Lochaber, a former Highland local government district, is a large and scenic area of the Scottish West Highlands. The popular town of Fort William on the north side of Loch Linnhe and the Ben Nevis mountain range are the most important tourist destinations. The area of Lochaber includes Fort Augustus in the north, the Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Arisaig and Morar and Knoydart peninsula’s in the west, the impressive Nevis range in the centre and Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor in the east.

Fort William

Fort William is a major tourist centre sitting on the banks of Loch Linnhe and on an important crossing between the A82, running from Glasgow to Inverness, and the A830 heading west, also known as “The Road to the Isles“.

Fort William is an important centre for hillwalking and climbing due to its proximity to Ben Nevis and many other Munro mountains, marketing itself as the “Outdoor Capital of the UK”. It is also well known for its nearby famous Downhill Mountain Bike Track and its connection to the West Highland Way from Glasgow and the Great Glen Way; a walk/cycle way from Inverness to Fort William through the Great Glen. Popular as it may seem, for many visitors Fort William is not their thing. The town is busy and offers endless bed and breakfasts along the main road, but lacks somewhat of the charm of other, smaller, Highland towns and villages.

Visiting Lochaber and Fort William for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Lochaber and Fort William on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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This complete guide to Lochaber and Fort William not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Lochaber and Fort William and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Glenfinnan Monument

By 1815, the Jacobite cause was no longer a political threat to the Hanoverian monarchy. Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale, a minor branch of the Clan Donald, built a memorial tower at Glenfinnan to commemorate the raising of the standard of the Young Pretender. The tower, which is 18 metres in height, was designed by the […]

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| Hours: Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and Monument View Carpark2 Jan–3 Apr, daily, 10.00–16.00 Current period4 Apr–4 Nov, daily, 10.00–17.00 5 Nov–23 Dec, daily, 10.00–16.00 24–26 Dec, closed 27 Dec–30 Dec, daily, 10.00–16.00 31 Dec–1 Jan 2023, closed | Price: Monument: Adult £5, Chile £3, Car Park: £3.5 Views of Viaduct: Free! | Website | Distance: 20.90km

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Visiting Glenfinnan Monument

Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct, with  21-arche,s on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland, built from 1897 to 1901.  It is the largest railway bridge in all of Scotland. The world famous ‘Jacobite Express’ train is quite possibly the most beautiful and scenic train journey anywhere. Although now synonymous with “The […]

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| Hours: Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and Monument View Carpark2 Jan–3 Apr, daily, 10.00–16.00 Current period4 Apr–4 Nov, daily, 10.00–17.00 5 Nov–23 Dec, daily, 10.00–16.00 24–26 Dec, closed 27 Dec–30 Dec, daily, 10.00–16.00 31 Dec–1 Jan 2023, closed | Price: Monument: Adult £5, Chile £3, Car Park: £3.5 Views of Viaduct: Free! | Website | Distance: 20.90km

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Visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct