EXPLORE 2020-2021 Outdoor Capital of the UK fort william & lochaber An Gearasdan & Loch Abar visitscotland.com Contents 2 Fort William & Lochaber at a glance 4 Great outdoors 6 Amazing adventures 8 Dramatic history 10 Wonderfully wild 12 Natural larder 14 Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 16 What’s on 18 Travel tips 20 Practical information 24 Places to visit 37 Leisure activities Welcome to… 44 Shopping 45 Food & drink fort william 49 Tours 54 Transport & lochaber 54 Events & festivals Fàilte chun 55 Accommodation An Ghearasdan 66 Regional map & Loch Abar Fort William is known as the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ for several very exciting reasons. The area has Britain’s highest mountain, two ski resorts, a World Cup mountain bike course, the world’s biggest indoor ice climbing wall and is the end of the West Highland Way and the start of the Great Glen Way. Of course, you don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy yourself here. We also have rare wildlife, exquisite seafood and spectacular views round every corner. We certainly have a Cover: The Sgurr of Eigg past that’s packed with intrigue, achievement Above: Stob Dearg and exploration for you to marvel at. Credits: © VisitScotland. It’s a particularly exciting time to visit with Kenny Lam, SnowScotland/ Scotland’s Highlands and Islands having been Steven McKenna, Ian Rutherford, named a top region in Lonely Planet’s Best in Paul Tomkins, Grant Paterson, Travel in 2019. David N Anderson, Cutmedia, Alexander Insch, Airborne Lens 20HFW Produced and published by APS Group Scotland (APS) in conjunction with VisitScotland (VS) and Highland News & Media (HNM). Disclaimer APS / VS / HNM have produced and published this guide in good faith to reflect information submitted by the proprietors/managers of the businesses listed who have paid for and approved their entries to be included. Although APS / VS / HNM have taken reasonable steps to confirm the accuracy of information contained in this guide at the time of going to press, they cannot guarantee that the information published is and remains accurate. Accordingly, APS / VS / HNM recommend that all information is checked with the proprietor/manager of the business prior to visiting/booking to ensure that the accommodation, facilities, price and all other aspects of the business are satisfactory. APS / VS / HNM accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation contained in the guide and exclude all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the information contained in this guide. APS / VS / HNM accept no responsibility for the contents of any pages referenced by an external link and exclude all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the information contained in an external link. APS / VS / HNM also cannot accept any liability for loss caused by the bankruptcy, or liquidation, or insolvency, or cessation of trade of any company, firm or individual contained in this guide. Quality Assurance awards are correct as at January 2020. 2 FORT WILLIAM & LOCHABER OU KN Learn the Y O D W I ? D Language Loch Morar is the deepest body Many local residents speak of water in the UK, Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic with a depth of language native to Scotland. 1,017ft. If you hear them talking, why w not have fun and join with a w om w.v .c isitscotland few everyday phrases? Madainn mhath – Pronounced: madeeng vah – good morning Fàilte – Pronounced: falcha – welcome Ciamar a tha thu? – fort william & Lochaber Pronounced: keemar a ha oo? – how are you? at a glance Cò as a tha thu? – An Gearasdan & Loch Abar Pronounced: co ass a ha oo? aig aon sealladh Three Sisters, Glencoe – where are you from? Tapadh leat – From deserted golden beaches to the peak of the UK’s highest mountain, Fort William & Lochaber Nevis. You can be there in minutes, Glen Coe & Loch Leven Pronounced: tap-ah lat is packed with dramatic scenery and must-see attractions that will take you off the beaten track. looking up at the stunning ridges Glen Coe is stop-you-in-your- – thank you of the Mamores. Get ready for thrilling adventures, cuisine to make your mouth water and living history around tracks beautiful. A walk up to the Uisge-beatha – every corner. The rain that falls on Ben Nevis is very spectacular Lost Valley is within Pronounced: uska ber lucky – some of it is turned into fine the abilities of most visitors. – whisky The Great Glen can enjoy the outlook from the If you fancy a quieter island whisky at the Ben Nevis Distillery. Most people zoom past the end of Slàinte mhath! – If you have a week to spare, why viewing platform by the original adventure hop on the ferry to the Pop in for a tour and a dram. Loch Leven, but this beautiful sea not tackle the 73-mile Great Glen air-powered fog horn, which is a nearby Small Isles of Muck, Rum, Pronounced: slancha va Did you know that shinty is one of loch is well worth exploring. Walk Way? This grand long distance well-established whale and dolphin Eigg and Canna. – Cheers!