Visit Fort William in 2024

Lochs, mountains, rivers, adventures await...
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Visit Fort William on a cruise liner via Loch Linnhe

Arriving in Fort William on a cruise ship or cruise liner would be an amazing experience. Our Highland town is located at the head of Loch Linnhe, a tidal sea-loch...

Arriving in Fort William on a cruise ship or cruise liner would be an amazing experience. Our Highland town is located at the head of Loch Linnhe, a tidal sea-loch with easy access from The Minch and the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery on route is truly superb with mountains which reach down to the sea and Highland glens which cover hundreds of unspoilt countryside.

Our deep sea loch provides relatively sheltered anchoring with a very short distance to shore by tender. The views from Loch Linnhe of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles towers behind For William. We have included a short video showing a cruise ship at anchor on Loch Linnhe while passengers disembark for their short journey to the Town Pier.

Landing Pontoon at Fort William
Facilities in Fort William include two shore access locations - one at Fort William Pontoons, located at the West End car park which provides immediate access to the High Street for cruise ship tenders. There's a large car park where coaches can be parked and there are toilets nearby. The other access from Loch Linnhe is at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal where another pontoon facility allows people to get ashore in Corpach.



Fort William restaurants, cafes and hotels offer a wide range of dining options for lunch or dinner and our local specialised shops provide an opportunity to buy some unique gifts. Nearby there are many historical places and scenic locations for half-day and full-day trips. There are also many local businesses who can provide outdoor leisure activities including golf, water-sports, wildlife trips, and mountain guiding. Fort William and the surrounding area has many good visitor centres including Nevis Range Mountain Gondola, the Ben Nevis Distillery and Clan Cameron Museum at Achnacarry Castle, NTS Glenfinnan any many more.

We've compiled a short video which you can see above. The video shows the cruise ship Ocean Countess in Loch Linnhe filmed from the world famous paddle steamer Waverley which was visiting Fort William on the same day. The video also provides a brief guide to just a small number of things passengers can see and do when visiting our local area for the day. In August 2015 P&O Cruises "Adonia" visited Fort William and you can see photos of her at anchor in Loch Linhhe from the link.

