrange 2-3 hour photography field trips for up to 3 persons. If you have a DSLR camera and a tripod, one of my short photography courses could be just for you. If you don't have a DSLR just yet, I can provide advice about these and offer you the chance to take photos with a Canon 5D and a variety of lenses and equipment. Photography Field Trip for 1 person: £85.00 Photography Field Trip for 2 persons: £150.00 Photography Field Trip for 3 persons: £195.00 During the photography field trip I will show you how to control camera aperture and shutter speeds; help you understand how to work with depth of field; understand working with different focal length lenses; show you how to improve photo composition; demonstrate how to tweak your photographs afterwards. I can provide Gift Vouchers if you would like to gift a Photography Field Trip for a friend or relative. If you would like to book B&B or self catering in a superb photo location, and at the same time as your field trip, I can provide this at our well established Woodside B&B Fort William. I can offer two ensuite bedrooms, a personalised breakfast of your choice and private, secluded parking - plus a view of Ben Nevis to die for...

The inaugural hill race on Beinn Resipol starts at Resipole Farm Holiday Park on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on Saturday 19th September at 1.00pm. Details of how to take part can be found on the benresrace.wordpress.com website. The race sets off from Loch Sunart and meanders its way up and down the 845 m summit with a total distance of 7.3 miles. Enjoy stunning views of Lochs Shiel and Sunart, the Small Isles, Mull and Skye. Why not make a weekend of it and stay in the Resipole campsite. The campsite are holding the Resipole Fiddle Fest from 17-21 September so there will be a great buzz about the place.  Profits made from the race are going towards a local well-being and mental health charity, Ewen’s Room. Ewen’s Room works across the Ardnamurchan Peninsula to raise awareness of mental health challenges and brings together the community and people who may feel isolated. Entry:  Race HQ will be based in the Resipole campsite next to the start/finish of the race. You can enter the race now through Entry Central or on the day. Entries are £5. Entries are restricted to 100 places so please book online to avoid disappointment.

In summer we offer: • Ben Nevis ascents via the Pony track, CMD arête, Ledge Route and Tower Ridge. • Low level walks like Steal Waterfalls  • Glen Nevis adventure walk, climbing and abseil, • Glen Coe walks and the Aonach Eagach and Curved Ridge • Munros • Off the beaten track walks including Corbetts and hard to find peaks. • Navigation training.  • 4 day Skye Cuillin Munro course • Skye Cuillin Ridge Traverse over 2 days In winter we offer:  • Ben Nevis ascents, (see our dates) • Winter skills courses of 1,2 and 3 day duration, (see our dates) • Guided winter Munros, • Winter navigation training. For more information about dates, prices and our activities please get in touch www.thehighlandmountaincompany.co.uk or to see recent photos at our Facebook page Included in our price is the use of ice axe and crampons for winter activities, helmets and harness for all climbing and abseiling activities.  Our Guides live year round in the Highlands.  They are fully qualified mountain instructors and have many years experience taking people into the mountains.  Their local knowledge about the area, mountain landscape and history is second to none and they are more than eager to chat to you and show you the hidden gems of the Highlands, you never knew existed.  Situated at the base of Ben Nevis, The Highland Mountain Company offers and delivers high quality mountain guiding and instruction in a range of mountain activities to families, friends and small groups.  Whether its your first step in the mountains or looking for another adventure to add to your experience, we have something for you. *Buy an activity as a gift for someone else* If you see something that you think someone else would enjoy then please get in contact and we can send a gift voucher.

