Conveniently located between Glasgow and Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands and islands, Fort William is a great place to plan a stop on a Scotland road trip. It happens to be at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom too. There are tons of other cool things to do in Fort William Scotland for lovers of the great outdoors, adventure, and nature too.
In fact, the town of Fort William is famous for being the outdoor capital of the UK. Epic mountain trails, waterfalls, and the banks of Loch Linnhe are only a short walk from the town center. There are even ski resorts within the Fort William area.
While Fort William might be a great place to visit for outdoor activities, it also has a rich history with lots of castles and monuments. It’s a popular destination for Harry Potter fans too! Find out all of the best things to do in Fort William to make the most of your time there.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN FORT WILLIAM
JACOBITE STEAM TRAIN
One of the best things to do in Fort William is to ride the Jacobite Steam Train. It’s probably the greatest railway journey in Scotland, if not the UK.
It is a non-negotiable activity for fans of the Harry Potter films because yes, the Jacobite Steam Train is essentially the Hogwarts Express!
The Jacobite Steam Train (named during the 250th anniversary of the Jacobite political movement) runs along the West Highland Line from Fort William train station to Mallaig. It rides over the railway bridge that the Hogwarts Express does in the movies.
This train journey also allows you to pass other filming locations from the movie like Loch Eil.
It’s a four-hour round-trip so it’s a whole-day commitment but is 100% worth it. This steam train only runs once or twice a day during the warmer months so booking ahead is essential.
GLENFINNAN VIADUCT VIEWPOINTS
Not only can you ride the railway line that the Hogwarts Express took in the Harry Potter movies, but you can also watch the bright red train cross the bridge from several viewpoints. The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the official name of this bridge and it’s only a 35-minute drive from Fort William.
Of course, you can see the bridge at any time but it’s much better if you can watch the train too. Check out the timetables for the trains on the Jacobite Steam Train website as you’ll want to be in a good spot to see the steam train as it passes.
It passes the bridge around 30 minutes after departing Fort William station. The Viewpoint of Glenfinnan Viaduct, near Glenfinnan Trail, is the perfect place to watch the train cross and take as many photos and videos as you can.
WEST HIGHLAND MUSEUM
Housed in a former bank, the West Highland Museum is one of the oldest museums in the Highlands. It’s one of the best places to learn about the local history and life in Fort William throughout the centuries.
Exhibitions at the West Highland Museum also cover other parts of Scottish history like the 18th-century Jacobite Rising with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the world wars. Even better, the museum is free to enter!
BEN NEVIS DISTILLERY
One of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland, the Ben Nevis Distillery is one of the best things to do in Fort William for whisky connoisseurs. Booking a tour of the distillery with an on-site tasting should be on your itinerary if you’re not traveling with kids or planning to hike the next day.
Just in case you needed further persuading, they have an onsite bar and highland cows in the fields outside of the warehouse.
LOCH LINNHE BOAT TRIP
Fort William sits on the banks of Loch Linnhe, a beautiful lake that you can see from the Pier Promenade or a fun boat trip.
Top tip: If you take the morning boat trip during peak season, you should be able to watch the Jacobite Steam Train roaring along the coastline! It’s a fun way to see this cool attraction from a different perspective.
NEPTUNE’S STAIRCASE
This unique series of locks of the Caledonian Canal is partly a cool attraction and partly an amazing feat of engineering.
Thomas Telford created Neptune’s Staircase in the early 19th century. It’s the longest staircase lock in the world and was made to adjust the change in elevation as boats sailed from Loch Lochy down to Loch Linnhe.
You can walk along and across the eight locks and try to work out how on earth Telford designed this amazing feature! As a bonus, there’s also a nice viewpoint from the top of the locks.
FORT WILLIAM TOWN CENTRE
Like most mountain towns, the centre of Fort William is bursting with hiking and mountain biking gear stores, local souvenir shops, lively bars, and restaurants.
There are plenty of things to do in Fort Willian town centre when you’re not scaling a peak or chasing waterfalls. The Highland Cinema is a state-of-the-art movie theater and the Highland offers a huge selection of local interest and popular titles.
The High Street is where you’ll find most of the restaurants serving international cuisine. The Black Isle Bar is a particular favorite as it’s housed in a former church with a working pizza oven.
NEVIS RANGE MOUNTAIN GONDOLA
Want to experience the panoramic views you can only witness on top of a hill with none of the effort? Nevis Range Mountain Gondola can grant you that wish and it’s the only one of its kind in the UK.
Just a short 10-minute drive out of time, the gondola will take you 650m/2,133 ft up Aonach Mòr next to Ben Nevis.
GLENFINNAN MONUMENT
After you watch the Jacobite Steam Train ride over Glenfinnan Viaduct, head down to Loch Shiel where you’ll find a tall monolith called Glenfinnan Monument.
This structure is dedicated to the Highlanders who gave their lives to the Jacobite Cause. Prince Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, raised his standard here in 1745. It started the last Jacobite Uprising which sought to reinstate a Stuart king of Scotland.
Views of Loch Shiel from this monument are just stunning too.
BEN NEVIS VISITOR CENTRE
At the base of Ben Nevis, you’ll find Achintee Farm, Ben Nevis Inn, and the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre. It’s a huge hub and gift shop for all outdoorspeople in the area but particularly for hikers wishing to summit Ben Nevis and mountain bikers wanting to ride trails.
It’s well worth heading into the center to ask the local guides for weather and condition updates. They’re the experts, after all, and could give you some essential safety advice you wouldn’t know otherwise.
You can also purchase some last-minute essential gear and enjoy a well-deserved cup of coffee and slice of cake from their cafe after your hike.
GLEN NEVIS
Glen Nevis is the valley that runs alongside Ben Nevis and it’s worth visiting for two very different but equally awesome reasons.
First, it’s one of the best places in the region to spot wildlife like red deer and golden eagles. You can book a guided walk in the glen at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre.
Second, the Glen Nevis Car Park features as the village in the epic movie about Scottish hero William Wallace Braveheart. You’ll see a sign stating as much and it does offer the best views of the valley.
STEALL WATERFALL
Continue along the Glen Nevis road and you’ll soon reach the car park and trailhead for the short walk to Steall Waterfall. It’s the second-highest waterfall in the UK (after Eas a’Chual Aluinn Waterfall further north in Scotland) with a single drop of 120 m/394 ft.
It’s a rocky yet easy walk to Steall Falls. Once you’re there, you can walk over a wire bridge across the river to get a closer look.
FORT WILLIAM GOLF CLUB
Scotland literally wrote the book on the game of golf. If you play for your local club at home, you’ll enjoy putting a few holes at Fort William Golf Club.
The website says visitors are made ‘especially welcome’ and there’s no need to supply a handicap certificate, book tee times, or bring clubs. Just show up and have a fun afternoon playing golf in the country where it was invented!
OLD INVERLOCHY CASTLE
Only a five-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the center of Fort William, the Old Inverlochy Castle was one of the most important castles in Scotland.
This 13th-century castle sits on the banks of the River Lochy at the site of the Battle of Inverlochy. It’s not a very well-known battle outside of the area but it occurred during 1645 as part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms between Scotland, Ireland, and England.
Due to the delicate nature of the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle, some parts have restricted access. It’s still pretty cool to see such a historic building up close!
LOCHABER GEOPARK
The Lochaber Geopark is not in Fort William. In fact, it’s not even restricted to mainland Scotland. These geological landscapes stretch from Rannoch Moor to Glen Garry, to Loch Laggan, and across the water to the Small Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rum, and Canna.
You can learn more about the millions of years of geological changes that have occurred in this region at the Lochaber Geopark Visitor Centre in Fort William. Then, take a map and explore these diverse coastlines, cliffs, and beaches for yourself.
OLD FORT OF FORT WILLIAM
Fort William isn’t named ‘Fort’ William just to sound intimidating. Once upon a time, there was a fort here! Unfortunately, there isn’t much of it left.
However, you can see what remains of the 17th-century old fort on the banks of the loch near Fort William train station. There is still a stone wall, a gate, and a helpful diagram so you can look at the empty lawn and imagine an imposing fortress staring back.
HIKES TO DO IN AND AROUND FORT WILLIAM
One of the most popular things to do in Fort William is… To go hiking! No prizes for guessing that. Here are the favourite places to hike by the thousands of adventurous tourists that visit Fort William every year.
BEN NEVIS PEAK
Let’s start with the most obvious: Climbing Ben Nevis. This is the highest mountain in the UK and is a bucket list tick for many hikers.
It towers 1,345 m/4,413 ft above sea level and it’s so high, the summit is only visible from Fort William around 30 days per year.
Due to the layer of mist that constantly surrounds the tallest mountain in Scotland, visibility at the summit is low. Even if you have a great fitness level, Ben Nevis is not an ideal hike for novices or fair weather-only hikers. There are plenty of other equally challenging but safer peaks to climb in the local area.
WEST HIGHLAND WAY
Climbing Ben Nevis is a vertical challenge, but hiking the West Highland Way is a long-distance one. Scotland has 29 Great Trails but the West Highland Way is by far the most popular, with around 30,000 hikers tackling the 96-mile/154-km stretch from Milngavie to Fort William every year.
It takes six to eight days to hike the West Highland Way which includes hiking through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and on a disused railway line.
GREAT GLEN WAY
An alternative to the West Highland Way (or an addition, depending on how many vacation days you have!) is the Great Glen Way. This is another of Scotland’s Great Trails but instead of finishing in Fort William, it begins there.
