Top Things to do in Fort William
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The 10 Best Things to do Good for Big Groups in Fort William, Scotland
Known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK, Fort William is at the heart of a wide range of exciting activity centres. Visitors enjoy easy access to exhilarating hillwalking, mountain climbing, snow sports and water sports — as well as the gentler pleasures of a refreshing day spent fishing, walking in the country or cycling. Capture the spirit of the Scottish Highlands by taking in its stunning landscapes, tasting the area’s authentic whiskies and ales, and exploring its fascinating museums.
Restaurants in Fort William
1. Rockhopper Sea Kayaking - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 163 reviews
Rockhopper Sea Kayaking offers high quality guided half/full and overnight Sea kayaking tours. We are based just outside Fort William and run trips within an hour of our base. We also have a Canoe/Bike Hire Hub based at Neptunes Staircase Banavie.
2. Steall Waterfall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,434 reviews
Reviewed By I4996RBjoannap - Brough, United Kingdom
Drive down a single track road until it comes to an end which is a small free car park so arrive early; there was another car park at beginningof road however it charged for parking and would be quite a walk to get there. We arrived at 9am and had no issues with parking. A great walk along the river with mini waterfalls coming over the path which then opens up to see Steall Waterfall. There is a wire bridge to get closer to see it however there is a great view without crossing. We were lucky enough not to have midges even though it was warm and dry.
3. Vertical Descents Scotland
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 640 reviews
Vertical Descents Scotland is a modern Adventure Activity Centre operating from our HQ in Fort William, we also have a mobile base that covers the East of Scotland. We provide fun, adrenaline-fuelled activities to Families, Groups, and Individuals. Our exciting activities include: White Water Rafting, Canyoning, Via Ferrata, Fun-Yakking, River Tubing and many other adventures!
4. Active Highs
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 218 reviews
Active Highs are an outdoor activity and adventure sports company near Fort William "The Outdoor Capital of the UK" and Fort Augustus near Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. We have a great range of activities available and cater for families, groups, couples, individuals & groups. We offer some of the best activities that you will find in the U.K. including white water rafting, scenic river rafting trips, canyoning, gorge walking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing. Our centre is based near Loch Oich which is part of the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen Canoe Trail, ideally placed for taking part in water sports. Our white water rafting takes place weekly on a dam release river giving us guaranteed river levels, fantastic rapids and exhilarating white water rafting.
5. Caledonian Discovery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 68 reviews
Explore and discover the Great Glen between Inverness and Fort William by travelling along the Caledonian canal, including loch Lochy, loch Oich and the iconic loch Ness. 2020 is our 25th season, offering adventure therapy to all our guests. With the help of our resident local guide, we explore the Glen either on foot, by bike, canoeing, sailing or by just staying aboard our comfortable barge to watch the scenery drift by. With your own resident chef all meals are created on board using local produce and after your days exploration you can retire to your twin en-suite accommodation or relax in the lounge area aboard. With plenty of space to breathe, it is a great place to holiday and relax, in this hidden gem of Scotland - The Great Glen.
6. Fort William Sea Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 95 reviews
AWARD WINNING 90 MINUTE SEAFARI ADVENTURE - Daily sailings from April to October - please see our website for tour times and prices. An opportunity to get close to Lochaber’s wild heart on an enthralling boat tour through one of Scotland’s most beautiful areas… Fort William Sea Tours offers you the chance of an exhilarating adventure set in the majestic scenery of the West Highlands. With Ben Nevis as your backdrop, experience a breathtaking rib ride to the local seal colony and take in the magnificent views on every side. Look out for dolphins, eagles and other local wildlife as you glide over the loch, then race the world famous Jacobite steam train (Harry Potter express) along the scenic shores of Loch Eil. You won't regret taking the opportunity to try out Fort William's most action-packed tour!
7. River to Sea Scotland
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
River to sea Scotland offers a great choice of guided paddling journeys, with families, groups and individuals all welcome. All trips are exclusive to you and your party (no mixed bookings) and are tailored according to your experience. The West Coast of Scotland is one of the best paddling destinations in the world. We have beautiful white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and picturesque islands; all with an abundance of wildlife and set in a landscape of mountains and forests.
8. Ben Nevis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,460 reviews
Fondly called "Ben" by the locals, Britain's highest mountain towers 4,406 feet above the town of Fort William.
