Fort William Itineraries
Half a day or a full weekend. Here are the best ways to spend your time in Fort William, planned step by step.
Whether you have a few hours or a full weekend to explore, these itineraries give you a local’s route through Fort William. Each one links directly to the restaurants and activities along the way.
Half a day in town: the museum, the end of the Way and the High Street
For a wet morning, an arrival day, or the hours before an evening train. Everything is on foot along the High Street. The museum is closed on Sundays, so do this Monday to Saturday.
- 110:00·1 hour
The West Highland Museum
Free, on Cameron Square, and open from 10:00 Monday to Saturday. Head for the Jacobite and Bonnie Prince Charlie collection, which the museum calls its most renowned.
View West Highland Museum - 211:15·30 minutes
Along the High Street to Gordon Square
Walk south-west down the High Street to Gordon Square, where the West Highland Way has finished since 2010, by the bronze walker missing a boot. The Highland Soap Company has a shop on the High Street.
View The end of the West Highland Way, Gordon Square - 312:00·1 hour
Lunch
The Black Isle Bar in Gordon Square lists noon opening every day on its own page; it is walk-in only, with its own beer and wood-fired pizza. If you would rather book, Crannog at Garrison West on Cameron Square serves lunch from noon and takes bookings.
View Black Isle Bar Fort William - 413:30·1 hour including the drive
Neptune's Staircase
If you have a car, drive out to Banavie to see the eight locks of Telford's staircase on the Caledonian Canal, which Scottish Canals says takes a boat around 90 minutes to work through.
View Neptune's Staircase, Banavie
A day in Glen Nevis and up the gondola, without climbing the Ben
For a dry day when you want the mountains without a seven-hour summit walk. You need a car or a taxi for the glen and for Nevis Range. Check the Nevis Range mountain report in the morning, because the gondola runs weather permitting.
- 109:00·2 to 2.5 hours
The Nevis Gorge to Steall
Drive to the car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road and walk through the gorge to An Steall, which the John Muir Trust calls Scotland's second highest falls. Walkhighlands gives 1.5 to 2 hours for the route, on a rough path with steep drops.
View Steall Gorge and Steall Falls - 212:00·1 hour
Lunch at Achintee
Back down the glen to the Ben Nevis Inn, at the foot of the Ben Nevis path, which opens at noon. On a Thursday night its session band plays.
View Ben Nevis Inn - 313:30·2.5 hours
Up the Nevis Range gondola
Drive round to Torlundy and take the gondola from 100 to 650 metres, about 15 minutes each way. Walk out to the Sgurr Finnisgaig viewpoint, about 45 minutes return, and be back for the last gondola down at 16:00 on the current timetable.
View Nevis Range Mountain Gondola - 418:00·1.5 hours
Dinner on the High Street
Sonas, at the west end of the High Street, opens from 16:30 early in the week and from noon Thursday to Sunday, and recommends booking.
View Sonas Restaurant
Ready to plan your visit?
Check the weather forecast before you head out.