Outdoor Things To Do Near Fort William
An Overview of Fort William
A small coastal town, Fort William has a rugged and small population in the Scottish highlands. The buildings here are compact and the whiskey distilleries are part of the town’s legacy. It’s proximity to numerous sheer mountains in the region makes it a common gateway for hikers and climbers. With numerous lochs, rivers, hiking routes, mountains, ski lifts, nearby islands and canal systems, there are many outdoor things to do near Fort William.
Outdoor Things To Do Near Fort William
The Jacobite Steam Train
This train is the actual Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films. The Jacobite Express provides a photogenic and scenic tour of Scotland. There are morning and afternoon tours, with different classes of cars ranging from £52 to £79.50 depending on the class. For visitors based out of Edinburgh, it’s easiest to reach the train by going to Fort Williams for boarding.
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the United Kingdom. The Tourist Route (a somewhat dismissive name for a rigerous hike) allows visitors to hike four miles towards the steep peak. The name Ben Nevis means “Malicious” or “Venomous” Mountain in Gaelic
Old Inverlochy Castle
Nearly completely collapsed, this 13th century castle lies in ruins on a green field. The fortifications, built on the banks of the River Lochy, was a backdrop for Inverlochy battles. Inverlochy Castle last played a part in Scottish and English history during the battles of the 1640’s.
Great Glen Way
This extended hiking route is a long-distance path in Scotland. It follows the Great Glen, running from Fort William in the southwest to Inverness in the northeast, covering 125 kilometers. The route follows over 80 miles of lochs and rivers through fantastic scenery, rocky terrain and exceptional forests.
Aonach Mor Sky Carrier
This is a gondola running up the country’s 8th highest mountain. On a clear day, the views are unsurpassed. The mountain is located near Ben Nevis, on the south side of Glen Spean. The gondola itself starts at the Snowgoose Terminal. Aonach More (Big Ridge) is a popular location for skiing.
Steall Falls
The Steall Falls are a series majestic, multi-streamed waterfalls cascading down a mountain into a flat, grassy lowland. The Falls are located in an area with many rivers, streams, creeks and tributaries. The falls make an appearance in the Harry Potter films during the scenes where Harry performs against a Hungarian Horntail Dragon in the Goblet of Fire.
Glenfinnan Church
This is an exceptionally peaceful and picturesque church nestled in a valley beside an ancient forest and lake. Due to its quaint beauty, there are often wedding photoshoots at this location.
Lochaber Geopark
Lochaber Geopark is an interactive, outdoor hiking and learning experience discussing the methods for geographic and tectonic land shaping. The company performs tours through some of the most unique rock-and-mountain formations in Scotland.
Treasures of the Earth
Popular with children and dinosaur-lovers, this is a family-run museum north of town displaying an array of gemstones, crystals, fossils and interesting, colorful artworks.
Read more about outdoor things to do near Fort William and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Destination Information Section.
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