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Fort William & Lochaber Area Guide

Fort William and Lochaber is a great holiday outdoor activity destination in the west of Scotland. Visit our guide to Fort William B&B, guesthouse, hotel and self catering accommodation. Outdoors sports adventure and of course walking and climbing Ben Nevis

Fort William and Lochaber is a huge rural area in the west Highlands of Scotland with the principal town Fort William lying on the shore of Loch Linnhe below Ben Nevis.

The area features the most westerly point in Britain - Ardnamurchan Point; the second deepest loch - Loch Morar; the highest mountain and the most infamous Highland glen - historic Glencoe with its amazing scenery. Perhaps the most famous glen in Scotland - Glenfinnan - where the Clan Cameron gathered there to meet Bonnie Prince Charlie from France, to lead the historic Jacobite Army. We have the only mountain gondola in Scotland with two superb downhill bike tracks and a full range of summer and winter sports. If that’s not a lot we have the Caledonian Canal, a superb inland waterway joining the Atlantic to the North Sea; the Great Glen and world famous Road to the Isles, with its hugely popular Iron Horse Jacobite train journey. Oh, there’s also a very long maritime coastline perfect for fishing or kayaking - not to mention some of the largest areas of fresh water lochs in Scotland.

Getting here is relatively straight forward, although the journey can seem long. Scottish airports at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness have international and domestic flights landing visitors directly into Scotland where excellent train and bus services will bring you to the Highlands in comfort. There are several local taxi firms who will gladly pick you up from any UK airport pick-up point and give you a guided tour on the way back here! Once you arrive in Fort William there are local car rental businesses who provide an excellent service. You can rent a mountain bike or cycle locally too and so there’s no reason not to stay and explore longer. We often suggest to folk not just to pass through - there is so much to see and experience.

Lochaber’s history has been a long one with many events over the centuries shaping the politics of the United Kingdom - the Celts, the Vikings, the English, the French and Spanish and latterly the British and of course the Highland Jacobites have all shaped who we are today. The site of old Inverlochy Castle in Fort William goes way back in time when there was a fortified building there 800 years ago; and when in 1645 three thousand men engaged in a ferocious battle one cold February day that is said to have left the river red with blood.  Today Fort William, Glencoe, the Great Glen, Ardnamurchan attract people for outdoor activities, its history and of course Ben Nevis and the Jacobite Steam Train.

Almost 10,000 people live and work in and around the town of Fort William, which includes several small villages and communities nearby. The Lochaber area which includes the places mentioned has a population of around 20,000. Many people work to provide tourism services by providing a huge range of holiday accommodation which includes traditional cottages, self catering lodges and homes, guesthouses, some large and small hotels, camping parks  and hostels.

Our Fort William Eating Out Guide will help you locate some really good restaurants, pubs and cafes, including traditional Fish ’n Chip shops. We have some very high quality places to dine set amongst mountains, glens or lochsides and the town centre has a good choice of family restaurants including seafood specialists. 

Through the year, but mostly during the Spring and Summer months, there are lots of events and activities to think about visiting and enjoying the fun and thrills of downhill biking, Highland games, music and art festivals and exhibitions and live entertainment with local musicians. 

Local services include lots of food producers who supply the highest quality seafood and game from the land and seas. Some specialise in smoked produce and other produce bakery specialities. Forestry and timber processing, fish farming, aluminium smelting are our main industries, and these are supported by many local trades and retail outlets. The people of Lochaber are looked after by a very impressive NHS Highland health service, together with the Fire Service and Police Scotland.

View the Ben Nevis webcam

Click to view the latest images from Ben Nevis

Enjoy these videos

Fort William 365 - Whisky Tasting
A visit to Fort William's longest established business - Ben Nevis Distillery.
Fort William 365 - visit Glen Nevis
Glen Nevis is the most beautiful glen in the Highlands
Something to do on a wet day
Three Wise Monkeys climbing wall is 5 minutes from our High Street

