Now that Inverness is a city, Fort William is now the largest town in the Highlands. The town of Fort William is a massively popular tourist center with numerous folk arriving to climb or view Ben Nevis. In the following article I discuss a small number of alternative places worth a visit if you are taking a vacation in Fort William.

The Educational West Highland Museum

Founded in 1922 was the West Highland Museum in Fort William. A group of people from Lochaber wanted to create a museum, about life in the Highlands, for the people of the Highlands. The present building was purchased in 1926 from the British Linen Bank, and can be found in Cameron Square, just off the Hight Street. Fascinating and small is how some people describe the museum. The exhibits in the museum present a fascinating insight into life in the West Highlands throughout the years. Folk from all walks of life are represented, through the magnificent collections of picture’s, photograph’s and artefact’s

The Excellent Old Inverlochy Castle

In fort William there are two Inverlochy Castle’s, the Old Inverlochy Castle and the more recent Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle, erected in the village of Torlundy (which is now a luxurious hotel). The Old castle was said to of been built between 1270-1280, by John “the Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber, and chief of the Clan Comyn. Although the castle is ruined, the layout has not changed very much since it was first built. Lord Abinger made alterations and enhancements to the house, for a visit by Queen Victoria. Old Inverlochy Castle is still an important part of English and Scottish history, because of the role it played during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s.

The Fascinating Jacobite Steam Train

An excursion on the Jacobite Steam Train, is an exhilarating way to explore the magnificent scenery of the Highlands. The Fort William to the Mallaig journey takes one on a magical tour through the glens. One of the most exciting elements of the journey is going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which the majority of folk|people will be familiar with thanks to the fact that it appears in the Harry Potter movies. The 84 mile excursion takes you past Loch Morar, Loch Nevis and Ben Nevis, with a break in Glenfinnan before arriving in Mallaig. There is about an hour and half in which to discover Mallaig, before the return journey, back to Fort William. This journey has frequently been described as, one of the Great Railway Journeys of the World.

There is plenty of accommodation in Fort William available to book online but you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Fort William at http://www.fortwilliamhotelscotland.com/