Home Report Fort William

Fort William is a major town in the Scottish Highlands on the shores of Loch Linnhe and in the shadow of Ben Nevis, with some 5,800 residents making it their home. It is the second largest settlement in the Scottish Highlands only behind the Highland capital of Inverness, which has a population of roughly 47,300 residents.

Throughout its history, Fort William has had different names. The earliest recorded settlement on the site is a Cromwellian wooden fort built in 1654 as a base for British troops to “pacify” Clan Cameron after the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After the Glorious Revolution in 1688 the fort was named Fort William after William of Orange, who ordered that it be built to control the Highland clans. The settlement that grew around it was called Maryburgh, after his wife Mary II of England. This settlement was later renamed Gordonsburgh, and then Duncansburgh before being absorbed and renamed Fort William again, this time after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland; known to some Scots as “Butcher Cumberland”. Given these origins, there have been various suggestions over the years to rename the town (for example, to Invernevis).

Today, the Fort William name remains unchanged, but the town has a vastly more positive connotation as the Outdoor Capital of the UK, with a plethora of world class outdoor activities and sports practically on the town’s doorstep. As such, it is an extremely popular base for weekend breaks and holidays in the area and wider Highlands, as well as those seeking to climb Ben Nevis, which overlooks Fort William, so much so you can walk out of the town and straight up Ben Nevis. Another point of note is that Fort William marks the end of the West Highland Way.

Popular outdoor pursuits include hill walking, climbing, mountain biking, trail running and cycling, various water sports, nature watching, and a plethora of other activities all centred around the breathtaking land and scenery of the town and wider area. Just a few minutes from the town is Glen Nevis, one of Scotland’s most picturesque Highland glens. The glen is formed from the flank of Ben Nevis and two other mountains and has the River Nevis flowing through it. The Nevis Range ski, snowboard and mountain biking centre on Aonach Mor is one of the town’s major attractions. A gondola takes visitors 2,000 ft up the mountain for amazing views and access to the ski slopes. The centre also hosts the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in June every year. The Fort William Mountain Festival is held annually in a celebration of mountains and the culture that surrounds them, and in recognition of the importance of climbing and walking tourism to the town.

As if that wasn’t enough the town packs a punch for its size when it comes to other amenities like coffee shops, pubs, restaurants, and takeaways all catering for the influx of visitors throughout the year. There are also plenty of other local and independent businesses as well as your usual chain stores.

The influx of annual tourists and visitors means most of the town’s working population find themselves in the tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors. Many people in the nearby towns and villages travel into Fort William for work.

In terms of transport links, as you would expect the town is well served. The West Highland Railway Line passes through Fort William. Owing to the difficult terrain in the area, the line from Glasgow to the south enters from the northeast. There are numerous local bus services, and the town is also served by Citylink coach services allowing for travel from or to Fort William across Scotland. By road, Fort William is located on the A82 which is the main route for most in and out of the town. The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. The Camusnagaul Ferry crosses Loch Linnhe, connecting the A82 to A861.

As for local schooling, the local primary schools are Lundavra and Inverlochy Primary Schools. Lochaber High School is the local high school and serves a large catchment area that includes the surrounding villages. West Highland College is found in the town and is part of the University of the Highlands & Islands. It hosts the School of Adventure Studies (SOAS) offering both FE courses & HE honours degrees.