The Great Glen Way covers 79 miles/127 km from Fort William to Inverness taking between four to seven days to complete. This trail passes several lochs such as Loch Ness and Loch Oich and is generally an easier route than the West Highland Way as it mostly follows a historic canal line.
COW HILL TRAIL
Beginner hikers who aren’t quite ready to climb record-breaking peaks and multi-day treks should check out the Cow Hill Trail. It’s a 6.2 mile/10 km out and back trail that you can begin from Fort William town center.
From Cow Hill Viewpoint, you’ll be able to see over the entire town of Fort William, Loch Linnhe, and the mountain range behind.
DAY TRIPS FROM FORT WILLIAM
Fort William is near many charming villages and seaside towns that would be perfect for a day trip or a stop on a road trip to the Scottish Highlands. Here are some easy options for day trips from Fort William.
GLENCOE
Only a short drive south of Fort William, chances are you passed Glencoe on your journey along the main road north! But it’s well worth spending more time visiting the cultural attractions in Glencoe village or hiking in the dramatic beauty in the valley of Glen Coe.
Check out the Hidden Valley hike for incredible views of Glen Etive and visit the Glencoe Folk Museum to learn more about the dark history of the local area.
MALLAIG
If you are riding the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William, you will have a few hours to spend in the small village of Mallaig. Don’t just grab a bag of fish and chips and wait for your return journey as there are plenty of things to do in this cute fishing town.
It’s close to two beautiful lochs: Loch Morar and Loch Nevis, with the former being the deepest freshwater loch in Scotland. Mallaig also has lots of gift shops and a circular walking trail around the harbor.
OBAN
Known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ or the ‘Seafood Capital of Scotland’, the seaside resort town of Oban is only a one-hour drive from Fort William. It’s the perfect place to see historic sites like Dunstaffnage Castle or take a boat to many popular British Isles like the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Kerrera.
ANNUAL EVENTS IN FORT WILLIAM
While it’s a thriving tourist destination, Fort William is not the largest town in the Highland region of Lochaber. Many of the best annual events are in the local area and here are some you may want to check out if the dates work for your trip.
- Burns’ Night (January 25th)
- Fort William Mountain Festival (February)
- Loch Shiel Spring Festival (April – May)
- Scottish Six-Day Trials (May)
- Highland Games (July – August)
- The Agricultural Show (August)
- The Glenfinnan Gathering (August)
- The Ben Nevis Race (September)
- Bonfire Night (November 5th)
- St Andrews Day (November 30th)
- Scottish Hogmanay (December 31st)
Start Planning Your Trip to Fort William Scotland
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Flying into For William
Looking for the best flights to Glasgow, the closest major airport to Fort William? We love to track flights via Expedia.com. Not only do we find great rates, but we earn points to use on future travel too.
You can also keep an eye on GOING deals, which is how we got to Ireland roundtrip from LAX for under $500 each. The free version is good, but the paid subscription will save you way more than the cost of the actual subscription.
Hotels in Fort William
Find more Fort William hotels HERE
Need a Rental Car?
We use DiscoverCars.com to get the best rates and availability on rental cars. Find your car HERE, along with all of the extras you may need (insurance, car seats, ski racks, etc.)
Travel Insurance
Do NOT forget to buy travel insurance for your trip, even if you booked through a travel agent.
Things do and will happen and it’s cheaper to buy travel insurance ahead of time instead of paying out of pocket later.
Check out Travelex for rates on a single trip or an annual plan that could be right for you if you take more than one or two trips a year.
Buy a SIM card?
We all love our smartphones, but we don’t love those international roaming charges. Even if you have a travel pass, you could max out your service, which is why we always grab an eSIM card to pop into our phones. It’s especially great for the kids, as it limits what they can do and how much data they can use, but still allows them to text friends back home.
Check out Airalo, our preferred eSIM card store for the best prices on eSIM cards and international data plans.
Don’t Forget about Your Vacation Photos!
Don’t forget to book your Flytographer session to capture awesome memories from your trip. We do it as often as we can, even though I’m a photographer. Sometimes, this mom just wants to be in a few photos with her kiddos.
How to get to Fort William Scotland
Flying to Fort William
If you’re coming from afar, the closest major airport is Glasgow Airport. From there, you can either rent a car or hop on a train or bus to Fort William.
Take the train to Fort Willam
Taking the train is a fantastic option, especially if you love scenic views. The West Highland Line runs from Glasgow to Fort William, and it’s known as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. Keep your camera handy!
How to get to Fort William by Bus
Buses also run from Glasgow to Fort William, and they’re a budget-friendly choice. They might take a bit longer, but you’ll get to see some lovely landscapes along the way.
Drive to Fort William
If you prefer road trips, rent a car in Glasgow or Edinburgh, and take the A82 route to Fort William. This drive will take you through the stunning Scottish Highlands.
