Attractions and Activities
The Highlands of Scotland and Lochaber boast beautiful natural and historic landscapes, with a bounty of activities catering for all experiences.
From stunning natural and historic landscapes, captivating wildlife and delicious food and drink, it is all available right on your doorstep.
Lochaber – The Outdoor Capital of the UK
Whether it’s stunning landscapes, breath-taking lochs, magical adventures and attractions, or hiking and sports that interest you, we've selected the best sights and experiences of Lochaber so you can enjoy yourself as much as possible.
A packed programme of inspirational events and festivals take place throughout the year, as well as insider tips from across the country, guarantee fantastic memories of your visit to Scotland.
Ben Nevis
The majestic mountain that is Ben Nevis (Scottish Gaelic; Beinn Nibheis), towers behind the Outdoor Capital of the UK providing the perfect backdrop for the town of Fort William.
The Munro stands at over 4,409ft above sea level and can be accessed by most by the tourist path which winds its way up from the beautiful Glen Nevis.
There are 2,300ft cliffs, some of the highest in the UK, on the North face of the Ben, which provide exciting ice and rock climbs for experienced mountaineers.
The summit is a collapsed dome of an ancient volcano and still has the ruins of an observatory that was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904. Staff collected meteorological data during this period and to this day this information is still important for understanding Scottish mountain weather.
Aonach Mor
Aonach Mor is the mountain home of Fort William’s local ski resort Nevis Range. It has a gondola that is used all year round, from accessing Winter skiing and snowboarding, to giving walkers a peaceful ride to over 2000ft up to the top station.
In the Summer the gondola gives lifts to mountain bike riders to the top of the downhill mountain biking track who come to take part in the Mountain Bike World Cup which has been hosted over eleven times since 2002.
There is an array of biking tracks weaving their way around Aonach Mor for riders of all levels with bike hire close by for visitors.
There is over 25 miles of relaxing forestry trails to be explored as well as High Wire Adventure for children and adults alike.
Dining is readily available at the Snowgoose Restaurant and Pinemarten Cafe Bar which also hold Summer Ceilidh nights where you can relax and take in the stunning views overlooking Lochaber.
Loch Linnhe
Crolinnhe Guest House is in the fortunate position of having elevated views over the picturesque Loch Linnhe, a sea loch following the line of the Great Glen Fault running 50 kilometres between Inverness on the Northeast coast and the Firth of Lorne in the Southwest.
Fort William lays at the Northeast end of Loch Linnhe at the mouth of the River Lochy.
Loch Linnhe has an abundance of activities for you to participate in, from a relaxing cruise on Souter’s Lass which takes you from the town pier in Fort William southwards to Seal Island.
You can catch daily boat trips on the SeaXplorer and take in spectacular scenery including views of Ben Nevis, Glencoe and towards the Sound of Mull.
Explore the head of Loch Linnhe taking in the sights with a gentle stroll along Caol Beach which has breath-taking views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor.
Visit Neptunes Staircase, a staircase of eight locks (Britain’s longest) that lifts boats 64 feet from the Caledonian Canal to Loch Linnhe, an amazing engineering feat designed by Thomas Telford in 1822.
The list is endless and there is no better fun than splashing about on the waters of Loch Linnhe.
The Jacobite Steam Train
The Jacobite Steam Train will take you 84 miles along one of the great railway journeys of the world. Starting near the magnificent Ben Nevis in Fort William before meandering along beautiful Scottish countryside westerly to the picturesque fishing town of Mallaig.
In Mallaig you can see the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna and the southern tip of Skye on a clear day and catch a ferry over to some of these islands if you wish to explore further.
At the head of Loch Shiel, you will pass Glenfinnan Village with its impressive monument, built in 1815 to mark where “Bonnie Prince Charlie” raised his standard at the start of the 1745 “Jacobite Rising.”
You can also feel like Harry Potter as you fly over the infamous Glenfinnan Viaduct used in the recent films. The train stops at other scenic villages along the way such as Lochailort, Arisaig and Morar with its beautiful white sand beaches.
“The Steamy” as it is affectionally known is a real treat for all ages.
Hiking
Fort William has a bountiful supply of trails, hikes and climbs from the novice to the expert to enjoy and discover the beauty of the Lochaber.
From forest walks along Glen Nevis through Nevis Gorge, up to the impressive Steall Falls, you can marvel at Neptune’s Staircase and watch the boats as they ‘climb the stairs’ and then take a peaceful walk alongside the canal with its impressive views of Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor and looking southerly down Loch Linnhe.
Glencoe with its dramatic scenery, steeped in history is a short drive away with hikes such as The Lost Valley or The Devil’s Staircase; part of The West-Highland Way.
For the adventurous, Ben Nevis awaits, taking the tourist path to the summit, or tackling “The North Face of The Ben” for the experienced.
The opportunities for exploring Lochaber are endless.
Sports
It’s not surprising that Fort William is known as ‘The Outdoor Capital of the UK’, with activities such as hiking, climbing, water sports, golfing, mountain biking, pony trekking, fly fishing, quad biking, sailing, trial biking, kayaking, abseiling to name just a few.
How much time do you have to have some fun?
Historic Sites
The Highlands of Scotland are steeped in history and the Fort William area has an abundance of castles to explore. Some are ruins with dramatic outlines and others are still used to this day, for example, Inverlochy Castle built in 1280, is situated at the mouth of the River Lochy close to Fort William.
Be careful not to get mixed up with one of Queen Victoria’s favourite retreats, “New” Inverlochy Castle built in 1863, which is nearby.
Eilean Donan Castle, an instantly recognisable image, built near the bridge over to the Isle of Skye on a small tidal island where three lochs meet.
Castle Stalker is nestled close to the shore in Port Appin between Glencoe and Oban.
Iconic landmarks are here waiting for you to discover them.
Ben Nevis Distillery
Ben Nevis Distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries since 1826. The distillery is situated on the North side of Fort William near Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis, where traditional methods are still used to produce quality single and blended malt whiskeys.
Take a guided tour around the distillery where you can discover how the whiskey is made from the purest of Scottish water sourced locally, barley and yeast with a hint of peat smoke or reek.
Enjoy a dram of The Dew of Ben Nevis at your leisure in the comfort of Crolinne’s drawing room, a true taste of Scotland.
