Local Area
The town itself can be very busy in the summer. Fort William has always been popular with tourists and since the nearby filming of movies such as Rob Roy, Braveheart and even Harry Potter, even more people are flocking to the area.
From the town pier (near the Crannog Restaurant - highly recommended for seafood) you can take a pleasant boat trip down Loch Linnhe. Trips last around 90 minutes and nearly always involve multiple seal sightings. Also from the pier you can take the passenger ferry accross Loch Linnhe to Camusnagaul (Bay of the Strangers). There are several sailings a day and bicycles can be taken onboard.
Also near the town is Ben Nevis. At 4406 feet or 1344 metres, this is the highest mountain in Britain. 'Nevis' comes from the Gaelic word for heaven or clouds, so Ben Nevis could be taken to mean 'mountain with its head in the clouds' or 'cloudy mountain'. The top is covered in snow for most of the winter and spring and the summit is shrouded in clouds for about 300 days a year. There is a well-established path to the summit so climbing it should be within the capabilities of any keen hill walker.
Alongside Ben Nevis is Nevis Range. Seven miles north of Fort William, it is home to a gondola system which takes visitors 2150 feet up the slopes of Aonach Mor in 15 minutes, covering a distance of 1.4 miles. At the top there's a nice restaurant which boasts stunning views over Fort William and the surrounding area. Summer visitors can even learn to ski on the dry ski slope. On a clear day you can see the Isle of Skye and the Inner Hebrides to the west.
Two reasonably easy walks start at the top gondola station. One walk is to Sgurr Finnisg-aig (approximately 20 minutes each way) which will give you great views of the Great Glen and the hills of Knoydart. The other walk is to Meall Beag (approximately 30 minutes each way) which gives similarly great views over Loch Linnhe. Other routes are possible on Nevis Range but are really only recommended for experienced hill walkers or mountaineers.
If you fancy getting away for a bit, the Jacobite steam train runs daily in the summer months and takes you on the world famous West Highland Line. It will take you on the same route travelled by the Harry Potter steam train and allow you a few hours in which to enjoy the quiet seaside town of Mallaig.
For more information on all the activities available in the Fort William area, visit the Outdoor Capital of the UK website.