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Thomas Telford Corpach Marina Ltd
If you are planning a visit to Fort William by sea be sure to book a berth at Thomas Telford Corpach Marina at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal. Our marina has 45 sheltered berths with fresh water and electricity. Ashore we have first class toilets and shower facilities and a small coffee shop. Close by are shops and pubs with regular transport into Fort William. Our marina is community owned and managed and is not directly involved with the Caledonian Canal. An Cafaidh Mara An Cafaidh Mara is our new coffee shop at the entrance to the Canal within our marina facilities building, open to customers seven days a week.  Check out their social media. Book a berth or slipway use If you are bringing a boat to Fort William we have a sheltered all weather slipway within the marina for launching and car parking of cars and trailers. Book online to launch your boat in Loch Linnhe. You can get to the marina by road along A82/A830 or by mailing train - Corpach Station is 100 metres from the marina. Discovering the Outdoor Capital of the UK from our marina will be easy with excellent transport links, car hire, shops, restaurants and marine services nearby. For all enquiries please contact Brian MacKinnon, our Marina Manager:  +44(0)7410 884902
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Hunter Mountaineering
First Class, friendly Mountain Guiding & Instruction on British Walking, Climbing, Scrambling and Mountaineering. Summer and Winter Private Guiding and Courses. From Walking up Ben Nevis to Climbing in Glencoe. Based in Fort William. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer feedback (Find us on Trip Advisor). We offer Private Guiding and the Courses that follow - Private Guiding, all year round: Our most popular choice is a bespoke service. This is the solution if you want to 'tick' specific climbs or summits, or work on particular skills. Do you want to Climb Ben Nevis via the mountain track, Tower Ridge or Ledge Route? Do you want to become more independent as a mountaineer, or develop your trad or winter leading? Or do you want to complete a particular climb, e.g. Aonach Eagach, Curved Ridge? Get in touch and we can start to make your plan happen. Summer Courses or ideas for Private Guiding could include - 1  Ben Nevis Walk 2  Munro Summits 3  Hill Walking, Navigation and Safety 4  Scrambling and Mountaineering 5  Rock Climbing 6  The CMD Ridge or Ledge route on the North Face 7  Tower Ridge, or other North Face Ridges 8  Aonach Eagach, Curved Ridge or other Glencoe Classics Winter Courses or ideas for Private Gudiing could include - 1  Winter Skills and Safety 2  Walking the Winter Munros 3  Winter Mountaineering 4  Introduction to Winter Climbing 5  Winter Climbing Hunter Mountaineering is run by myself, Max Hunter. I hold the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor award (the WMCI - the highest professional certification for Mountaineering & Climbing in Great Britain), and am a member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) and the Mountain Training Association (MTA). I am also a qualified and experienced school teacher.
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Adventure Nevis
If you are looking for a Ben Nevis Mountain Guide, Adventure Nevis is a Scottish-based guiding service offering classic mountain days on Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, standing at 1,344 metres. The Ben Nevis mountain footpath ascent - 6 to 8 hours - is ideal for public, private and charity groups. For the slightly more experienced walker, Ben Nevis via the CMD arete - 8 to 10 hours - is a fantastic mountaineering experience. Adventure Nevis is owned and operated by Peter Khambatta.  Peter has over 20 years' experience and holds both Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Awards. To check availability and to tell me about yourself or group, please complete the form below. I look forward to hearing from you.
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Wild West
Wildlife safaris and scenic tours in wild places    Wild West offer a selection of wildlife safaris and Scenic tours based in the Lochaber area. See Scotland's " Big Five", Photograph red deer or discover the landscapes and legends of the Scottish highlands. Due to Covid restrictions all tours are offered on a private basis and prices are for a group of up to six people, not per person.  The following is a selection of safaris and scenic tours available with Wild West. for more choices please go to the Wild West website BOOK NOW The Big Five Scotland’s big five of golden eagle, red deer, red squirrel, otter and harbour seal can all be found within 25 miles of Fort William and on this safari, it’s possible to see them all on the same day.  The trip runs every Wednesday and includes a 2 hour cruise on Loch Shiel, taking you into the heart of some of Scotland’s wildest country. Cruises/boat trips can be included in full day safaris on other days, by request. Cost: £350 for up to six persons. Cruise is extra £30 per adult. £20 per under 16 Book online at Wild West - The Big Five The Wee Safari Starting from Fort william this tour crosses loch Linnhe by ferry and visits the Morven peninsula, a quiet wildlife haven well away for the main tourist hotspots. We find red deer and seals on most trips and regularly spot otters. Feral goats and red squirrels are often encountered as well as a great variety of birds. This trips last around 4 hours   Cost: £195.00 for up to six people Book online The Wee Safari The Wee Fort William Tour This is short private tour around the Fort William area.  You’ll visit Neptune’s staircase, one of the engineering marvels of the 19th century, enjoy views of Ben Nevis, hear the story of how Aluminium transformed the highlands of Scotland, see the site of the battle of Inverlochy and explore the ruined Inverlochy castle. We’ll also visit the commando memorial at Spean Bridge. But the highlight of this tour will be a walk to Steall valley through Steall gorge, a spectacular chasm forged by glacial forces 12, 000 years ago. Steall waterfall is the second highest in Britain and was used as a backdrop in a scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire. On the way, we’ll hope to find the “hairy coos” (highland cattle) that live in the glen Cost: £195.00 for up to six people Book online. The wee Fort william Tour Glencoe Mountains And Massacres This tour travels south from Fort William, following the shores of Loch Linnhe and Loch Leven to the village of Glencoe, overlooked by the famous Pap. We’ll stop off at the National trust visitor centre to learn the story of the 1692 massacre of Glencoe. We’ll travel through the spectacular scenery that is Glencoe, learning about the volcanoes and glaciers that shaped the landscape we see today.  Then we’ll take a walk up the steep narrow path to discover the Lost Valley where the MacDonald’s hid their cattle *. Carrying on to Glen Etive we will start with a visit to the falls on the river Coupall, the subject of innumerable iconic images. Further down the glen, we’ll stop to recreate the famous scene from Skyfall with Bond and M before looking for the red deer which can often be found grazing close to the road. Cost £350.00 for up to six people Book now. Glencoe Mountains and massacres *For the less adventurous this can be substituted with a ride up the chairlift. Supplementary charges apply, please ask. If you don't see what you are looking for in the choices above, please ask. Wild West will be happy to help you develop your own unique wildlife safari or scenic tour and multi day tours can be organised
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Paddleboard Fort William
Guided paddleboard trips around Fort William and the local area! Our friendly and experienced guides are here to give you an amazing time out on the water, whether it is your first time on a SUP or you are a seasoned expert. Paddleboarding is one of the fastest growing adventure sports in the world, join us at Paddleboard Fort William to experience it for yourself. -Daily trips from Corpach with brilliant views of Ben Nevis and chance to see the Jacobite steam train as it leaves.  -Paddle Board Trips at Glenfinnan as the Steam train crosses the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films.
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Cruise Loch Linnhe
Our Cruises on Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil are a ‘must do’ in Fort William and offer the perfect way to relax after exploring the Mountains and Glens of Lochaber!  Our ’Seal Island & Ben Nevis View’ cruise is the best choice for those looking to spot some of Scotland’s best wildlife and learn about the local history and culture. Our Evening Cruises are perfect for those looking to rest their legs while enjoying stunning views of Ben Nevis and sample a selection of local beers and whisky. Or if you’re looking to celebrate that special birthday or anniversary why not book a private charter? Our cruises offer something for everyone whatever the occasion. • Our vessel's offers both heated indoor seating as well as outdoor seating and a 360-degree elevated viewing deck so our cruises are enjoyable whatever the weather!  • Our friendly crew is on-hand to look after you and provide a range of hot drinks, refreshments, and snacks throughout your cruise. • Our Skipper will keep you entertained with an informative live commentary.  • Our cruises are all dog-friendly so you can bring your four-legged friends along. • We want our cruises to be accessible for everyone so we encourage guests with mobility issues to please get in touch so we can discuss the best cruise options with you prior to booking.  Rib Adventures Our 1-hour Rib Adventures depart from Corpach Marina at the end of the Caledonian Canal and take you out onto Loch Linnhe. Out on the water, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenic views of the surrounding mountains, including the famous Ben Nevis! You’ll also get a front-row seat to see Loch Linnhe’s unique wildlife! And don’t worry if you’re a little chilly when you get back to the Marina, we’ve got you covered with complimentary hot drinks from the An Cafaidh Mara coffee shop right as you step off the boat! Rib Adventures with Lunch Stop As soon as you set off from the marina into Loch Linnhe you’ll be admiring your beautiful surroundings with fantastic views of Ben Nevis and its neighbouring mountains. You’ll also get the chance to spot some of the area’s stunning wildlife including Seals, Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, Eider Ducks, Herron, Porpoises and even Dolphins! You’ll then make your way to one of our loch-side partner restaurants on the shores of Loch Linnhe and Loch Leven to enjoy a delicious seafood lunch made with fresh local produce before heading back to Fort William. Find out more and book online at: https://cruiselochlinnhe.co.uk/cruises/ advanced booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment!
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