Scotland does love a distillery! Later it was reoccupied and two fierce battles took place here. Answer 1 of 13: My husband and I are looking to stay in the general area of Glencoe/Fort William/Fort Augustus for a few days in July as a base for touring around the area. or of course, on the weather. When travelling in Scotland, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have a travel insurance policy so you’re covered for any unfortunate events! The scenery is just amazing in this part of the world – a real paradise for photographers. Whether you’re into hiking or history, extreme sports or cosy pubs, the Highlands has something for you. consider taking the Jacobite Steam train to Mallaig. You can find details They regularly host children’s’ activities, exhibitions, as well as art and photographic displays. On the map Glasgow and Fort William seem just a hop, a skip and a jump apart, but it is one of Scotland's most beautiful drives! Nevis Range does not only provide access to snow sports, but it also has a restaurant that can be reached through a gondola ride. The Highlands are a must-see on any itinerary for Scotland. Click here to get a quote from WorldNomads. I'm Lucy – a travel blogger 'On the Luce', helping you maximise your travel time and money, sharing tips for travel adventures with a touch of affordable luxury. 28 Best Stops on a London to Edinburgh Drive. If you are feeling tired and not ready for You have to balance your way across the single wire while holding onto the two upper wire rails to make it across. Not forgetting a wee dram by the fire at the end of the day . Some examples are: If you are looking for something less The best thing for your trip will be to be prepared. Find all the transport options for your trip from Alltshellach, Glencoe to Fort William right here. The ruins of 13th-century Old Inverlochy Castle sit just outside of the centre of Fort William, along the banks of the River Lochy. The walk only takes around an hour, and keep your eye out for deer and other local wildlife along the way. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Fort William, Lochaber on Tripadvisor: See 77,118 traveller reviews and photos of Fort William tourist attractions. person there, but it is worth it. It is reasonably easy to get to Fort Willian and Glencoe by car and is a popular stop if driving from Edinburgh to Inverness. And if you’re wondering whether there’s a new Inverlochy Castle, there certainly is, the 19th-century mansion turned five-star Inverlochy Castle Hotel. The best outdoor activities in Fort William according to Tripadvisor travelers are: Steall Waterfall; Ben Nevis; Nevis Range Mountain Experience; Lochaber Geopark Visitor Centre; Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve; See all outdoor activities in Fort William on Tripadvisor But for a whole generation of Harry Potter fans, it’s better known as the Hogwarts Express, and the best place to see it is as it crosses the 1000-foot-long and 100-foot-high arching Glenfinnan Viaduct. visit the memorial the commemorates the lives lost during the Glencoe massacre. This guide includes everything you need to know about getting from Glasgow to Fort William by car: photo stops, road info, where to stay and vegan-friendly restaurants in the area! Walkhighlands has detailed route descriptions with pictures and levels of difficulty for guidance. and likely see some stags! I’d dearly love to photograph that stunning scenery too. On Fort William’s High Street, you will find local amenities to grab It’s the longest staircase lock in the country, which means each lock is connected to the next, with the upper gate of one acting as the lower gate of the next. 1 activity. fee of £4, which directly supports the National Trust for Scotland and the work While the view might be different as it is located at the bottom of the hill, it will certainly still provide a fun way to end your day! On a sunny day the views from the summit make it all worthwhile. There are downhill and cross-country bike routes as well as lots of other outdoor activities like orienteering, tubing and treasure hunts. First is the Ben Nevis Inn, a 200-year-old converted barn which lies at the foot of the mountain. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. The Visitors Centre tells the story of the massacre as well as the mountaineering history of the area (the photos of early climbers and skiers in their original kit are quite an eye-opener!). Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. If you are looking to find an the extent of the Glencoe Mountain pass and likely see some nearby waterfalls. Waterfalls in Glencoe. One of the most famous things to do in Fort William is to drive to Glenfinnan and see the Jacobite Steam Train. Get there: The Mountain Track starts from the Glen Nevis Visitors Centre (postcode PH33 6ST),  just under 2 miles south of Fort William, where there’s a car park which costs £3 per car. Ice Factor in Kinlochleven has the biggest indoor ice climbing wall in the country, a 15-metre-high indoor iceberg. A small hospital - currently empty - with emergency services at Fort William 16 miles away, lies at the southern end of the village just over an arched stone bridge. Second is the Clachaig Inn, right in the heart of Glencoe (look out for the massacre-inspired ‘No Hawkers or Campbells’ sign). Also, it is worth noting that temperatures hardly ever skyrocket in Scotland, not even in summer. However, the train line does go straight to Fort William. Planning our first trip to Scotland at the moment, and I don’t drink, but I just love how every list of things to do in pretty much every part of Scotland, there is always at least one distillery Really keen to see Neptune’s staircase, it seems like such an unusual concept coming from Australia where we have nothing at all like that (to my knowledge)! Signal Rock is said to have been a central point of communication during the Massacre of Glencoe back in 1692. It looks unbelievably beautiful Lucy, I love your photos! Thanks – hope you get to make another trip someday soon! There are plenty of things to do in Fort William and Lochaber, from rare wildlife- watching and thrilling outdoors activities to fascinating historic attractions and cultural heritage sites. Answer 1 of 18: Hi All, We are visiting Scotland in early May. However, the Scottish weather is not known to be predictable. Things to do in Glencoe. It is, however, essential to keep in mind that some sights are further apart geographically. The area of Lochaber which surrounds Fort William is often referred to as the outdoor capital of the UK. Let us know in the comments below! It would appear this part of Scotland has everything I love in a trip; outdoor adventures, wonderful scenery, road trip potential and wildlife. If you are coming by bus, you can check the local buses for services running there. It offers a great way to learn about the Glencoe’s history, walks, weather, wildlife and things to do in Glencoe. From Edinburgh, you can either make your way to Glasgow and follow the route mentioned above, or you can take the A84 via Stirling/Callander. action-packed after exploring the outdoor capital of the UK, then you should There’s a visitors’ centre where ‘Hector McDram’ tells the story of the distillery before a tour of the production facility and that all-important tasting. Going from Inverness to Fort William by Fort William is easily accessible by train, bus or car from Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow. official page. Fort William’s bus station is right in the town centre, and with only a few bus stops, it is straightforward to navigate. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abf534ce747fab06ddb48cab9e788d66" );document.getElementById("c3c46d7f9c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); © 2021 The World Was Here First • All rights reserved. Neptune’s Staircase was fascinating, I’d like to do a boat trip going down (or up) it next time but it was interesting to even just watch in action. 2.8 miles from Loch Linnhe. Harry Potter fans, this is your must-do! Others are more time consuming, and you should not be rushing through sights and miss the beauty of it all. The path is rocky and can get slippery with steep drop offs (as shown by the cheery ‘Danger of Death’ sign at the start), but it’s well-marked and easily accessible. beyond the making of the Harry Potter movies. about the history of local Highland life at the Glencoe Folk Museum and also The 18-metre-high Glenfinnan Monument was erected in 1815, in tribute to the Jacobite clansmen who fought and died in 1745 for Prince Charles Edward Stuart – commonly known as ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’. If you feel like another walk, you could embark on the Glencoe Lochan trail from here. Check the timetable to see when the train leaves or arrives into Fort William, and it should cross the viaduct about 40–45 minutes before or after then. At 1345 metres Ben Nevis is the UK’s highest mountain. I so want to ride the Hogwarts Express next time! This scenic drive is small but perfectly formed, with just 12 miles of single-track road leading to a dead end on the banks of Loch Etive, a huge saltwater loch which connects to the sea north of Oban. Get there: Glencoe Visitors Centre is about a mile south of Glencoe Village on the A82. While there are higher chances of dry and sunny weather during that time, it is not a guarantee. Does it rely on tons of upper body strength? Fort William and Glencoe are popular places for tourists to visit and therefore there is ample accommodation choice in both places. The walk to the falls is around two miles long and takes you through the Nevis Gorge past ancient woodland and alpine meadows. I still haven’t watched Outlander – will have to do another trip when I do! The Carn Mor Dearg Arête route is for experienced scramblers only but the easier Mountain (or Pony) Track is accessible to anyone with a good level of fitness. they do around the glen. As above, however, please be mindful of the conditions and the equipment needed! You As mentioned, outdoor activities are a must-do when making plans on things to do in Fort William. When you visit Glenfinnan, you can see the The road starts with the famous peaks of Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag and follows the River Etive through wild moorland and forests, past lochs and traditional white stone cottages to reach Loch Etive. Lucy is an award-winning blogger based in Cheltenham, UK. •, ‘the most beautiful country in the world’, One Day in Fort William & Glencoe Itinerary, 2 Days in Fort William & Glencoe Itinerary, National Trust for Scotland visitor centre. I still awe at the mountains every time I see them. Aug 10, 2019 - 13 of the best things to do in Fort William and Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, from hiking and climbing to cosy pubs and historic tales. Worth a slightly less energetic trip back though for sure. The Jacobite risings were the last attempt to reinstate the exiled Stuarts on the throne of Great Britain and Ireland. Are you planning a trip to the region? Explore Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis , take a walk in the dramatic landscapes of … You might recognise a few of those views too – the glen’s had a taste of cinema stardom as a location for Braveheart and the James Bond film Skyfall. You get views of Glen Nevis to go with your drink and there’s also a bunkhouse and restaurant attached. Walk through Glen Coe or bag a few Munros. Click here to view latest prices and schedules. In summer the resort switches its focus to walking and mountain biking. The ice climbing wall appears quite a challenge. There’s a dark side to Glencoe in among its gorgeous scenery, and you can find out more about one of the most famous events in its history at the recently refurbished Glencoe Visitor Centre. Should the weather be that tiny bit to ‘dreich’ to go exploring outdoors,  then you should consider the indoor climbing wall at the 3 Wise Monkey’s climbing centre. The castle was finally abandoned in 1654 when it was replaced by the fort which gave Fort William its name. a coffee or tea to start your day as well as some local shops. The road takes you right through the Glencoe mountain pass and should you not wish to stop, it is totally possible to enjoy Glencoe’s scenery from your car. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It’s a steep but steady, well-marked five-mile climb to the top, with panoramic views from the summit. It takes five–seven hours on average to climb Ben Nevis, starting off with a steep climb to a small loch before a zigzag path with some sheer drops. Top Things to Do in Glencoe, Scottish Highlands: See Tripadvisor's 21,168 traveller reviews and photos of 21 things to do when in Glencoe. Located on the northeastern shore of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is known as the UK's "outdoor capital." Fort William is located in the Lochaber region, which is home to The Great Glen, Glen Nevis, Glencoe and Mallaig, providing some of the most beautiful scenery on the West Coast of Scotland. for things to do in Fort William itself, then go straight to Day Two of the itinerary. Get there: Glencoe Mountain Resort is about 12 miles south of Glencoe on the A82, with the turning on your right. But whatever the time of year, it’s worth taking the cable car up onto the top of the mountain to catch the views from Eagles Rest and the summit of Creag Dhubb. But clan leader Maclain of the MacDonalds went to the wrong place and was six days late signing. One of the newest additions is Black The distillery produces a range of cask-aged single malts as well as a couple of blended whiskies – Nevis Dew and Glencoe. Also ice climbing!? And the way they turned on their hosts has made it one of the most shocking events in Scottish history. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The Failte Tour costs £5 per person and the Tasting Tour £18 per person.