Holiday rentals in Fort William

Sitting on the banks of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is in the West Highlands of Scotland. Located in a district called Lochaber — known as the Outdoor Capital of the United Kingdom — Fort William is set against a backdrop of mountains, the most famous being Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles standing at 1,345 metres above sea level. You can walk up to the top of the mountain, but if you’d prefer to save your energy, you can take a 15-minute mountain gondola up to one of its neighbours, Aonach Mor.

Fort William’s location by the loch means you can try out a variety of water sports, including canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. The town is also linked to other lochs, as it marks the starting point of the 60-mile Caledonian Canal, connecting the west coast of Scotland to the east coast at Inverness. Fort William boasts one of the most impressive parts of the canal, the awe-inspiring Neptune’s staircase, which is one of the longest canal locks systems in the country.

Being dubbed the “outdoor capital” of the United Kingdom, Fort William has plenty to keep you occupied, no matter the time of year. If you like skiing or snowboarding, you can come to a Fort William cottage in the winter to make the most of the snow-capped mountains. If you come in the summer, you’ll benefit from long days and warmer temperatures, which makes this a good time for walking to the Summit of Ben Nevis or going on a relaxing boat trip on the loch. In the darker days of the autumn and winter, you can head to Glen Nevis, just a few miles from Fort William, for stargazing at the Dark Sky Discovery Site.

Jacobite Steam Train

Travel in style when you are in Fort William by taking a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train. You’ll go on a 135-kilometre round trip through dramatic landscapes while seated in your vintage carriage with steam puffing past the windows. You’ll also travel over the majestic Glenfinnan viaduct with its 21 arches, which has been used in various films and television series.

Steall Falls

Hike to the mighty Steall Falls, which cascade around 400 feet down the rocks into a lush green valley, making them the second highest waterfalls in Scotland. The two-mile trail starts at Glen Nevis car park, around a 10-minute drive from Fort William, and takes you along a well-signposted path through the rocks to the falls. A steel rope bridge giving access to the base of the falls is available for the adventurous at heart.

Old Inverlochy Castle

If you want to learn more about the intriguing history of this part of Scotland, travel just over a mile from the town centre to visit Old Inverlochy Castle, which dates back to the 1200s. You can walk around the ruins of the castle, which stands in contrast to the surrounding mountains, and discover why it played such an important role in this area.