Holidays in Fort William And Glencoe
Fort William & Glen Coe, along with the villages of Ballachulish in the south and Spean Bridge in the north, make up this wonderful centre for outdoor activities lying to the east of Loch Linnhe and the foot of the Great Glen.
Fort William, population 9,900, is the largest town in the Highlands of Scotland, Inverness being a city. As the name implies, it began life as a settlement that grew up around a fort, initially built by Oliver Cromwell’s army in the 17th century, and both the fort and settlement became even more important during the Jacobite risings of the 18th century. It has had various names, its current one being after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, the victor at the Battle of Culloden and George II’s son.
Today, Fort William, which sits at the foot of Glen Nevis with Ben Nevis towering overhead, is a bustling town whose shops serve a large area of the West Highlands, as well as countless visitors who flock to the area all year round.
Glen Coe is the wild, beautiful and awe-inspiring glen (valley) that links Rannoch Moor with the sea, its high mountains rising steeply on either side making anyone passing through the Glen feel very small indeed. Glen Coe is perhaps best known as the site of the infamous massacre of 1692. At its foot lies the pretty village of Glencoe and, a little way beyond, the village of Ballachulish, for many years the centre of Scotland’s slate quarrying industry.
Spean Bridge to the north of Fort William is situated at the bridging point over the River Spean, at the point where Glen Spean from the east joins the Great Glen. It is another very attractive and bustling village.
You will never ruin short of things to do in this area. In addition to outstanding walking, hill walking and rock and ice climbing you can enjoy some fantastic outdoor sports, including phenomenal mountain biking on specially prepared courses, downhill skiing at Nevis Range, road cycling, kayaking, canoeing and sailing. You can also watch wildlife, visit historic sites, shop and eat out in a series of wonderful restaurants and pubs.