The centre's position offers exceptional facilities for watersports enthusiasts of all levels. The Lochaber & Fort William area bounded by an extensive coastal & marine environment. Snowgoose Mountain Centre is surrounded by safe water with easy access to the sheltered tidal waters of Loch Linnhe and access to the open sea down the length of Loch Linnhe beyond Corran Narrows. SEA KAYAKING In the Lochaber area there is a truly amazing variety of inland lochs and coastline offering wide selection of sea kayak trips - offering everything from sheltered paddling journeys on placid lochs with lots of islands to discover, to open tidal water with fast tidal currents. Our beginner sea kayak sessions on Loch Linnhe are a gentle introduction to the effects of paddling on tidal waters. The inland lochs of Loch Lochy and Loch Sheil are also excellent locations for sea kayaking. A little further away protected by hundreds of small tidal islands (known as skerries) is the coastline surrounding Arisaig bay. An ideal spot to begin an adventure. This area is home to a huge variety of marine wildlife with a fair weather option to paddle up the coastline towards Mallaig with fantastic views out the Inner Hebrides. RIVER KAYAKING Our novice kayaking sessions, courses & holidays are initially based on the sheltered open inland waters of Loch Linnhe, Loch Lochy, or Loch Shiel                                With a more experience we can easily progress to the moving water of the rivers Lochy, Oich, and later to the amazing white water of the Roy, Spean, etc. Our favourite spot for beginners on moving water is on Loch Lochy in a wide sheltered open bay with visiting ospreys in the summer – along with small rapids tumbling down from Loch Arkaig a few miles above. Based on the short steep side of the country we have good local access to excellent Grade 111 and above white water rivers which are largely spate in nature, some of which are quite technical in nature. This gives excellent training opportunities for intermediate and advanced white water paddling in a unique environment. OPEN CANOEING. These basic skills sessions are based inland on the more sheltered  Loch Lochy or the tidal waters of Loch Linnhe with also excellent locations to learn the skills of open canoe journeying, for day paddles or with an over night wild camping stop.There are excellent opportunities for overnight expeditions for those with a little more experience - we regularly venture further a field to the tidal waters of Loch Moidart – paddle the Rough Bounds into Arisaig; Loch Sheil; Loch Oich and Loch Arkaig. All of this as well as guided open canoe trips over the 70 mile long Caledonian Canal on the Great Glen Canoe Trail – this being one of the favourites. The idyllic River Oich and Loch Lochy are excellent for an introduction to river paddling in an open canoe  learning  to raft up effectively, lining & poling as well as the opportunity to canoe sail on more advanced courses DINGHY SAILING We have a small fleet of 16' Devon Yawls & 21’ keeled Flying 15 dinghies which can take 4 students plus an instructor. These are all weather dinghies which are fun to sail but also fast and responsive for single handed sailing or a family day out.   There are several options available for Dinghy Sailing with our experienced Instructors from ½ day taster sessions for all the family to 2-3 day sailing & boat handling courses.By the end of a 2 day Beginners course you will have experienced handling the dinghy, sail handling, rope work, be aware of safety on board and  be able to sail as a crew in light winds under supervision. There will be hands on experience of:| The dinghy and its main parts; Basic boat handling – how to sail in all wind directions; Launching & recovery;  weather & meteorology. CANOE AND KAYAK HIRE & THE GREAT GLEN CANOE TRAIL Snowgoose Mountain Centre is well placed at the extreme SW end of the Caledonian Canal for the recently opened Great Glen Canoe Trail. This offers a great opportunity to canoe or kayak along the spectacular Caledonian Canal which runs for nearly 70 miles from near Fort William to Inverness along the very varied stretches of canal as well as the wide open waters of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness (which are classed as inland seas).We provideGuided canoe & sea kayak trips along the Great Glen Canoe Trail as well as 2 - 5 day expeditions in other fantastic remote and wild locations on the west coast of Scotland. We do not hire our boats to inexperienced paddlersFull open canoe, sea & river kayak hire / outfitting packages including paddles, buoyancy aids, barrels, BDH bottles, dry bags, trolley wheels, etc.  Full camping & expedition equipment hire - plus full information on the best campsites & local services.A full shuttle service for boats & gear to the end of the finish of the Canoe Trail and elsewhere - and free drop of to the top of Neptune's Staircase at Banavie to all our hire customers.  Locally based paddling information and advice when you arrive with us - based on over 30 years of local paddling experience.

Traigh Golf Course welcome visitors and is “Probably the most beautifully sited nine hole Golf Course in the world” (says The Scotsman newspaper).  It was recently made world famous by a large sinkhole that opened up on the course. The sinkhole has now been safely repaired and the course is playing better than ever - complete with a new grassy bunker! Traigh Golf Course is known as "one of the most scenic golf courses in Scotland" (say BBC) and is located 40 miles west of Fort William. The word Traigh (pronounced “Try”) means beach in gaelic, and the course lies beside sandy beaches and rocky islets, with spectacular views to the islands of Eigg and Rhum, and to the Cuillins of Skye. Golf has been played at Traigh since about 1900, but the old layout was rather cramped, and the course was enlarged and greatly improved in 1994. It was redesigned by the well known golf architect Mr. John Salvesen, with assistance from Mr. James MacDonald, Head Greenkeeper at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, who is a native of Arisaig. The feature of the course is a line of grassy hills, originally sand dunes, which rise some sixty feet, and the first hole demands a skilful tee shot to the top. At the second, a long drive is needed, to get from one summit to the next. The third drops down towards the beach, while the fourth passes between two gorse covered hills to a beautifully positioned green. The fifth hole crosses a broad burn - broader still at high tide - and the sixth comes back across the burn in a tricky dogleg par four The seventh - which was the location of the sinkhole - is a long par five, while the eighth climbs back to the top of the hill, and the glorious view, and the ninth drops down again to the beach and the clubhouse. Golfers Information Visitors are always welcome. Clubs are available for hire. Golf clubs, balls, tees, gloves and clothing are on sale at the clubhouse. Advance booking is only required for larger parties. Fees should be paid at the clubhouse, or if it is closed put in the Honesty Box. How to find us Traigh lies two miles north of Arisaig, six miles south of Mallaig and forty miles west of Fort William. Take the A830 main road to Arisaig, then follow the coastal road (B8008) two miles north. There is a signpost to the course on the A830. Park across the road from the white Clubhouse. Visit Fort William also recommends Fort William Golf Club, Spean Bridge Golf Club and the Dragon's Tooth course at Ballachulich

