Outdoor Activities

There is a wealth of opportunity for all kinds of outdoor pursuits around Fort William and Glen Nevis.

Walking & Hiking

Glen Nevis and the surrounding area has a fantastic range of walks and hiking routes for all levels of ability. Whether you want to climb Ben Nevis, explore a forest or amble along a riverside you'll find a walk that's right for you!

The website walkhighlands.co.uk is a great resource for walking and hiking in the Highlands. You can find details of local routes here: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/fortwilliam.shtml.

The Highland Mountain Company (thehmcompany.co.uk) offer a selection of guided walks and climbs in and around Glen Nevis for all levels of ability. Ranging from the spectacular Munros of the Mamores and Ben Nevis to the secluded Steal Waterfall and the River Nevis. They also do introductions to climbing and abseiling for those looking to try something new!

If you are interested in a long-distance route then Hill Walk tours offer a tour of the West Highland Way from Glasgow to Fort William.

Steall Falls at the end of Glen Nevis is the second highest waterfall in Scotland and this spectacular cascade is accessed through the gorge amidst stunning mountain scenery. It can be a long hike from the park to the head of the Glen, and a good tip is to catch the bus - Route N42, to the top car park and the start of the gorge. http://www.shielbuses.co.uk/timetables

Cycling

Fort William is a popular destination for cyclists. Nearby forests have a network of tracks that make ideal cycle routes and there are there are many purpose-built cycle paths in the area. There are also lots of quiet roads leading to remote Highland communities, which make for great day trips.

Find out more about the range of cycle facilities available nearby at the ridefortwilliam.co.uk website.

Fort William hosts the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup (fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk) at the nearby Nevis Range (bike.nevisrange.co.uk). There is a great range of facilities for cyclists and mountain bikers of all levels around Nevis Range and over 25 miles of forest cycling tracks. A dedicated cycle track leads from Fort William to the tracks.

Nevis Range also has a world class downhill mountain bike track - take your bike up the mountain in a gondola then cycle down again at high speed. Not for the faint hearted!

Skiing & Snowboarding

The slopes of Aonach Mor open to skiers and snowboarders in the winter. When the weather is good you'll find some fantastic runs for all levels of ability. Find out more at the Nevis Range website: snowsports.nevisrange.co.uk.

Other Outdoor Sports

You'll find that there is a huge range of outdoor activities available around Fort William - the town hasn't earned the title of 'Outdoor Capital of the UK' for nothing! We are lucky to have mountains, forests, lochs and the North Sea all within easy reach so if you are interested in trying kayaking, go karting, canyoning, salmon fishing, quad biking or a number of other activities then you'll find them here!

The Outdoor Capital website (outdoorcapital.co.uk) is a useful resource to find out more about the activities available.

Sightseeing

There are some fascinating historical sites and visitor attractions around Fort William and Glen Nevis. A few of these are listed below. Check out the Outdoor Capital (outdoorcapital.co.uk) website for more ideas!

Eilean Donan Castle - An iconic castle on the road to the Isle of Skye: eileandonancastle.com.

The Jacobite Steam Train - Also known as the Harry Potter steam train since the route appeared in the Harry Potter films. It's a fantastic journey going from Fort William to Mallaig, which runs from June to September. This is a very popular attraction so it's worth booking your tickets early to avoid disappointment: http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/Jacobite_Details.html.

Glenfinnan Monument & Viaduct - A fantastic viewpoint at the head of Glenfinnan with a visitor centre where you can find out about the Glenfinnan Monument and the 1745 uprising. You also get an excellent view of Glenfinnan viaduct, which you may recognise from the Harry Potter films: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/glenfinnan-monument

Nature Spotting - Red deer, pine martens, otters, red squirrels, dolphins, seals, grouse, golden eagles... The Highlands have an interesting diversity of wildlife. Boat tours and guided walks are available. 

Treasures of the Earth - A fantastic collection of gems, crystals and fossils: treasuresoftheearth.co.uk.

Inverlochy Castle - A ruined castle dating back to the 13th Century: inverlochycastle.co.uk.

Neptune's Staircase & The Caledonian Canal - The Caledonian Canal links Fort William to Inverness, giving boats a passage between the east and west coasts. Neptune's staircase is a series of eights locks (the longest staircase lock in the UK) built by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century. There are paths on either side of the canal that you can stroll along.

West Highland Museum - Find out about the history of Fort William and the surrounding area at our local museum: westhighlandmuseum.org.uk.

Mountain Gondola - Take a trip up the Nevis Range gondola and enjoy the views: nevisrange.co.uk.