Making the most of Fort William Scotland
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Set in the Heart of the Highlands beneath Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain, this port has ships anchor in Loch Linnhe. It claims Scotland's shortest tender trip, if not the world's; tenders reach the Fort William Pontoons, where passengers can board coaches for pre-booked tours.
Independent explorers have a short walk from the Fort William Pontoons into the town center, which has the amenities needed, including shops, pharmacy, banks, restaurants, cafes, museum and more.
Fort William has one of the West Highlands' most sheltered harbors. It is Lochaber's largest town and the UK's Outdoor Capital, in the Heart of the Highlands below Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain (1344m). Its Gaelic name, ‘An Gearasdan’, means The Garrison, and dates from the Dutch King William of Orange around 1690. Remains of the Old Fort, built to replace Old Inverlochy Castle and defend the River Lochy entrance, can still be visited. The Town Center has a variety of shops and restaurants for all…
Tourist Information is at the east end of the High Street, with a selection of walking maps. Highlights:
- The Old Fort – a 10 minutes walk along the waterfront.
- Old Inverlochy Castle – a 5 minute taxi journey.
- The Parade – at the High Street's east end, where soldiers paraded from the Fort.
- West Highland Museum – free to visit, with a fascinating view of the area's history.
- The Sore Feet Statue – at the west end of the High Street, at the end of the West Highland Way.
- Gardens – from the pontoons, turn right out of the car park and continue along the waterfront.
- Ben Nevis – the UK's highest mountain.
Getting around
Fort William's compact center is easy to explore on foot.
The Jacobite steam train travels from Fort William to Mallaig, taking passengers like Harry Potter across the Glenfinnen viaduct, past the Bonnie Prince Charlie memorial, and ending in the lovely fishing village of Mallaig.
Take the UK's only mountain gondola for remarkable views and coffee at the restaurant atop Aonach Mor on the Nevis Range.
Join a guided tour of the 178 year old Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery to 'take a dram' and savour Uisge beatha, the water of life. You can also visit one of Scotland's most scenic glens, where Rob Roy and Braveheart were filmed, see Lower Falls and perhaps watch young people jump into the deep water below.
Travel down to Glencoe, scene of a notorious crime: Clan Campbell soldiers were lodged there in a snow storm, stayed with hosts for around 2 weeks, then received orders to slay them.
Take a taxi via the Commando Memorial to Loch Ness and Fort Augustus, and see whether Nessie appears.
Local Buses leave from the terminal beside Morrisons Supermarket for locations around Lochaber. Services are not always frequent, so check the timetable before committing to one.
Taxis wait outside the Job Center in the west of town and Tesco Supermarket at the east end. Fares are not fixed, so agree the price before starting your journey.
Nearby places
Fort William's attractions include looking for Nessie in Loch Ness, Inverlochy Castle, the Nevis Mountain Range experience and Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery.
Food and shopping
Small stores are generally open 6 or 7 days each week, from 9am to 6pm. Larger stores commonly trade 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm, although they close earlier on Sundays.
Money
The pound (£) is the currency throughout the UK, and pounds may be called quid. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM), informally called 'holes in the wall', are widely available and generally dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is used throughout the country, though accents can be strong.
Most cafe's and restaurants provide free WiFi.
Cameron Square in the town center has free WIFI (Network: West Highland Museum, Password: Jacobite). Fort William Library also offers it on showing ID. For emergencies, call 999, or 101 for non-urgent calls.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours are generally:
Small stores trade 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm). Larger stores often stay open until 9PM and Hypermarts frequently run 24/7.