For a unique cruise through one of Scotland’s most remote, beautiful and unspoilt landscapes, take a trip to Glenfinnan. Join local skipper Jim Michie on his lovingly restored 1940 ex-naval harbour launch, who will guide you along this magnificent loch while keeping a close eye out for Golden & Sea Eagles, Red Deer and a variety of Rare Wildlife.   A variety of cruises operate on the Loch. A morning 2 hour run takes you to majestic Glenaladale, former homeland of a notable branch of the Clan MacDonald who were prominent in there support of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s attempt to regain the throne of Britain for his father, the exiled King James. A superb view of the “Jacobite” steam train crossing MacAlpine’s famous 21 arch viaduct can be seen on this cruise.   A 1 hour cruise to the Prince’s Bay will give a you taste of the Loch and its stunning surrounding landscape.   An afternoon 2.5 hour cruise visits Gaskan, where the writer and naturalist Mike Tomkies found the perfect seclusion to study and record the wide variety of his beloved wildlife.   For a great day out go on the Wednesday Loch Cruise which takes you the full length of the Loch to the crofting community of Acharacle where you can have lunch before returning home. This cruise passes the “Green Isle”, ancient sanctuary of St Finan and burial ground for over 1500 years.   Sileas is available  for private charter, be it for weddings, birthdays, corporate or group outings.   Further details on the cruises & timetable can be found on our website.   Don’t miss the boat, this is not just a cruise but an unforgettable experience!   Timetabled Cruises operate on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Only. Private Charter Available 7 Days/Week April to November. ADVANCE BOOKING ADVISABLE.

We offer a range of all-inclusive hobby-based and creative leisure breaks in some of the most stunning locations on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Staying at top quality hotels, enjoy a few days indulging in your passion, hobby or artistic profession. Workshops are being added all the time, but include ceramics, photography, writing, machine embroidery, painting, batik, felting, stitching, bushcraft and more! Why not build a longer family or group holiday around one of our courses? All workshops are led by enthusiastic professionals with proven expertise in their field, who will lead you through their subject with skill, patience and fun! Class sizes are kept small, and most workshops are suitable for all levels of ability. Specific subjects or formats can be created for groups. Take inspiration from our beautiful landscape, and treat yourself to some quality creative "me-time"!

Thistle Trekking provides guided walking holidays in the UK, including on Ben Nevis, West Highland Way, Cape Wrath Trail and The Skye Trail. All our guided treks give you the luxury of enjoying the walk without having to worry about organising all the details, including accommodation and baggage transfer, or worry about trying to find your way. This means you can just enjoy the walk and let us do all the worrying for you! Our Long Distance Trails Include: • The West Highland Way • The Cape Wrath Trail • The Great Glen Way • The Skye Trail • The East Highland Way Our Mountain Walks and Scrambles Includes: • Ben Nevis • Aonach Eagach Ridge • Skye Cuillin Ridge • The Torridon Mountains Private Guides can be hired for all the above and any additional requirements in the Scottish Mountains including: • Winter Skills Courses • Guided Winter or Summer Munros • Ben Nevis scrambles (e.g. Ledge Route, Tower Ridge) About Us All our staff; walking guides, climbing guides, trek managers and office staff are all qualified Mountain Leaders or Mountaineering Instructors. 

Fort William Golf Club is located just north of Fort William by the A82. This course lies under the shadow of Ben Nevis and is a challenging course with great views. Our 9 hole golf course will provide you with a great golfing experience below the highest mountain in the British Isles. You have a good clubhouse with bar and facilities, including club and trolly hire. Visitors are especially welcome and often play a round of golf with our locals.

Wild Food, Wild Places, we have a 40ft deluxe charter vessel Cyfish with comfortable seating and galley to cook from.  This makes the perfect platform to explore the seascapes and environs of the Knoydart peninsula, Isle of Skye, Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna  the Hebridean Treasures. Experience wildlife and nature in its timeframe.  Venture off the beaten track, visit remote inaccessible places, fish and forage, cook your catch on board our vessel or on a remote beach over an open fire. Share traditional skills local knowledge and story telling,  Making your adventures personal we lead the way......