Fun Filled but no Fort! (Fort William (Scotland))

Member Name: eleanorofnaboo

Product:	Fort William (Scotland)
Date:	05/11/01 (268 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: scenery, walking, see op for rest

Disadvantages: rain, more rain, no great shops

Fort William is a nice town at basically the start of the Highlands. I like living here so I though I would point out some of the good stuff to do incase you are planning a visit or holiday here.

TRANSPORT
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You can get to Fort William in a number of ways, we are on the main A82 which runs from Glasgow right through to Inverness so it is easy for driving, cycling or taking a bus. The main train line from Glasgow to Mallaig runs right through here on its way across some of the nicest scenery in Scotland, if not the world. You can also take the direct sleeper train to Fort William from London but I am not sure from which station. There isn't an airport here but we are not too far from either Inverness or Glasgow airports and Easyjet fly into both of those. You can also walk to Fort William (no really!) as we are the end of the West Highland Way and the start of the newly established Great Glen Way.

ACCOMMODATION
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Ok, now that you are in Fort William you will need somewhere to stay. There are loads of B&B's and Guest Houses in Fort William - some which are just brilliant and some which may well leave you wondering why you came here. I really hope you get the first option as I really hate it when people have been treated badly in their B&B. (I know I am a bit biased but if you go by the tourist boards star rating it helps!). We have about a dozen hotels in town - none of them are part of any of the big chain apart from one Best Western one and one Relais Chateau, the latter is Inverlochy Castle and quite an exclusive hotel....... There was a story in the papers a couple of years ago that they turned that model Caprice down as she was not their sort of clientele but I am not sure if that is true or not!!

In and around the town there are seven hostels - mainly independent but one SYHA. They are all really quite nice so if you are looking for budget accommodation you will
be fine! You can also camp - hopefully you will get nice weather. You have to stick to one oft eh proper campsites, wild camping is strictly forbidden and if you were to just pitch your tent in Glen Nevis for example you would be asked to move by the Rangers.

WHAT TO DO
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You've had a good nights sleep so what are you going to do for the day? Well, there really is tons to do here - I know that when you live somewhere you can never think of anything but visitors will not be stuck.

You may have heard that it rains a lot in Fort William - I think I would be correct in saying that we have the highest rainfall in the UK! Don't fear though if you have forgotten to pack your umbrella (nearly all shops sell them!!) as there are a good few indoor things:

West Highland Museum: This is right in the centre of town and is really nice. It is an independently owned museum and is just jammed packed full of all sorts of interesting things - whether it is military, wildlife or just general history that you are into you will find everything that you want to know there. The staff are really helpful and no matter what obscure question you have they normally know the answer

Treasures of the Earth: This museum is about three or four miles from the town centre and is an exhibition of gemstones, crystals and such. I love it there. There is this one room that I always tell people about - you go in and the lights go off...... all the stones are glowing in luminous colours. It is absolutely lovely, definitely my favourite bit. Upstairs there are dinosaur bones and stuff..... kids usually like that. Don't worry if you don't have a car to get there as the number 45 bus goes right past the front door. You can get the bus from just behind the Post Office about every 15/20 minutes during the day, and if you are lucky then the bus will be running on time (let me know if it does as that does not happen very of
ten!!).

Ben Nevis Distillery : About halfway between the centre of town and Treasures of the Earth lies the Distillery (same bus by the way). I have never been round any distillery but this one so I can't compare but I have heard that this one is much smaller that a lot of others. The tour is great and very interesting. When I did the tour, the guide (because he knew me) made me stick my head in this big vat thing and take a sniff - well take it from me, if they offer the chance of doing that run straight to the back of the line because it stinks........ No wonder I hate whisky!! Anyway, at the end of the tour there is a tasting session which is nice if you are a whisky fan. Even if you are not the least bit interested in whisky their little coffee shop is worth a visit - excellent home baking!

Old Inverlochy Castle: Just opposite the distillery is the remains of Inverlochy Castle (not to be confused with the hotel). I like the castle - it is small but nice. It is a 13th century castle and is in quite good nick considering its age. Apparently there is a tunnel which if you came across it would take you underground (funnily enough) and under the loch to the other side. I have never found it but some Duke or Earl of something sure did when he used the tunnel to escape a siege or something (easy to spot who didn't pay much attention in history isn't it!). There's no visitor centre or anything and you don't have to pay to get into the castle so it is good thing to do if you are skint!

Glen Nevis Visitor Centre: If you take a drive (or bus in the summer) into Glen Nevis you should stop at the Visitor Centre. Not only are they full of answers to obscure questions but they have lots of things to look at. I have only been in once so I may be a little wrong here but I am sure they have a scale model or plan of Ben Nevis and the surrounding hills. I wish I could remember exactly what it was now. If you have kids w
ith you then there is a really good bit for them...... they can learn all about animal tracks and stuff as well as the different trees and leaves and things. There's a wee bit where you stick your hands into the closed box and have to guess what's in the box, all a bit scary for me as I hate that sort of thing but kids love it. The proper name of the visitor centre is Ionaid Nibheis so if you are going then look out for the sign. Oh, and by the way, the visitor centre is the starting point for walking up Ben Nevis so they have parking and stuff there as well as a weather forecast for the hill.

