Fort William is the Outdoor Capital of the UK, under Ben Nevis at the foot of the Great Glen, with Glencoe to the south and the road to Skye heading west. It is the natural base for the west Highlands. Here is what to do and where to park up.
At a glance
Things to do around Fort William
Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, rises almost straight from the town. You do not have to climb it to enjoy Glen Nevis below, where the walk up the gorge to the Steall Falls is one of the best short walks in Scotland. Glencoe is half an hour south, as grand a glen as the country has. For an easy day, the Jacobite steam train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the Road to the Isles, and the Caledonian Canal climbs out of town at Neptune's Staircase, a flight of eight locks you can walk alongside. Riders should head for the Nevis Range, where the gondola serves a World Cup downhill track and the Witch's Trails.
Campsites around Fort William
- Glen Nevis. A large park at the foot of Ben Nevis, with fully and partially serviced pitches and a motorhome service point, a short walk from the glen.
- Linnhe Lochside (Corpach). A tidy four-star park about five miles out on the loch toward Glenfinnan, with hook-up pitches and a service point.
- Bunree (Club site, Onich). A Caravan and Motorhome Club site on the shore of Loch Linnhe, about ten miles south near Ballachulish; member rate with your hire.
A base for the west and Skye
Fort William works best as a base you settle into for a few nights and explore out from. West, the Road to the Isles runs to Arisaig and Mallaig, where the ferry crosses to Skye; north, the A87 through Kintail is the other way over the bridge. Our west coast and isles campsites guide covers the sites all the way out, the Isle of Skye guide picks up once you are across, and riders can follow our trail centre tour.
Fort William, answered
Where can I stay in a motorhome near Fort William?
Glen Nevis at the foot of the Ben, Linnhe Lochside at Corpach, or the Bunree Club site at Onich. Book ahead in summer, as Lochaber is busy.
Is Fort William a good base for the west Highlands?
Ideal. It sits under Ben Nevis with Glencoe to the south and the road to Skye to the west, so you can settle for a few nights and day-trip in every direction.
How do I get to Skye from Fort William?
West on the Road to the Isles (A830) to Mallaig and the ferry to Armadale, or north on the A87 through Kintail to the bridge.
Routes and campsite guides nearby
Routes: the west coast route, the Outer Hebrides, the Scottish islands and ferry guide, the Isle of Skye guide. Campsite guides: west coast and isles campsites.
More city guides
Explore the rest: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Stirling, Aberdeen, Dundee. See them all under city guides.
Glasgow depot → Fort William
Glasgow to Fort William
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1
Atlas Motorhomes depot
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2
Fort William