The Best Things to Do in Fort William, Scotland

Fort William, Scotland has an outdoorsy reputation. It’s often referred to as the “Outdoor Capital of the United Kingdom” for its amazing hiking and biking trails. Whether you love outdoor adventures or not, here are the very best things to do in Fort William for a memorable trip.

Fort William is a pretty little town situated on the shores of Loch Linnhe. It’s the ending point of the West Highland Way and where you begin your trek up Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. I love its bustling High Street and its pubs and cafes. Whether you’re embarking on a hiking adventure or simply admiring the views, this Fort William itinerary and guide has something for everyone.

In this Fort William travel guide, I’m going to share all of my favourite adventures and activities to have in this outdoorsy town. I’ll share the best things to do in Fort William, the top attractions and activities, plus where to dine and rest your head at night.

Getting There

When travelers visit Scotland, they generally fly into Glasgow or Edinburgh, or it’s also possible to fly into Inverness. From Glasgow or Edinburgh, I’ve taken the train to/from Fort William. It’s easy to find tickets on the Scot Rail website.

I will say that when I ventured to Fort William from Glasgow, there were some rail lines under repair. Be sure to check the construction schedule to be informed of any changes. I had to take a portion of my trip by bus, and then walk up a big hill with my luggage from the bus stop to the train station. It was a bit annoying! When I traveled back to Edinburgh, the train ride was pretty smooth without any interruptions.

If you’re going to be visiting Fort William, Glencoe or the Scottish Highlands, I suggest renting a car. It’s so much easier to travel around by car, making any stops that you’d like on the way. I always use Discover Cars because I can compare the prices between car rental companies to find the best rates. Pick up your rental car in Glasgow or hire a car in Edinburgh.

Once you’re in Fort William, the town is quite walkable. I imagine that you’re including Fort William as part of a longer road trip of Scotland. Perhaps you’re going to visit Glencoe or continue on towards the Isle of Skye. Otherwise, you might be ending your trek of the West Highland Way in Fort William or spending a little more time in Fort William to hike Ben Nevis. Unless you are embarking on a long distance walking trip, a rental car is likely your best bet.

Best Things to Do in Fort William: Wander Around High Street

Fort William’s High Street is a bit unique for a town with a waterfront. The main street is not really along the harbour itself, but up a short distance from it. A walking path and road run parallel to Loch Linnhe, but the High Street is close by.

The town centre of Fort William is a cobblestone street lined with shops. While it isn’t a pedestrian-only street, it does have those vibes as many cars don’t drive down this road (do watch out for cars if you decide to walk down the middle of the street!).

This is where all of the souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants within Fort William are located, as well as a small town museum. I’ll highlight a few of my favourites. Aside from these, there are quite a few outdoor adventure shops with hiking and cycling gear, as well as a small grocery store, a pharmacy, and tons of souvenir stores.

The Highland Bookshop

The Highland Bookshop is Fort William’s independently owned bookstore. They sell new and secondhand books on a variety of subjects, including books about Scotland and nature. I picked up a cheeky little book about teaching Gaelic to your cat, which is full of really cute art.

The Highland Bookshop boasts having the largest selection of outdoor books about Scotland. They also host events like author readings and book signings.

Black Isle Bar

The Black Isle Bar is owned by Black Isle Brewing Company. Sample pints of locally brewed beer and try one of their organic pizzas from their wood-fired stove.

They don’t take advance bookings and this is a busy place in town. When I visited, it wasn’t possible to dine indoors as it was completely full. There is a small patio outdoors with picnic tables, so we took advantage of the extra space (even though it was a little chilly outside on an autumn evening!). Totally worth it.

The Wildcat Coffee Shop & Cafe

The Wildcat is a 100% vegan cafe in Fort William that I absolutely adore. I visited numerous times during my stay in Fort William recently, and I dined there on my first trip to Fort William. It’s a really cozy cafe with limited seating.

I suggest stopping by for breakfast, lunch, coffee or a snack. The Wildcat has a super yummy breakfast sandwich and I also love their wraps and paninis. There are many freshly baked desserts and pastries on display that are so delicious. You’ll have to try at least one!

Best Things to Do in Fort William: Go Hiking/Walking

I’ll use the terms “hiking” and “walking” interchangeably. Most folks from North America call trail walking or hill climbing a “hike”, while most Brits refer to this as a “walk”. No matter whether you go hiking or walking, Fort William is the perfect place to access so many brilliant trails and long distance treks.

West Highland Way

The West Highland Way is the most beloved long distance walk in Scotland. It starts in Milngavie (outside of Glasgow) and ends in Fort William for a grand total of 96 miles. While many hikers take on the challenge of walking the entire West Highland Way, it’s possible to do this in segments from Fort William.

