In this part of our guide, we're going to focus on things to do and places to go in the town of Fort William, Scotland.
Local attractions and events, such as Fort William art galleries, libraries, museums, historical places, and theatres are appropriate for this section, along with concerts, fairs, festivals, and other events. Sports teams, professional, amateur, and community, can be listed here, as well as recreational programs and facilities, entertainment venues, and other activities, whether operated through the town's parks and recreation department, a local school system, community organisation, or a private entity.
Headquartered in Fort William, and situated just outside of town, Lochaber Geopark is famous for its geological features and views. Lochaber is one of only three geoparks in Scotland.
Situated in the High Street in the heart of Fort William, West Highland Museum tells the stories of the region and the town, including a collection relating to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause.
The Great Glen Way is a walking path that can be walked in four to seven days, with overnights in the various communities that it passes through. With 79 miles of path, track, canal, and loch, travel can include hiking, boating, or biking. The path stretches from Fort William in the south-west to Inverness in the north-east.
Part of the Great Glen Way, the Great Glen Canoe Trail follows the Caledonian Canal, and may be traversed by canoe or sea kayak.
The Great Glen Cycle Route runs from Fort William to Inverness, much of the path is on the Caledonian Canal Towpath, while later parts of the route are hilly, with long climbs and steep descents.
The West Highland Way is a long-distance route that runs from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. While it is primarily intended as a long-distance walking route, portions of it are suitable for mountain biking and horseriding.
An annual event since 1991, the West Highland Way Race begins at 1:00 am on the Saturday nearest to the summer solstice.
The Scottish Six Days Trial is an international motorcycle trials competition that has been held since 1909, with breaks for two world wars, making it the oldest motorcycle trial event in the world. Originally based in Edinburgh, it has been based at Fort William since 1977.
Fort William is home to several sports teams, including the Fort William Shinty Club and the Kilmallie Shinty Club, as well as the Fort William Football Club, and the Lochaber RFC.
The Fort William Mountain Festival takes place over several days in February, and includes guided outdoor activities, films, workshops, and speakers.
Situated in the High Street in the heart of Fort William, West Highland Museum tells the stories of the region and the town, including a collection relating to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause.
These are just a few of the things do and places to see in Fort William, Scotland. Websites representing these, and others, are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Playing in the North Caledonian Football League, the Fort William F.C. is a senior football league from Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland. Founded in 1974, the club joined the North Caledonian League in 1983 and plays its home games at Claggan Park. Its board members and administrative contacts are provided, and policy statements may be downloaded from the site in PDF format. The team management and team members are introduced, and fixtures and results are posted.
https://www.fortwilliamfc.com/
Originally built in 1975, the Fort William, Scotland golf course was overhauled in 1995. Several photographs of course and individual holes are provided, along with a description of the grounds, membership categories and fees, an online membership form, and acknowledgments of partners and sponsors. Fixtures and open competitions are scheduled, and online bookings are available. Mailing and email addresses, a phone number, and an online contact form are provided.
https://fortwilliamgolfclub.com/
Fort William Mountain Festival
Celebrating mountain culture, the annual event is held in Fort William, Scotland. Its annual programme, Mountain Culture awards, the Golden Axe Award, and other competitions are highlighted, along with a schedule of events, introductions to its volunteer team, visitor information, terms, and conditions, and introductions to authors and literary works reflecting mountain culture. The Mountain Munch Podcast is featured, with links to related episodes.
https://mountainfestival.co.uk/
The GGCT is an 80-kilometer coast-to-coast route in the Scottish Highlands, beginning on the west coast at Fort William and winding its way northeast to Inverness, where it meets the North Sea. Following the Caledonian Canal, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the North Sea on the east, it typically takes from three to five days for hard canoes. The trail includes twenty-nine locks that have to be ported. Planning data, useful services, and merchandise are available.
http://greatglencanoetrail.info/
Winding along the Great Glen, the long-distance path stretches from Fort William to Inverness, covering a distance of 78 miles. Highlights along the way include Loch Ness, the Caledonian Canal, mountain passes, historical sites, and wildlife. The path is described, and the routes are shown on a map. Information on what to bring, access, and camping availability along the way, facilities along the route, and safety concerns. A calendar of events is included.
https://www.highland.gov.uk/greatglenway/
The Kilmallie Shinty Club is a shinty team from the north west side of Caol, Fort William, Scotland. Founded in 1929, the team is named for the parish of Kilmallie, within which the team plays. The club has never folded or amalgamated with another club. A brief profile of the club is presented, its managers are listed on the site, and the trophies it has won are listed. News, schedules, and player profiles are included, and information about the Camanachd Association is included.
https://shinty.com/kilmallie-shinty-club/
Founded in 1969, the rugby union side is based in Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland, where they play their home games at the Banavie ground. Match schedules, teams (girls youth rugby, youth rugby, U18s, U16s, U14s, mini rugby, mini P6/P7, and mini P3/P5), news, and contacts are published on the website, which includes media reports relating to the team, as well as other news, membership options, and ticket sales. Its youth section, volunteer opportunities, and membership forms are available.
https://www.lochaberrfc.co.uk/
LYC was established in 1954, and its members have been sailing on Loch Linnhe ever since. The established family sailing club hosts a number of social events throughout the year, including a sailing regatta, sailing courses, and weekly club nights, as well as other events. Membership and visitor information is provided, along with its sailing courses, costs, and booking data. Sponsors and advertisers are acknowledged, and contacts are posted on the site.
https://www.lochaber-yacht-club.co.uk/
Running since 1909, with two breaks for world wars, the Scottish Six Days Trial is an internationally recognised motorcycle trials competition. Information for riders and spectators is provided, along with past results, sponsorship opportunities, and the Lochaber Community Fund, which is supported by revenue from the Trial. Schedules, news, and announcements are posted, and an online contact form is available, and branded merchandise can be purchased.
https://www.ssdt.org/
The West Highland Museum (Taigh-tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd an Iar) highlights the Scottish Highlands and the Islands, covering every aspect of West Highland history, including the town of Fort William, where it is located. The museum also has exhibits of archaeology and wildlife. Its collections, a map showing its location, group and individual admissions details, and guidebooks in other languages are available. Books may be purchased from its online store.
https://www.westhighlandmuseum.org.uk/
The ultra-marathon race covers ninety-five miles from Milngavie to Fort William, including a 14,000-foot ascent during the race. Beginning in 1985, the race follows the West Highland Way Trail. Currently, entry is limited to three hundred runners each year. The race history, a route map, route description, details from the last race, videos from previous races, as well as media coverage of the event are set forth, along with an online shopping area offering branded apparel.
https://westhighlandwayrace.org/
