Best Areas to Stay in Fort William & Ben Nevis, Scotland

When it comes to the best areas to stay in Fort William, it all comes down to location, location and location.

Fort William’s Town Centre is located on the eastern shores of Loch Linnhe and south of the mouth of River Nevis.

As the area’s main commercial and administrative district, the centre of Fort William is home to the main shopping and nightlife areas in the southwest Highlands.

The town centre is articulated around High Street, a pedestrianised street home to several British retailers, traditional pubs and souvenir shops. Off High Street, there are several important squares including Monzie Square, Station Square (where the old railway station used to be), Gordon Square and the Town Hall Square.

Central Fort William is also home to the most important transit hubs in the region, namely Fort William railway station, located on Belford Road, and the Fort William Bus Station, where many local buses and medium and long-distance coach lines intersect.

The remains of the Old Fort, now turned into a public park, mark the start of The Great Glen Way, a long-distance path in Scotland stretching 120 kilometres, from Fort William to Inverness.

Saint Andrew’s Church, known as “The Queen of Highland Churches” is renowned for its lovely interior and neo-Gothic architecture.

Further south, on Cameron Square, the West Highland Museum focuses on the story of the Scottish Highlands and the Islands and hosts archaeology and wildlife exhibits.

Fort Williams Town Centre offers the widest variety of accommodation options in town. Most of the hotels and B&Bs in the area are small and family-run, and many are set in beautiful refurbished historical houses.

We have chosen the Town Centre as the best area to stay in Fort William thanks to its perfect mix of historic attractions, shopping streets transport connections and beautiful scenery.

With a height of 1345 metres, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland.

Ben Nevis is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains, very close to the town of Fort William.

The Ben Nevis Visitors Centre is situated 3 km southeast of the Town Centre, while the mountain’s summit is about 12 km away.

The Ben Nevis ascent can be done in one day and takes around 8 hours to complete. Keep in mind that if you want to climb Ben Nevis in the winter, the ascent requires a good level of physical fitness and the weather conditions can be very tough.

There are two main hiking paths, The Mountain Track is by far the most popular and easiest, while the Carn Mor Dearg Arête route is a far more challenging climb.

Most of the accommodations in the area are situated around the Ben Nevis Visitors Centre.

Glencoe is a village located some 25 kilometres south of Fort William.

Set in the Glencoe valley, between River Coe and Loch Leven, the village is famous for its gorgeous natural backdrop and as the main point of departure of many waterfall-dotted hiking trails to the surrounding mountains.

The village centre is also home to the Glencoe Folk Museum, a local heritage museum set in traditional 18th-century heather-thatched cottages.

Considered one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. The village and the surrounding area have been featured in blockbuster films like James Bond’s Skyfall and the Harry Potter franchise.

Apart from lovely Glencoe, Loch Leven is surrounded by other charming villages like Ballachulish and Kinlochleven.

Glenfinnan is a hamlet located 27 kilometres west of Fort William, next to Loch Shiel.

This lovely village may be small but is packed with historic sites and natural beauty.

Historically, Glenfinnan is famous for being the cradle of the Jacobite rising, an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. The 18 metre-tall Glenfinnan Monument was erected to commemorate the historic event at the head of the loch.

Glenfinnan is also a top-rated destination for Harry Potter fans from around the world. The iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, spanning 21 arches, has been featured in several Harry Potter movies.

Other attractions in Glenfinnan include the Glenfinnan Station Museum and Saint Mary & Saint Finnan Catholic Church.

Spean Bridge is a village located 16 kilometres northeast of Fort William, on the banks of the River Spean.

This quiet village is home to the Commando Memorial, commemorating the men of the British Commando Forces during the Second World War.

Spean Bridge is also the site of the first engagement of the Jacobite Rising of 1745.

The village is served by Spean Bridge railway station, which provides services to Glasgow, London and Mallaig.

Spean Bridge is also home to the Spean Bridge Golf Club.