About Loch Eil, near Fort William

At the head of Loch Linnhe and through the narrows at Corpach is Loch Eil. The lochside is home to several small communities including Fassfern which has its own mainline railway station. There are scattered bed and breakfast places and holiday accommodation along the A830 towards Glenfinnan. Good views of Ben Nevis can be had from this part of Lochaber. Mussel farming and creel fishing are small businesses operating on this sea loch.

 

The village of Corpach, which is technically one of the main communities making up the Fort William population, was first settled around 1600. It is where the Caledonian Canal reaches Loch Linnhe. Corpach provides accommodation and shops and also some of the most stunning views across the canal to Ben Nevis. A walk back along the canal path brings you to the lovely village of Banavie and the outstanding feat which is Neptune’s Staircase, lifting sea craft 50 feet through its 8 locks.  

 

A drive along Loch Eil is very rewarding. There are many places to stop and picnic, take photographs and perhaps enjoy the sight of the “Jacobite” steam train as makes it way to and from Mallaig in the summer months.   

 

As the mountains rise towards the head of Loch Eil, stop and wonder at the potential engineering miracle which was to be a further canal joining Loch Eil and Loch Shiel and thence to the sea, avoiding Ardnamurchan point. Although this project was surveyed, the cost to build it could not be raised.

Take a left signposted for Ardgour and enjoy the quiet single track road around the south shore past the small communities of Duisky, Blaich and Treslaig. There's a passenger ferry over to Fort William town pier.