Discover 7 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Fort William (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Ben Nevis, Inverlochy Castle, and Eas Chia-aig. Also, be sure to include West Highland Museum in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Fort William (Scotland).
Table of Contents
Ben Nevis
Landmark mountain for hiking and climbing. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland, the United Kingdom and the British Isles. The summit is 1,345 metres above sea level and is the highest land in any direction for 459 miles. Ben Nevis stands at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Highland region of Lochaber, close to the town of Fort William.
The mountain is a popular destination, attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year, around three-quarters of which use the Mountain Track from Glen Nevis. The 700-metre (2,300 ft) cliffs of the north face are among the highest in Scotland, providing classic scrambles and rock climbs of all difficulties for climbers and mountaineers. They are also the principal locations in Scotland for ice climbing.
The summit, which is the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano, features the ruins of an observatory which was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904. The meteorological data collected during this period are still important for understanding Scottish mountain weather. C. T. R. Wilson was inspired to invent the cloud chamber after a period spent working at the observatory.[1]
Inverlochy Castle
Castle in Torlundy, Scotland. Inverlochy Castle is a ruined, 13th-century castle near Inverlochy and Fort William, Highland, Scotland. The site of two battles, the castle remains largely unchanged since its construction. It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.[2]
Eas Chia-aig
Tourist attraction in Spean Bridge, Scotland. Eas Chia-aig is a waterfall on the Abhainn Chia-aig, in the Highlands of Scotland. The falls are located between Loch Lochy and Loch Arkaig, near Achnacarry and Clunes.[3]
West Highland Museum
Museum in Fort William, Scotland. The West Highland Museum tells the story of the Scottish Highlands and the Islands. It aims to cover every aspect of West Highland history, including that of Fort William, where it is located in a listed building in the centre of the town. It also hosts other exhibits for archaeology and wildlife. The museum, which has always been independent, is a member of Museums Galleries Scotland.[4]
Address: Cameron Square, PH33 6AJ Fort Willliam
Glen Nevis
Waterfall. Glen Nevis is a glen in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, with Fort William at its foot. It is bordered to the south by the Mamore range, and to the north by the highest mountains in the British Isles: Ben Nevis, Càrn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mòr, and Aonach Beag. It is home to one of the three highest waterfalls in Scotland, Steall Falls, where the Allt Coire a'Mhail joins the Water of Nevis in the glen. Below the waterfall is a steeply walled and impressive gorge. The scenic beauty of the glen has led to its inclusion the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.
A public road runs for 10 km up the Glen, becoming single track after 7 km. There is a hotel, Scottish Youth Hostels Association hostel, and campsite at the bottom of the glen, near Fort William, and a small hamlet further up at Achriabhach.
From the car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road, a path continues through a gorge. After a scramble up this rocky path, the view opens up and the path leads into the peaceful upper glen. A wire bridge crosses to the base of the waterfall. Rebuilt by famous engineer Tom Russell while a member of Junior Royal Engineers (Dover) JLRRE 82 Fld Sqn MacPhee troop This bridge was closed for three months in 2010 when one of the cables snapped.
The path has been improved periodically to ease access and to reduce the damaging effects of soil erosion caused by many walkers, but it remains challenging in places, and as the sign at the car park warns, potentially fatal. There have been several accidents in Glen Nevis, including the death of a young walker in August 2006.
Several films have been shot in Glen Nevis, including some scenes from the Harry Potter movies, Highlander, Highlander III: The Sorcerer, Braveheart and Rob Roy.[5]
Ben Nevis Distillery
Distillery in Scotland. Ben Nevis distillery is a whisky distillery in Fort William, Scotland. It is situated at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, which rises to 1,345 m above sea level. A coastal distillery in the Western Highlands, the distillery draws its water from the Allt a’Mhuilinn which originates from two pools on Ben Nevis, Coire Leis and Coire na’Ciste. Founded in 1825 as an independent enterprise, it has been owned by Nikka Whisky Distilling of Tokyo, Japan, since 1989.[6]
Address: Lochy Bridge, Fort William
HMS St Christopher
HMS St Christopher was a Coastal Forces Training Base of the Royal Navy operational during the Second World War and located in and around Fort William, Scotland.[7]