Balcarres Guest House

Things to do in and around Fort William

Being the Outdoor Capital of the Uk, we’re spoilt for choice of things to do

There's so much to see and do, its worth more than just a couple of nights ....

Whatever you enjoy doing, make Fort William your base and be perfectly placed to experience some of the very best Scotland has to offer.  

From steam trains to waterfalls, island hopping to mountain climbing, it’s all within easy reach when you base yourself at Balcarres, Fort William. We’ve highlighted some of the most popular activities below, to give you some idea of what Fort William and the surrounding area has to offer, the difficult part is fitting it all in.

Andy and Carole

Jacobite at Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Jacobite

Described as the most beautiful railway journey in the world, the route runs for a stretch of 41 miles, starting at Fort William and ending at the port of Mallaig, passing such spots of scenic beauty such as Loch Eil, the Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter fame) and Arisaig. It’s a must do, but book your tickets in advance, as it gets booked up quickly.

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis

The highest mountain in the UK at 1345m. Most walkers tackle The Ben via the tourist path, starting at The Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. It’ll take about 7-9 hrs to complete, depending on your fitness.

West Highland Way

Long distance Paths

We are so lucky to have 2 Long Distance Paths that start (or end!) in Fort William, The West Highland Way at 96 miles and the Great Glen Way at 79 miles, some walkers extend their stay to tackle The Ben as well!

Neptunes Staircase

Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal stretches 60 miles along the Great Glen from Fort William to Inverness. It passes through a range of pretty towns and villages, lochs and countryside, providing a beautiful scenic setting to visitors. Don’t miss Neptunes Staircase, a flight of 8 locks located in Fort William.

Glen Nevis

Glen Nevis

Glen Nevis is a very picturesque Highland glen. Framed on the north by the flank of Ben Nevis and two accessible mountains to the east.
The River Nevis flows through the Glen with several spectacular waterfalls, including Steall Falls, the third highest waterfall in Scotland.

Road to the Isles

The Road to the Isles

The road to the Isles is considered one of the best drives in Scotland. Travelling from Fort William to Mallaig, you will discover spectacular mountain views, white sandy beaches, stunning lochs, historical places and great views of the isles of Eigg, Rum, Mull, Skye and Canna. The length of the drive is approx 45 miles and worth every minute.

Glencoe

Breathtakingly Beautiful Glencoe is one of Scotland’s best known glens, with the enigmatic Aonach Eagach ridge on one side and the Three Sisters, Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh proudly sitting opposite

Caste Stalker

Castles

Within easy reach of Fort William are some of Scotlands most stunning castles, Eilean Donan, Urquhart and Castle Stalker being three of the most well known.

nevis gondola

Nevis Range

The choice of activities here include a trip on the Gondola, Mountain Biking, Paragliding, Snowsports and The Tree Adventure. There is also a cafe at the the bottom station and a restaurant at the top station

sea kayak

Sea Kayaking

Rockhopper sea Kayaking offer guided trips kayaking in the  tidal stream connecting Loch Linnhe & Loch Eil. With great views of the Ben and wildlife including sightings of seals, otters and the occasional porpoise.

climbing centre

Climbing Centre

Located in the centre of Fort William is the Three Wise Monkeys Climbing Centre, they have a bouldering wall suitable for beginners through to experienced climbers and also have a roped climbing wall.

Canyoning

Vertical Descent based at Inchree, just outside Fort William offer a variety of activities, including canyoning at Inchree Falls and is one of the most popular canyons in Scotland with jumps up to 10 meters, abseils and a cable zip-line.