Fort William, Scotland. Coordinates: Fort William (Scottish Gaelic: An Gearasdan [ən ˈkʲɛrəs̪t̪ən] "The Garrison") is the second largest settlement in the Highlands of Scotland with around 10,000 inhabitants — and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger. Fort William is a major tourist centre, with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the east and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles. It is a centre for hillwalking and climbing due to its proximity to Ben Nevis and many other Munro mountains. It is also known for its nearby downhill mountain bike track. It is the start/end of both the West Highland Way (Milngavie-Fort William) and the Great Glen Way (a walk/cycle way Fort William-Inverness). Around 726 people (7.33% of the population) can speak Gaelic.[1] Etymology[edit] Questions over the town's English name are various.
Questions over the town's Gaelic name are equally interesting. History[edit] Ben Nevis viewed from Neptune's Staircase Future development[edit] Geography[edit] Fort William Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland. Fort William is the most important town in Scotland south of Inverness, west of Stirling, and north of Glasgow. It forms the natural centre of a very large area and the focus of the road and rail routes across the region. Most visitors to the Highlands are likely to find themselves here sooner or later. And that's no bad thing, for Fort William has a great deal to offer. It has to be acknowledged that the town is not universally admired by visitors' guides to Scotland. Concern tends to focus on the by-pass, the dual carriageway that largely cuts it off from the banks of Loch Linnhe.
Critics overlook two things. Turning to the positives, Fort William has everything you could possibly need while in the Highlands. There are a wide range of eating and drinking opportunities in Fort William, ranging from good fish and chips, to rather more upmarket establishments, including the prize winning Crannog Seafood Restaurant. Browser Population. Fort William. Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William is the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ and the main town in Lochaber. As one of the major resorts of the Highlands, the town commands an important position and is easily accessible from Glasgow and the central belt, providing good access to the Highlands and the islands. Fort William’s setting is dramatic, on the shore of Loch Linnhe, and under the mighty hulk of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. There is a footpath to the top of the mountain starting close to the town. 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 movie Braveheart was filmed at the glen and you can find out more at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. The Nevis Range ski, snowboard and mountain biking centre on Aonach Mor is one of the town’s major attractions. Visit Fort William - Scottish accommodation, activities and events guide. Where to stay and what to do in Fort William and Lochaber. Fort William & Lochaber. Buildings in Fort William. Six unique attractions in one place. Fort William & Glen Nevis Tourist Information - Things to Do in Fort William - Maps. Fort William nestles between Loch Linnhe and the steep slopes of Ben Nevis Fort William is the main town in Lochaber, providing the bulk of accommodation and services for the area. Things to do in Fort William are certainly not thin on the ground, with activities aplenty for visitors. Glen Nevis and the start of the Ben Nevis path are only 5 minutes away from the centre of town, allowing you to explore this famous and picturesque glen from your Fort William and Glen Nevis accommodation.
From the magnificent Steall falls at the head of Glen Nevis to the ancient vitrified fort on its side, there is a wealth of things to do. Fort William provides the ideal base for a holiday - from here you can take a cruise to Seal Island, catch the steam train to Mallaig, taste the "Dew of Ben Nevis" whisky, and shop for that essential outdoor kit to name a few. The town boasts stunning views down Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil, and north up the Great Glen fault. Useful links. Fort William. Select area Fort William and Lochaber are the Outdoor Capital of the UK.
Fort William itself is at the heart of Lochaber, close to the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest peak, whilst to the south is Glen Coe, a mecca for hillwalkers and mountaineers. The other parts of Lochaber are no anti-climax. The region becomes wilder and less visited to the north, culminating in the peninsula of Knoydart, one of the most rugged parts of Britain. There are softer landscapes too, from the popular lochs of the Great Glen to Ardnamurchan and its fabulous sea-scapes.
Our walks cater for all tastes from easy family strolls, through longer, wilder hikes to ascents of the rugged mountain summits. Map of Fort William region derived from SVG map of Scotland by Eric Gaba; licenced under CCSA. West Highland Way. The West Highland Way (Scottish Gaelic: Slighe na Gàidhealtachd an Iar) is a linear long distance footpath in Scotland, with the official status of Long Distance Route. It is 154.5 km (96.0 mi) long, running from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, with an element of hill walking in the route.
It is managed by the West Highland Way Management Group (WHWMG) consisting of West Dunbartonshire Council, Stirling Council, Argyll & Bute Council, Highland Council and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority. About 85,000 people use the path every year, of whom over 30,000 walk the entire route.
[citation needed] History[edit] The trail was approved for development in 1974 and was completed and opened on 6 October 1980 by Lord Mansfield so becoming the first officially designated long distance footpath in Scotland.[1] In June 2010, the West Highland Way was co-designated as part of the International Appalachian Trail.[2] The route[edit] References[edit] The West Highland Way Route, accommodation & facilities, Milngavie, Fort William, Walking in Scotland.