There are two routes that are easily accessible by public transportation from Fort William. First, take the bus from Fort William to Glencoe where the A82 meets the West Highland Way (near the Kingshouse Hotel). You’ll hike the amazing Devil’s Staircase for some of the most impressive views I witnessed during my time in the region. Plus, there were so many rainbows! I walked until I reached the village of Kinlochleven and took the public bus back to Fort William.

Next, walk the final trek of the West Highland Way from Kinlochleven to Fort William. Take the public city bus to Kinlochleven and walk your way back to Fort William. Make your way back into the centre of town where I suggest posing with a bronze statue of a walker in Gordon Square.

Even if you haven’t walked the entirety of the West Highland Way this time around, you’ve tackled a percentage of it. These are both full day hikes. If you’re continuously walking the West Highland Way and find yourself in Fort William at the end of it all, that’s incredible! Rest your legs for a couple of days before perhaps tackling Ben Nevis?

Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way is a 79 mile walking and cycling path between Fort William and Inverness. Embark on a day hike of the Great Glen Way from Fort William or set a goal to complete the entire trail. The Great Glen Way starts at the Old Fort in Fort William and continues along Neptune’s Staircase, the Caledonian Canal and beyond.

To cycle portions the Great Glen Way, there are many adventure shops in town that rent bicycles. Otherwise, head out on your own two feet and explore. It’s possible to take a full day jaunt from Fort William to Spean Bridge and then take the train back to Fort William. For a shorter walk, meander on the Great Glen Way from the Old Fort to Neptune’s Staircase and back, making a pit stop at the Old Inverlochy Castle on the way back (slightly off the trail).

Ben Nevis

Conquering Ben Nevis is at the top of many hiking bucket lists, especially when it comes to Scotland. After all, Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the UK! It’s one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes of Scotland.

Ben Nevis is one of 282 munros (Scottish mountains) in Scotland. Munros are mountains with a height of 3000 feet or over. There’s a hobby among hikers/walkers in Scotland called “munro bagging” where the goal is to reach the summit of all 282 munros. Ben Nevis is the highest of all the munros, though there are others that are more challenging and less high.

I climbed Ben Nevis at the beginning of October and faced many challenges on the way. While this famous peak attracts more than 100,000 walkers every year, it isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes six to eight hours to walk to the top of Ben Nevis and back down. I completed the trek in about seven hours.

If you love walking and hiking, set aside an extra day to experience the wonders of Ben Nevis. This is one of the main attractions in Fort William and most certainly a highlight from my time there.

Cow Hill Trail

The Cow Hill Trail is a shorter walk that’s accessible from the town of Fort Williams. Alternatively, if you have a car, drive it to the Braveheart car park and picnic area to reduce your amount of walking time. Walk the zigzags up the hill to the summit of Cow Hill.

From the top of Cow Hill, savor views of Loch Linnhe, Fort William, and Ben Nevis to the southeast. From Fort William, this is an 11km walk (6.75 miles) and can take three to four hours roundtrip. It’s a lovely half day hike that offers some beautiful views from the lookout at the top.

Steall Falls

Steall Falls is the second highest waterfall in Scotland at 120 metres high. Watch this beautiful waterfall as the water flows down from the Nevis Gorge. It’s also known as the “Harry Potter waterfall” as the falls make an appearance in two Harry Potter films (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince).

The waterfall is a short distance away from Fort William by car. This one will be tricky to access by public transportation if you don’t have a vehicle. To access Steall Waterfall, take a 3.5km hike from the parking lot through the Nevis Gorge. This should take about 1.5-2 hours roundtrip.

Things to Do in Fort William: Old Inverlochy Castle

Don’t you just love castle ruins? There’s no shortage of them in Scotland. One of my favourite things to do in Fort William is explore the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle.

Inverlochy Castle was built in the 13th century by the ‘Red’ Comyns, one of the most powerful families in Scotland at the time. When Robert the Bruce came into power in 1306, he eventually defeated the Comyns and took over their estates and castles.

The castle ruins include a 3 metre thick quadrangular curtain wall, a wide moat on three sides, four round towers on each corner of the castle, and two opposing entrance gates. There’s no admission fee to visit the Inverlochy Castle ruins. Simply show up and explore.

Please note that we had the opportunity to wander around the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle on our first trip to Fort William in 2019. However, on a recent return trip to Fort William, the castle ruins were completely behind a large fence.

Upon my last check, the castle is no longer accessible. Historic Environment Scotland is currently inspecting its masonry and it’s closed for safety purposes. Be sure to check the official website for updates to avoid disappointment.

Things to Do in Fort William: Neptune’s Staircase

Visting Neptune’s Staircase is one of the best things to do in Fort William. It is a flight of eight staircase locks on the Caledonian Canal. It’s the longest staircase lock in Scotland. Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it raises boats in the canal by 64 feet (20 metres).

Back in the day, Neptune’s Staircase was originally powered by hand, but it’s now been switched to a more modern hydraulic operation. It takes a boat approximately 90 minutes to travel up or down the locks. Neptune’s Staircase is a stop on the Great Glen Way, so it’s possible to include this on your walking or cycling route. Of course, it’s easy to drive there, too.