/Good health! the world’s oldest team sports? You along the shore at dusk and you route runs from Fort William to watching area. Rum is the biggest of the Small Isles can watch a local match on most may spot otters. At Kinlochleven, Mar sin leat! – Inverness, or you could just stroll but only has around 30 inhabitants. Vertical Descents provide the first Pronounced: mar shin let-h The Road to the Isles summer weekends. along one section in a day. You Don’t miss the stunning walk to Via Ferrata experience, Scotland’s – goodbye Even the name ‘Road to the Isles’ Ben Nevis isn’t the only big could have your best chance of Guirdil Bay and Bloodstone hill on high-altitude climbing experience; sounds poetic and adventurous mountain in the area – there are More information can be found at spotting the Loch Ness Monster... the west side of this wild island. and the Ice Factor, has the highest – and the reality is even better. 67 Munros (hills over 3,000ft) in ice climbing arena in the world. www.visitscotland.com/gaelic Ardnamurchan It twists like a ribbon from the The Isle of Eigg is simply delightful. Fort William & Lochaber. A worthy trip to enjoy the peace base of Ben Nevis in Fort William As you walk along its ‘singing and spectacular scenery – you’ll be out through woods, glens and sands’, look up to the cliffs above one of very few people exploring 50 moorland to the pristine white Cleadale for golden eagles. unspoilt square miles of moorland, sands of Arisaig and Morar. There forests, lochs and beaches. Was are sublime views to the islands Fort William & Glen Nevis that a golden eagle? Probably. and finally the bustling port of Fort William nestles at the foot of Mallaig. Britain’s highest mountain, Ben At the most westerly point on the Nevis. The town marks the end of British mainland, Ardnamurchan Hop aboard a boat at Glenfinnan for the West Highland Way, Scotland’s Lighthouse has been guiding a cruise along stunning Loch Shiel. oldest and most popular long ships safely through the waters off distance walk. Scotland’s west coast since 1849. Many people catch a ferry from If you don’t have the energy to Mallaig to the Isle of Skye, which of Just round the corner from the climb to the top of the tower, you course is a wonderful destination. town is the picturesque glen of Glen VISITSCOTLAND.COM Lochan na h-Achlaise on Rannoch Moor VISITSCOTLAND.COM 4 FORT WILLIAM & LOCHABER discover more ' Corrour Station House Restaurant is Scotland’s most remote train station, and one of the most remote restaurants too, only accessible by train or a twenty mile walk! ' Not every golf course has mountains all around and a loch behind the 18th. The Dragon’s Tooth course in North Ballachulish does. Watch out for otters stealing your ball. ' It might look like a vast, featureless bog, but Rannoch Moor is a fascinating landscape. It’s one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. ' Explore the fascinating great slate quarry at Ballachulish. Most of the houses built in Edinburgh and Glasgow in the outdoors 18th and 19th centuries were a bhuaile a-muigh Signal Rock and An Torr roofed with slate hewn here. ' Dig your toes into the Kayakers on Caledonian Canal, Banavie If you like the tang of a sea breeze in your nostrils, the feel of rough rock under your fingers and glorious Silver Sands of the calmness that only natural beauty brings, you are going to absolutely love it here. Morar, a series of celebrated beaches that line the coast The outdoors doesn’t get much climbers and hill runners. Watch Soothe your spirits walking the trails from Arisaig to Morar. greater. Here you can climb the the Ben Nevis race in September, a around Glencoe Lochan. Then, when ' With an abundance of highest mountains, go fossil- famous up-and-down challenge. you need a buzz, try kayaking or wildlife, plants, archeology, hunting on empty beaches and sailing at nearby Loch Leven. Most walkers climb Ben Nevis by culture and wildlife and roam with the deer over wild the ‘Pony Track’ from which you’ll Knoydart is one of the wildest steeped in history, mythology moorlands. get fantastic views. and far flung parts of Britain. It and geology, the Small Isles Head to Lochaline Dive Centre for has mountains, lochs, woods and Enjoy a more relaxing getaway are one of 40 National Scenic some of the best wreck dives in the beaches.