Walking in Scotland The West Highland Way and Other Routes. Great Glen Way. The Great Glen Way (Scottish Gaelic: Slighe a' Ghlinne Mhòir) is a long distance path in Scotland. It follows the Great Glen, running from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east, covering 79 miles (127 kilometres). It was opened in 2002 and is one of Scotland's four Long Distance Routes.
The Great Glen Way is generally walked from west to east to follow the direction of the prevailing wind. It can be walked in 5–6 days, or cycled in 2–3 days. Route description[edit] Beginning at the Old Fort in Fort William the Great Glen Way skirts the shores of Loch Linnhe to Corpach, and the Caledonian Canal. Great Glen Way on forest tracks near Loch Laggan From Laggan Locks the route follows the towpath through Laggan Avenue to the Laggan Swing Bridge. From Fort Augustus the route climbs away from the canal and up into the forest above Loch Ness. References[edit] External links[edit] Ride Fort William :: Mountain Biking and Cycling in and around Fort William and Lochaber, Scotland. Terrian and routes to suit all abilities. Fort William Mountain Festival 2013 - Incorporating Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Old Inverlochy Castle, Fort William, Scotland. Ben Nevis. The mountain is a popular destination, attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year,[2] around three-quarters of which use the Pony Track from Glen Nevis.[3] The 700-metre (2,300 ft) cliffs of the north face are among the highest in the United Kingdom, providing classic scrambles and rock climbs of all difficulties for climbers and mountaineers.
They are also the principal locations in the UK for ice climbing. The summit, which is the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano,[4] features the ruins of an observatory which was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904. The meteorological data collected during this period are still important for understanding Scottish mountain weather. C. Etymology[edit] "Ben Nevis" is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic name "Beinn Nibheis". As is common for many Scottish mountains, it is known both to locals and visitors as simply "the Ben".[7][8] Geography[edit] Geology[edit] Climate[edit] History[edit] Ben Nevis viewed from Neptune's Staircase.
Ben Nevis. Glen Coe. The name Glen Coe is often said to mean "Glen of Weeping", perhaps with some reference to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe which took place there in 1692. However, "Gleann Comhann" does not translate as "Glen of Weeping". In fact the Glen is named after the River Coe which runs through it, and bore this name long before the 1692 incident. The name of the river is believed to predate the Gaelic language and its meaning is not known. It is possible that the name stems from an individual personal name, Comhan (gen.
Chomhain).[1] Coordinates: Geography[edit] The glen is U-shaped, formed by an ice age glacier, about 16 km (9.9 mi) long with the floor of the glen being less than 700 m (0.4 miles) wide, narrowing sharply at the Pass of Glen Coe about halfway along. Geologically speaking, Glen Coe is the remains of an ancient supervolcano that erupted with a force of VEI-8. Ownership[edit] The last area of Glen Coe to be owned by the MacDonalds was the area around Invercoe.
Mythology[edit] Glencoe. Glenfinnan. Coordinates: Glenfinnan (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Fhionghain) is a village in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end of Loch Shiel, at the foot of Glenfinnan. Glenfinnan Monument[edit] Catholic Church at Glenfinnan The 18-metre-high (60 ft) Glenfinnan Monument situated here at the head of Loch Shiel was erected in 1815 to mark the place where Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") raised his standard, at the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. 1745–1746[edit] Prince Charles initially landed from France on Eriskay in the Western Isles. After Culloden, in his flight to evade government troops, Charles came to the same area again. The memorial[edit] The monument at Glenfinnan The Unknown Highlander In 1815, the Jacobite cause was no longer a political threat. Since 1938, the Glenfinnan Monument has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.
Glenfinnan railway station[edit] Glenfinnan Viaduct[edit] Popular culture[edit]
Charles Kennedy. He took the party through two successful general elections. However, he faced criticism for his laid-back leadership style, and there was considerable speculation regarding his alcohol consumption. From December 2005, some within the party were questioning his leadership and calling for a leadership election. On 5 January 2006, Kennedy was informed that ITN would be reporting that he had received treatment for a drinking problem. Kennedy decided to pre-empt the broadcast and admit his drinking problem openly. Early life[edit] Born in Inverness, and raised as a Roman Catholic, Kennedy was educated at Lochaber High School, in Fort William. In 1982, Kennedy won The Observer Mace debating competition, speaking with Clark McGinn[6] and representing Glasgow University.
Upon graduation in 1982, he went to work for BBC Scotland as a journalist, and later received a Fulbright Fellowship. Member of Parliament[edit] Leader of Liberal Democrats[edit] Resignation and backbenches[edit]