The Old Fort of Fort William

Not much remains of the Old Fort in Fort William, but it’s still worth checking out. The Old Fort was built at a strategic point at the southern end of the Great Glen where two lochs meet, Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil. The original wooden Inverlochy Fort was constructed in 1654, which was replaced by a stone fort in 1690.

This fort ultimately withstood a Jacobite siege in 1746. Over the years, it slowly fell out of use. A portion of the land was sold to the West Highland Railway, and parts of the fort were demolished. Only a very small portion of the fort still stands today, and there are some plaques at the site of the Old Fort where you can learn more about it.

Things to Do in Fort William: Jacobite Steam Train

While the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous by the Harry Potter movies) is located in Glenfinnan, the departure point for the Jacobite Steam Train (aka Hogwarts Express) is from the Fort William train station. This books up months ahead of time, though it is one of the best day trips from Fort William.

If you don’t manage to book a ticket on the Jacobite, don’t fret. This option will also save you quite a bit of money. The regular train ride between Fort William and Glenfinnan is the exact same route as the Jacobite Steam Train.

Take the train to Glenfinnan and admire the views as the train crosses the famous viaduct. Then, walk to the various lookout points to admire the architecture of the viaduct and perhaps even watch the steam train as it chugs across the structure.

Ben Nevis Distillery

Ben Nevis Distillery sits at the base of Ben Nevis, and it’s one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. It was founded in 1825 by “Long John” McDonald. For the whisky fans, be sure to book a distillery tour. Learn about the history of Ben Nevis Distillery and the process to craft Ben Nevis malt whisky.

A standard guided tour ends with two whisky tastings, and the classic guided tour ends with four whisky tastings. There’s also a cafe onsite with coffee, tea, soup, sandwiches and scones. Overall, taking a whisky tour in Scotland is a bucket list activity, and you can check that off here in Fort William.

The West Highland Museum

The West Highland Museum is located in the city centre of Fort William. It’s free to enter though donations are welcomed. Founded in 1922, this is one of the oldest museums in the Scottish Highlands. The aim of the museum is to educate visitors about the history and culture of the West Highlands.

One of their collections includes articles relating to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. However, there are 15 exhibitions and 30 collections with over 140 articles within the museum. If you’re a Scottish history buff or looking to learn more about the region, I suggest popping into the West Highland Museum to take a look.

Loch Linnhe Boat Trip From Fort William

Fort William is a town located on Loch Linnhe. The harbour is right in the middle of town. Why not get out on the water by taking a boat tour? Experience the beauty of the Scottish Highlands by boat and you might even spot some seals along the way.

Soak up panoramic views of Fort William and the surroundings by boat. Drift past picturesque villages, an ancient Caledonian forest and observe the mighty Ben Nevis from the water. Learn about the wildlife of the area and be on the lookout for seals. Book your Loch Linnhe Boat Tour here.

How about an evening sailing instead? Watch the sunset over the distant mountains from Loch Linnhe. Spot local wildlife, like birds, seals and porpoises. Sample local beer and whiskey. Book this experience here.

Lastly, embark on an unforgettable Rib Adventure on Loch Linnhe, a 9 metre boat seating 12 passengers. Similar to a zodiac boat, you’ll be closer to the water and will also have the opportunity to view wildlife, like seals and eagles. Book your Rib Adventure here.

Catch a Film at the Highland Cinema

While it will likely rain when you’re in Fort William (it’s possible to get all four seasons in a day here, too!), there are some times where you just won’t feel like braving the wet weather. In that case, head directly to the Highland Cinema to watch a movie. It’s the perfect rainy day activity in Fort William.

Set in a traditional style Highland building, Highland Cinema delivers a wide array of films from the latest and greatest from Hollywood, Scottish classics and indie flicks. There are also cartoons and kids movies from time to time as well. There are two theaters seating 109 and 62, respectfully.

For before or after the film (or perhaps a visit in its own right), visit the restaurant and bar at the Highland Cinema. The menu features pizza, burgers, hot dogs, salads, shareables and more. I loved that there’s many vegan items on the menu (I got a veggie dog), as well as local craft beer (I got the Glen Spean Snowgoose, a brewery out of Fort William).

Where to Stay in Fort William: Guisachan Guesthouse

Guisachan Guesthouse is a charming Scottish B&B in Fort William. I spent nearly one week here on my hiking trip of the Scottish Highlands, basing myself in Fort William. Guisachan Guesthouse truly felt like my home away from home. The owners, Carmen and Phil, as well as the other staff members will welcome you immediately upon arrival.

The rooms are no-frills, yet cozy with a private bathroom and everything you need. There’s a large buffet breakfast spread every morning, and they were happy to accommodate for my vegan diet. I loved the room from my second floor room overlooking the street below with the rolling hills in the distance.