Reviewed By Scotlandmac - Glasgow, United Kingdom
5 stars for the brilliant path, nice and wide,which takes even the least experienced of walkers safely to the top. Best path I've ever used on any Scottish mountain and we climb these regularly.Also, as Scotland is my home, I cannot bring myself to demote Ben Nevis to less than 5 stars.It has my respect.Unfortunately most people on this route never see its true grandeur , it's North Face, where it's then obvious that this is the remains of an ancient volcano once twice as high.Climbing Carn Mor Dearg or the Aonachs nearby, give the best views of The Ben's real grandeur. It's certainly not a wilderness experience as such, this route - in August there must have been 3,000 other people plodding up the mountain! Good views , not fabulous but nice, until we got part way up and entered the mist. It's a strenuous walk though - anything is that is 1345m high and with a sea level start.But it wasn't anywhere near as hard as we thought it might be.Just LONG. We are in our 60s and it took us 3hr 10 min to the top, including a 10 min break beyond the Red Burn.But we are regular hillwalkers and reasonably fit. The climb can divided into 4 sections IMO.I found this helped pace out the day/progress.Our time is given for each stage but it is approximate.Younger people who are fit passed us. 1st Stage: Visitor Car Park to The Corner - 45 mins. The path climbs steadily above Glen Nevis, then over a bridge where it turns sharply left.I call this The Corner as the climb is now more open with the open hillside and the burn to your right and below. We were now 390m above the glen. 2nd Stage: The Corner to the Red Burn crossing. 40mins. This section passes the lovely Lochan which is NOT the halfway stage despite its name in some publications.Nice flat section for a short bit. The lochan is only at around 560m and the mountain summit is 1345m. 3rd Stage: The Red Burn to the End of the Zig Zags: 1hr 15mins including a 10 min stop. Now the path turned much more rough and bouldery in places but still excellent.This upper part of the mountain is a boulderfield and turns quarry like nearer the top.The zig zags go up at a very pleasant angle of ascent, though still feel VERY long.At the end of this section , we were now at 1190m - less than 200m to go with the back of the climb broken. Final Stage: End of zig zags to Summit Cairn:30 mins. This bit seemed to go on forever too mainly because we were now in thick cloud/mizzly rain and couldn't see that far ahead.I thought this was a flattish bit but the path is still climbing. The appearance of large marker cairns on the right confirm the end is in sight.They are set well away from the various gullies on the left which the path is fairly close to.These have been the scene of fatalities in the past, in whiteout conditions, with the path under snow or not clear due to very poor visibility. We then had a 10 min wait in a queue to climb the summit cairn for a photo! Crazy! We only had views from the zig zags downwards.But it was still well worth the climb. The crowds are nuts - I've never seen anything like it on any other Scottish mountain(which often have much better, more dramatic views too.) A lot of people couldn't stay long at the top because they had barely more than t-shirt and shorts on.Their clothes looked sweaty and very damp from the effort and mist.You cool down mega quickly at that height and in those conditions and in damp clothes. It's a LONG strenuous hike made much easier by the great path but if someone is not very fit - well, I saw some young women crying on the 1st stage of the path. We arrived at the visitor centre car park before 9am on a Sunday in August and could hardly get parked.It costs £6 to park - machines were not working so paid in the Visitor Centre.Toilets were (unhelpfully) closed when we returned at 4.45pm. No toilet facilities on the hill as you would expect and it's not easy to find a place to go without other people being around. The summit is swarming with people and it would be difficult to find a spot even in the various ruined buildings as people are EVERYWHERE. Fantastic sense of achievement once we were down (it felt VERY long coming down - it took us slightly longer to do so as the path was very busy with lots of people still going up and also us catching up with people going down and having to wait or give way.) Everyone was very polite on the hill and were - mostly - smiling and seemed happy. Always great to climb the highest mountain of any country you visit, if safe to do so that is for the 'ordinary walker' and to be honest, even on the kind of low mist day we had too.
9. Jacobite Steam Train
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,963 reviews
Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis!
10. West Highland Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,078 reviews
We are a museum set in Cameron Square which is just off of the centre of Fort William High Street. We have eight rooms packed with fascinating objects, from treasure from a shipwrecked Spanish Armada galleon to the bagpipes played at Bannockburn in 1314. Whether its archaeology, natural history, Commando training and weaponry, Highland crofting life, costumes and charms, Victorian times, silver, coins and medals, or even the history of mountain rescue, it can all be found at the West Highland Museum.
Reviewed By olaoko - Gdynia, Poland
Fascinating history in small place. Brilliant, very helpful and friendly staf. Exhibition about green beret was the most interesting. This is an independent museum with free admission so please think about donation to rescue this unique little treasure.