Nevis Range: Don't be confused about this, the cable cars do not go up Ben Nevis, they go about 2000 feet up Aonach Mor which is a couple of hills along. It really doesn't matter though as the view is spectacular (especially on a nice day!!). I like going up in the cable cars but at £7 each it can be quite expensive (just as well I get up for free as one of the few perks of my job!!) - there are family tickets though which work out better if you have kids. Once you get up there, you can have a coffee/beer/meal in the restaurant and/or go for a walk. There are a couple of nice short walks and since dogs are allowed in the cable cars it is good to take the dog out and get some fresh air!! For the more adventurous/crazy types then there is a downhill mountain bike course at Nevis Range, apparently is it great but not being into that sort of thing I don't know first hand what it is like. The recent mountain bike world cup championships were held there and it was so good that they are hoping to come back. Of course, in the winter this whole centre turns into a ski centre.... more on that later!

That's really it for the 'town' things but of course there are loads more just a short drive or bus ride away:

Glenfinnan: 15 miles to the west from Fort William. Nice small village on shores of Loch Shiel. There is a
nice National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre there telling you all about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rebellions and giving you the opportunity to climb up the Glenfinnan Monument. There is also a lovely museum on the platform of the railway station which is dedicated to the West Highland Rail Line - well worth a visit.

Glencoe: Not only is there breathtaking scenery but a good load of stuff to do. The Glencoe Folk Museum is right in the village and is lovely. At the moment they are getting the roof redone so if you are interested in the traditional art of thatching then now's the time to visit. Just opened this year is the new National trust for Scotland Visitor Centre. I can't remember the full ins and outs (I wish I paid more attention when people told me things) but this centre was designed to be completely environmentally friendly. There is something about burning the moisture out of bark chippings to heat the building and a load of other stuff. If that is your sort of thing then you really should go and have a look (and ask the staff who will obviously have a lot more clue that me!!!). The centre tells you all about the Massacre of Glencoe and the clans in general. Glencoe is known for walking but if you are like me and the thought of walking up a hill brings you out in a sweat then don't panic as there are some nice little walks around a man-made lochan.. Some rich guy had the lochan made for his red-indian wife who missed her homelands. I am not sure how long ago this all was but it is one of those facts that makes you seem really knowledgeable when you can tell someone isn't it!! (Just like the "Duke escaping the castle" story above!!).

Spean Bridge: I have to mention Spean Bridge as although I live in Fort William now, I lived in the small village for my whole life before that. Spean is really small but again really nice. The Woollen Mill is excellent with it's fan-daby-dozy coffee
shop (I have to say that as my mum works there and I will be in deep trouble otherwise!!), and very interesting weaving exhibition..... Angus the weaver is there on weekdays working the loom and if you have any questions he loves to tell you all about weaving. He has actually designed a few tartans and if I remember correctly (and you know me.....) he won an award for his "Isle of Skye" tartan. Also in the village is the famous Commando Memorial, which as you would guess from the name is a memorial to all the commandos who died in the war - they used the area of Spean Bridge through to Achnacarry as their training ground. If you like that sort of thing then the museum opposite Achnacarry Castle (sorry, castle is not open to visitors) has tons of information on that and the Clan Cameron. The Cameron's are from this area and Achnacarry castle is the home of the Chief of the Clan, Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, a very nice man!

FOR THE OUTDOORY TYPES
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If you are the sporty type (not a bit like me) then you are not going to be bored here. Obviously there is loads of hills so therefore loads of hill walking and mountaineering. Ben Nevis is a really popular walk, being the highest mountain in the UK at 4406feet/1344metres. I did this walk in 1989 and would never do it again. A lot of people (especially those who have been up more that one mountain in their lives!!) tell me that Ben Nevis is actually not that great a walk compared to some other hills but I wouldn't know that first hand. The walk is not an easy walk and you have to be properly prepared (give the tourist office a phone and get a leaflet telling you all about as it is better to be safe than sorry isn't it!) for bad weather etc. Please do not go up in trainers or with little kids......... you may think that is funny but you would not believe the amount of nutters who think shorts and sandals are adequate clothing for hill w
alking!

I know that I am running out of space here and that having gotten this far you should get a medal or something so I am just going to skim the outdoor sports bit - and anyway I have never done any of them so I shouldn't really write an op on them should I!?!

Other sports that you can do here include ski-ing (Nevis Range & Glencoe - let's hope you get enough good snow!), canyoning (jumping off waterfalls as far as I can tell), mountain biking, canoeing/kayaking, paragliding, most water sports, pony trekking, fishing..... the list goes on.......

TOURS
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There are a couple of bus tours going out of town so don't worry if you don't have a car. Some just do the close stuff and a couple go to Skye, Oban, Mull & Iona. From town there is a good short cruise which gives you a good chance to see seals in their natural habitat - we went on a school trip there once and were severely disappointed that you don't get out of the boat to cuddle baby seals!!! There is also a good walk round the town centre where the guide tells you all the interesting stuff about Fort William...... did you know that Fort William was the first place in the UK to have electric street lamps....... there you go, if nothing else I have given you a piece of trivia to impress your friends with! From June to September you can take the Jacobite Steam train from Fort William to Mallaig. This is very popular and you have to book ahead to make sure that you get a space. It is about double the price of the normal train and takes a bit longer but it is a really nice day out.

Lastly.........
It doesn't always rain in Fort William, it just feels like it does. If you visit when it is raining then come back in May....... It's a whole different world!!

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