Explore these featured listings

Glen Nevis Holidays 4 and 5 star Luxury Lodges
Glen Nevis Holidays offers some of the best self catering holiday accommodation facilities in the United Kingdom. Located at the foot of the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis dominates this beautiful Highland glen. The River Nevis, with 1000 hectares of fishing rights, flows past one side of our park, which is spread over 34 acres of magnificent, tree-clad countryside and set in the 1,000 acre Glen Nevis Estate. We are the perfect base for exploring the beaches such as Sanna Beach and the Silver Sands of Morar, visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct and travelling on the Jacobite Steam train to Mallaig. Glen Nevis Holidays have five star and four star highland lodges. Our two storey, four bedroom Luxury Lodges have been graded 5 star by Visit Scotland. These lodges sleep up to eight people (making them perfect for the larger family). Free wi-fi access is included. Three en suite bedrooms, a luxury bathroom with jacuzzi bath, a 42” freesat TV, Blu-Ray DVD player are only a handful of luxuries we offer to make your 5 star holiday with us comfortable and relaxing. Put your feet up in the most comfortable of surroundings after your day's adventures and enjoy the dramatic views of Ben Nevis.  Our Highland Lodges boast a 4 star by Visit Scotland and are traditionally built in the very highest standards. Sleeping up to six persons and offering the utmost in comfort and convenience there is also generous parking, good pathways and well maintained garden areas. Enjoys three generous bedrooms (one double and two twin bedrooms), a spacious, tastefully furnished open plan lounge and kitchen with comfortable seating, LDC TV with Freesat, DVD, Radio and music centre. Free wi-fi access is included. Each Lodge is placed away from the access road to guarantee peace and privacy and is just a short walk across the park to our Restaurant and Bar surrounded by dramatic views of the mountains.
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Rose Cottage
This little flat, which is part of the owners home, is perfect for a couple. The flat is self contained. All the accommodation is at ground level with access to a small private garden. Seats and table, herbs and cottage garden plants. Enjoy this sheltered spot with views of Ben Nevis. On a clear night sit out and take in the night sky. Main access to flat from the garden by the French doors. It provides one double bedroom, living room/kitchen with French doors. The shower-room, small and tall with power-shower and a pulley for drying clothes. The kitchen is well equipped. Has a gas hob, electric oven and grill. Fridge with ice box. Lots of lovely crockery and utensils. All linen, including towels, is included. Also all heating, underfloor, works like a big storage heater. Washing machine. Off road parking for 2 cars A welcome pack of fresh flowers, tea, coffee etc and home baking. Have a cuppa before you unpack. There are maps and guides, natural history books and novels. Games and puzzles. D.V.D's and C.D's Near town and trails.Easy walking or cycling from the front door. Ben Nevis and Nevis Range for climbing and skiing are both nearby. Cycle the World Cup Downhill course and the Witches Trail. Take the service or steam train to Mallaig, hire canoes on the Canal, drive off to Ardnamurchan or Glencoe; visit the West Highland Museum; go horse riding and fly fishing 5 minutes walk. Ben Nevis is waiting to be climbed - or just relax and read your book. We are happy to help you plan outings, find a nice cup of coffee or a secluded beach. The accommodation is smart and practical with exposed stone, wooden beams, blue kitchen, painted floors. Dogs are welcome but please discuss with owners when booking. No Smoking and No Fireworks or Chinese lanterns please. Please telephone or email to check availability
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Ambrose Gillham
This is a large and comfortable apartment with great views in a very convenient quiet  location close to the town centre. It is ideal for a family group or group of friends for a relaxed break or to explore the Highlands of Scotland.The beautiful Cow Hill Circuit which gives access directly to Glen Nevis is a ten minute walk away. Fort William is a popular centre for climbing, walking, scrambling, canoeing, mountain-biking, skiing, orienteering and other outdoor activities. There is also easy access to beautiful walking and cycling opportunities.This beautiful and historic apartment is ideally located within five minutes’ walk of the high street and is less than fifteen minutes’ walk from the railway station. The apartment offers a lovely view over Loch Linnhe, enjoying a peaceful, elevated position.The apartment is split over levels 2 and 3 of a three story C 19 terraced building. It has its own private entrance with a flight of  stairs.The accommodation comprises two or three double bedrooms one of which can also function as a second sitting room/ study. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped.Visitors will love the original oak panelling of this railway engineer’s house built in the 1890s. The large, comfortable main sitting room is equipped with a television. The apartment can accommodate up to 6 person. The minimum let is six days in the high season and four days at other times.   We all had a wonderful time in Fort William, in no small part as a result of the really good accommodation we found ourselves in. If we return to Fort William in the near future, we shall certainly try and book Seaview Terrace again.— SM, 05 Sep 2016  Excellent location. Lovely apartment for our family to have a great week in Scotland with everything you could need.— Amanda M, 12 Aug 2016
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