Outdoor activities in Fort William

Fort William's Indoor Climbing Centre! We have a bouldering wall suitable for absolute beginners up to climbers pushing our V7+ circuit. The roped climbing wall is also available for competent climbers or anyone under the instruction of our notoriously friendly staff. On site we also have an environmentally friendly cafe serving great coffee with organic milk in compostable cups. Or why not try one of our jacket potatoes, fully loaded waffles or real fruit smoothies. We open from 10am-10pm on weekdays and 10am-8pm on weekends. https://www.threewisemonkeysclimbing.com Regular climbers can turn up, sign a form and get climbing straight away. Beginners have the option of going bouldering after a quick induction, or booking onto an instructed course to use the roped climbing wall.

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.

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.

We offer fantastic outdoor activities, off road quad biking and 4×4 experiences in one of the most scenic parts of the U.K. With nearly 50,000 acres at our disposal we can offer something for everyone. With one, two and three & half hour trips you will ride through Ancient Caledonian forests, head in to the hills or follow the rivers with their raging rapids and waterfalls, we can even throw in Scottish Baronial castles. We can offer it all in the most stunning setting that Scotland has to offer. We have quad bikes that are suitable for everyone age 12 and above and our 4×4 off road experience is a fantastic way for groups and individuals to explore the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. We cater for Couples, individuals, families, stag and hen parties, corporate events or a group of friends getting together to have a fun day out. All of our activities take place at Ardverikie Estate, better known as Glen Bogle in the BBC drama series, "Monarch of the Glen" and is situated between "Outdoor Capital of the UK and the Cairngorm National Park.

The Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race combines yachting and mountain running and cycling into one of the greatest adventure challenges in British sport. Five team members are allowed, comprising a combination of sailors and runners, their aim is to sail from Barmouth, on the Welsh coast, to Fort William in Scotland, via Caernarfon and Whitehaven, climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis on the way. Sailing through some of the Scotland's most beautiful and sometimes wildest, scenery, the final leg ends with the shortest and steepest run of the entire race finishing at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal. The entire race involves a total of 389 miles of difficult coastal sailing, 26 miles of cycling and 72 miles of running, with approximately 14,000 feet of ascent, including 2000 feet between Ennerdale and Scafell Pike, to reach the highest points in Wales, England and Scotland. Set in 2002 the race record stands at 2 days 14 hours and 4 minutes but teams have until 1800 on Saturday to finish the race. Generally most teams make the end of race party on Thursday evening, competitors sometimes opting to complete the Ben Nevis run the following morning. The Three Peaks Yacht Race attracts some of the world's best sailors and runners, as well as teams who hope just to complete the course, which is a considerable achievement in its own right. The 2011 race starts from Barmouth on Saturday June 25th and the 2012 race on Saturday June 16th. Boats arrive in Corpach from around the Tuesday after the start.

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. 

I love Scotland.I love exploring the beautiful mountains & glens of the Scottish Highlands.I love meeting people and sharing my passion. I decided to combine this energy into creating a small friendly guiding company. I offer a highly personalized private and bespoke guiding service for individuals or groups at an affordable price. So whether you want to hike the highest mountains,tackle one of my challenges,backpack through the mountains or just go for a wee walk with the family I  have something for you.

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.

Laser Clay Shooting   Fun! Skilled!  Addictive! The laser sport system uses real deactivated Berretta single trigger 12 Bore shotguns fitted with state of the art electronic gadgetry! The clays are released from a standard electronic trap and participants aim at them just as they would under normal clay pigeon shooting conditions, however when they pull the trigger, the gun fires an infra-red beam at the clay targets. This beam then bounces from the clay back to the electronic scoreboard which registers a “hit” or a “miss” on the scoreboard with a loud “bang” coming from the speakers. Whilst the guns are entirely safe, good gun protocol is always encouraged and there is also none of the painful “kickback” that you might experience from using real shotguns. One of the advantages of Laser Clay Pigeon shooting over standard Clay Pigeon shooting is that all participants (up to 5) can shoot at each clay at the same time, enabling all to an enjoyable activity shooting up to 80 clays in any one session. Even though it is not the same as the real thing, it is safe and good fun for all, and should anyone want to take it further Laser Clay shooting is an idea stepping stone to traditional Clay pigeon shooting.

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"!

The Arisaig Highland Games open at 12 noon on Wednesday 30th July and this year the Games will feature a Clan Donald Gathering hosted by the home clan, Clan Ranald. The venue is the scenic location of Traigh Farm, Arisaig with sweeping views across sandy beaches towards the Cuillins of Skye & the Small Isles of Eigg and Rhum. The route for the ceremonial march led by Lochaber Schools Pipe Band has still to be confirmed - but further details will appear on our website in due course. After the parade arrives at the field, the Games will then be officially opened by Ranald, 24th Captain of Clan Ranald. The Games features a full list of traditional events including solo piping, throwing the hammer, tossing the caber, highland dancing, and a range of track and field events including children’s races.Around the arena there will be a variety of side shows, exhibition tents, trade stalls and refreshment stands. And to round it all off, we finish with a traditional cèilidh dance in the village hall in the evening. Admission: Adults £6, Children £3, Parking £2. Family Ticket £20.  Cèilidh Dance £6 (evening).