Glencoe & Fort William

Fort William, the UK's outdoor capital, is the gateway to Ben Nevis (Britain's highest peak), the glens of Glencoe, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, crossed by the "Harry Potter" steam train.

Glencoe & Fort William lies in the Scottish Western Highlands, centred on the small town of Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe. Fort William calls itself the "Outdoor Capital of the UK". It sits below Ben Nevis (1,345 m), Britain's highest mountain, and is the end of the West Highland Way and the western entrance to the Caledonian Canal. About 30 km south lies the glacier-carved valley of Glencoe, while to the west the A830 "Road to the Isles" leads to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Silver Sands of Morar and the port of Mallaig.

Climate and seasons: From May to September the days are long and the weather relatively settled, making it the season for climbing, hiking and steam train rides. June to August brings plenty of midges, so bring a head net and repellent. In September and October the bracken turns red and the crowds thin out. In winter Ben Nevis and Glencoe are snow-covered and suitable for skiing and ice climbing, but mountain weather can be dangerous, so ordinary visitors are best off sightseeing by car. Rain is frequent all year; a waterproof jacket is essential.

Highlights: ① Around Fort William: Steall Falls in Glen Nevis, the Nevis Range gondola, Neptune's Staircase lock flight and the Ben Nevis Distillery; ② Along Glencoe: the Three Sisters, Buachaille Etive Mòr, Glen Etive and Rannoch Moor. Heading south past Castle Stalker, you reach the seafood town of Oban; ③ The Road to the Isles: ride the Jacobite steam train or drive via Glenfinnan to Mallaig, where ferries leave for the Isle of Skye.

Getting there: From Glasgow, the West Highland Line train takes about 3 hours 45 minutes and the coach about 3 hours; there is also a direct sleeper train from London. Local public transport is infrequent, so driving is the most convenient option. Note that most roads are single-track, so use the passing places. We recommend staying 2–4 days; the area is often combined with Skye and Loch Ness in a Highlands loop.

Top sights

• Glen Coe – A vast valley carved by glaciers, with the Three Sisters peaks and the Buachaille Etive Mòr standing guard by the road. It is often called…
• Glenfinnan Viaduct – A 21-arch curved concrete railway viaduct, world-famous because the Hogwarts Express crosses it in the Harry Potter films.
• The Jacobite Steam Train – Nicknamed the “Hogwarts Express,” this steam train runs between Fort William and Mallaig, passing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and is hailed as…
• Buachaille Etive Mòr – A pyramid-shaped peak at the eastern end of Glencoe, with a white cottage at its foot and the Coupall River waterfall nearby. It is one of…
• Ben Nevis – The highest mountain in the United Kingdom at 1,345 m. The route from Fort William can be completed in a day, and its north face is a mecca…
• Glen Nevis & Steall Falls – A deep valley at the foot of Beinn Nibheis. A trail through cliffs and woodland leads to An Steall Bàn, a waterfall with a drop of about 12…
• Nevis Range Mountain Gondola – Britain's only mountain gondola. It climbs to the 650 m summit of Aonach Mòr in 15 minutes, with views of the north face of Beinn Nibheis a…
• Mallaig – The terminus of the West Highland Line and the 'Harry Potter' steam train, a small fishing harbor with many seafood restaurants, and the de…
• Oban – The 'seafood capital of Scotland', a harbor town crowned by McCaig's Tower, a replica of the Roman Colosseum, and the gateway to islands su…
• Neptune's Staircase – A flight of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal, the longest staircase lock in Britain, with a great vantage point for views of Beinn Nibhe…
• Glenfinnan Monument & Loch Shiel – A tower commemorating the 1745 Jacobite uprising, standing on the shore of Loch Shiel, across the road from a viaduct. It is a meeting poin…
• Commando Memorial – A bronze statue of World War II commandos beside Spean Bridge, set against a panorama of the Ben Nevis range. It is a classic stop on the A…
• Castle Stalker – A 15th-century tower castle standing alone on a small tidal island in Loch Linnhe, mirrored in the water. It is one of Scotland's most phot…
• Glen Etive – A seemingly endless single-track glen running east from Glencoe, the valley where James Bond drives and gazes over M in Skyfall. Wild red d…
• Rannoch Moor – A vast highland moor east of Glencoe, dotted with lochs. It is one of Britain's most desolate and majestic landscapes, and the A82 cuts str…
• Glencoe Mountain Resort – Scotland's oldest ski area, where a chairlift takes you up for views over Rannoch Moor and the Buachaille Etive Mòr. It is also open for si…
• West Highland Museum – A free local museum in the center of Fort William, famous for its Jacobite uprising artifacts, including the well-known 'Secret Portrait'.
• Ben Nevis Distillery – A whisky distillery founded in 1825 at the foot of Beinn Nibheis. It uses snowmelt from the mountain and offers tours and tastings.
• Old Inverlochy Castle – The ruins of a square stone castle built by the Comyn family in the 13th century. It witnessed two battles of Inverlochy and is free to ent…
• Kinlochleven & Grey Mare's Tail – A small town at the head of Loch Leven and the penultimate stop on the West Highland Way. Nearby, the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall drops abou…
• Silver Sands of Morar – A string of dazzling white quartz beaches just south of Morar, with emerald-green water and views out to Eigg and Rum. This is where the fi…
• Clachaig Inn – A roughly 300-year-old inn in Glencoe valley, famous for its Boots Bar serving craft beer and Highland food. A sign at the door reads 'No H…

Where to eat

• Lochleven Seafood Café – A shellfish restaurant and seafood shop on the shores of Loch Leven, specializing in local oysters, langoustines, lobst…
• Crannog Seafood Restaurant (at Garrison West) – A long-standing Fort William seafood restaurant that operated on the pier since 1989, now relocated to its sister venue…
• The Geographer – A cozy, global-themed bistro on Fort William's High Street, serving international comfort food made with local ingredie…
• Ben Nevis Inn – An old-style pub located right at the start of the Ben Nevis mountain path, serving Scottish home-style dishes and cask…
• The Laroch Restaurant and Bar – A bistro-style restaurant and bar in the village of Ballachulish, ranked number one locally on Tripadvisor and very clo…

Itineraries

• Classic Highlands and Isle of Skye Loop – Depart from Edinburgh and loop clockwise through the Highlands via Glencoe, the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, and Pitlochry.
• Outer Hebrides: Barra to Lewis 7-Day Island Hop – Island-hop from south to north along the Hebridean Way, from Barra's beach airport to the Calanais Standing Stones.
• Isle of Mull, Iona, and Staffa – Cross from Oban to drive around Mull, visiting the colorful harbor of Tobermory, spotting sea eagles, visiting Iona Abb…
• London to the Highlands: 10-Day Rail Journey – Take the train north from London to York and Edinburgh, ride the West Highland Line to Skye, and finish in Inverness.