Fort William is a vibrant small town with a population of almost 10,000 and excellent facilities to cater for visitors of all tastes who travel from many parts of the world. It is an ideal base for a wide range of outdoor activities whether your taste is for gentle stolls in quiet forests; expeditions over Britain's highest mountains; even world-class sporting and endurance events!

Fort William is well served with transport. It is accessible by bus or by train from Glasgow. Bus services continue north to the Isle of Skye and Inverness. There is an overnight sleeper-train direct to London (Euston). The nearest airports are Glasgow (3 hours) and Inverness (2 hours).

The scenic West Highland Railway Line continues from Fort William over 40 miles to the port of Mallaig with regular live steam trains running through the scenery and across the Glenfinnan viaduct made world famous in the Harry Potter movies. From Mallaig, ferries serve many of the islands on the west coast.

The town's name originates from the fort built in 1690 by William, Prince of Orange on the site of Cromwell's earlier 1645 fortifications, sadly only a small part of it remains on the shore near the railway station and pier. The older castle shown in the picture stands nearby at Inverlochy and dates from c1200. It is well worth a visit and several of our cycle routes pass right by the gate.