Fort William (United Kingdom)
Fort William in short
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Height: 10 metres
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Variety of outdoor activities in the area
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Numerous pubs and restaurants
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2.5 hour drive from Glasgow
Not for nothing does Fort William call itself the outdoor capital of the UK. Ten kilometres from Nevis Range and less than an hour from Glencoe Mountain, Fort William is a charming town located in the Scottish West Highlands. The town has B&Bs as well as hotels and restaurants and is a perfect base for a range of outdoor activities in summer and winter. Every February, the town showcases world-class athletes and films at the annual Fort William Mountain Festival.
Alternate activities
Fort William is a good jumping-off point for exploring the surrounding region of the Scottish Highlands. The Iron Horse Jacobite Train Journey, which runs for a few weeks every Christmas, lets passengers experience some of the most beautiful natural sights in the UK on a historic steam train. The Lochaber Leisure Centre provides pool and spa facilities. At the Nevis Range ski area visitors can also try their hand at sledging, paragliding and winter climbing. Nearby Glencoe Mountain offers sledging, tubing and avalanche rescue training.
Restaurants and pubs
There is an abundance of fresh seafood and fish and chips in the area to be sampled in a variety of restaurants in truly original settings, including one located inside Inverlochy Castle. Fort William has several dozen pubs from which to choose at the end of the day. The Grog & Gruel is a good option for pub food. There are clusters of inns and restaurants on the road between Fort William and Glencoe Mountain, including at the tiny town of Glencoe a bit further along from the ski area.
Families
For younger tots, there are daycares available in Fort William, as well as a pool at the Lochaber Leisure Centre. Both nearby ski areas are very family-friendly, with ski lessons for children as young as 5 and on-mountain restaurants.
Photo gallery of Fort William
