The Great Glen - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 182

BLOODY TALES BEYOND THE BEAUTY
Although best known for its windswept slopes and glassy lochs, the Great Glen has a turbulent
and bloody history . Founded in 1655 and named in honour of William III, the town of Fort
William was successfully held by government troops during both of the Jacobite risings. The
country to the southwest, meanwhile, is inextricably associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie's
flight after Culloden (see p.208). Glen Coe is another historic site with a violent past,
renowned as much for the infamous massacre of 1692 as for its magnificent scenery.

wrecked the waterfront. The main street and the little squares off it are more appealing,
though occupied by some decidedly tacky tourist gift shops. Other than the excellent
museum , the town is short on must-sees, but it's undeniably a convenient base for
outdoor activities - most notably walking. Several cruises leave from the town pier
every day, offering the chance to spot the marine life of Loch Linnhe, which includes
seals and seabirds. Shops rent out kayaks and mountain bikes for independent
exploration of the surrounding area, and local guides run mountaineering courses (in
summer and winter) on the slopes of nearby munros.

3

West Highland Museum
Cameron Square, just off the High St • March, Nov & Dec Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; April-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm • Free • T 01397 702169,
W westhighlandmuseum.org.uk
Collections at the splendid and idiosyncratic West Highland Museum cover virtually
every aspect of Highland life and the presentation is traditional, but very well done,
making a refreshing change from the state-of-the-art heritage centres popping up across
Scotland. There'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
Mid-May to Oct Mon-Fri; mid-June to mid-Sept also Sat & Sun • Departs Fort William 10.20am, return 2.10pm; June-Aug only
additional afternoon service departs Fort William 2.30pm, with return at 6.40pm • Return £33 (£56 for first class) • T 0844 850 4685,
W westcoastrailways.co.uk
One enjoyable excursion from town is the 84-mile round-trip to Mallaig (see p.224)
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.221), the train passes
through some of the region's most spectacular scenery, though these days it's as popular
for its role as the locomotive used in the Harry Potter films.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION 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, 3 on Sun; 1hr
50min); Glasgow Queen Street (Mon-Sat 3 daily, 2 on Sun;
3hr 50min); London (1 nightly; 12hr); Mallaig (Mon-Sat
4 daily, 3 on Sun; 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 guidebooks on exploring the Great
Glen. Upstairs you can surf the net (£1/20min).