Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
making a refreshing change from the state-of-the-art heritage centres popping up across
Scotland. here's a secret portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the long Spanish rifle
used in the famous Appin Murder, and even a 550kg slab of aluminium, the stuff that's
processed into silver foil just five miles north of town (you'll see the huge pipes running
down the mountainside).
The Jacobite Steam Train
At the train station on Station Square • Mid-May to Oct Mon-Fri; mid-June to mid-Sept daily; departs Fort William 10.20am, return from
Mallaig at 2.10pm; additional afternoon service (June-Aug only) departs Fort William 2.30pm, with return at 6.40pm • Return £33 (£56
for first class) •
T
08448 504685,
W
westcoastrailways.co.uk.
Excursions from Fort William include the 84-mile return trip to Mallaig (see p.445) on
the
West Highland Railway Line
aboard the
Jacobite Steam Train
. Heading along the
shore of Loch Eil to the west coast via historic Glenfinnan (see p.443), the train passes
through some of the region's most spectacular scenery, though these days it's as popular
for its role in the
Harry Potter
films. he locomotives used are black and barrel-shaped
machines from the 1920s and 1930s tugging younger British Rail carriages from the
1960s, which afford good views of the scenery outside.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
11
FORT WILLIAM
By train
Just across the A82 dual carriageway from the
north end of the High Street you'll find Fort William's train
station (one of the stops on the scenic West Highland
Railway from Glasgow).
Destinations
Crianlarich (Mon-Sat 4 daily, Sun 3 daily; 1hr
50min); Glasgow Queen Street (Mon-Sat 3 daily, Sun 2
daily; 3hr 50min); London (1 nightly; 12hr); Mallaig (Mon-
Sat 4 daily, Sun 3 daily; 1hr 20min).
By bus
Intercity coaches from Glasgow and Inverness stop
outside the train station on MacFarlane Way.
Destinations
Drumnadrochit (9 daily; 1hr 25min); Edinburgh
(1 daily; 4hr); Fort Augustus (9 daily; 50min); Glasgow (8
daily; 3hr); Inverness (9 Mon-Sat, 6 Sun; 2hr); Mallaig
(Mon-Fri 3 daily; 1hr 20min); Oban (Mon-Sat 3 daily; 1hr
30min); Portree, Skye (4 daily; 3hr).
Tourist o
ce
15 High St
April-May Mon-Sat
9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; June Mon-Sat 9am-6pm,
Sun 9.30am-5pm; July & Aug Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm, Sun
9am-6pm; Sept & Oct Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun
10am-4pm; Nov-March Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun
10am-3pm;
T
01397 701801,
W
visithighlands.com).
Busy and very helpful tourist o
ce, which stocks an
excellent selection of maps and guide books on exploring
the Great Glen. Upstairs you can surf the net (£1/20min).
THE GREAT GLEN WAY AND CYCLE PATH
Ordnance Survey Landranger maps 26, 34 and 41.
The enormous cleft of the Great Glen is the most obvious - and by far the flattest - way of
traversing northern Scotland from coast to coast. Stretching 79 miles, the
Great Glen Way
long-distance footpath is a relatively undemanding five-to-six-day hike that uses a combination of
canal towpath and forest- and hill-tracks between Fort William and Inverness. Accommodation is
readily available all the way along the route in campsites, hostels, bunkhouses and B&Bs, though in
high season you should book ahead, and if you know you're going to arrive late somewhere it's
worth checking that you can still get a meal either where you're staying or somewhere nearby.
There are various
guidebooks
that describe the route, including
The Great Glen Way
,
published by Rucksack Readers (£10.99). For the best selection of guides, plus the relevant
Ordnance Survey Landranger maps (£6.99 each) head to the tourist o
ce in Fort William. Note,
however, that forestry work can see the route diverted at short notice, so it's wise to check the
o
cial website (
W
greatglenway.com ) before setting off.
Cyclists
with mountain bikes or hybrids can also use the Great Glen Way, which offers a
tranquil alternative to the hazardous A82 (currently the only option for those with road bikes).
The route is well signposted and can be pedalled in one long day or two easier days, though
of course you can tackle shorter sections. Bikes can be rented at Fort William, Banavie,
Drumnadrochit and Inverness.
Whether you're cycling or walking, the suggested
direction
for following the route is from
west to east, to take advantage of the prevailing southwesterly wind.
