Some towns you pass through. Fort William you fall for.
It sits where the mountains meet the sea, at the foot of Ben Nevis and the edge of Loch Linnhe, and it has a way of making first-time visitors cancel their onward plans and stay another night. They call it the Outdoor Capital of the UK, but that undersells it a little. This is the doorstep to the Scottish Highlands — a place where a steam train still crosses a hundred-year-old viaduct, where a single glen can hold a waterfall, a film location and a Munro, and where the weather rewrites the scenery three times before lunch.
We’ve spent years driving visitors and locals around this corner of the world, and we’ve watched people arrive with a list of two or three things and leave wishing they’d had a week. So we’ve done the hard part for you. Here are fifty of the very best things to do in Fort William — the famous, the local, and the quietly wonderful — and, because getting around the Highlands can be the tricky part, a word on how to reach each one without the parking headaches.
Exploring without a car?
Riz Taxi runs sightseeing trips and day tours across the Highlands, driven by locals who know exactly when the light is best and where the crowds aren't.
The Iconic Big-Hitters
Let’s start with the ones you came for.
1. Stand beneath Ben Nevis. At 1,345 metres, “the Ben” is the highest mountain in Britain, and climbing it is a genuine rite of passage — a long, rewarding slog up the Mountain Track that ends, on a clear day, with half of Scotland at your feet. Not a hiker? You don’t have to be. The views from Glen Nevis are spectacular on their own, and we’re happy to drop climbers at the trailhead and collect them, weary and triumphant, hours later. See our tourist transport service.
2. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train. You’ll know it the moment you see it — the real “Hogwarts Express,” puffing out of Fort William station and steaming west toward the coast. It’s one of the great railway journeys in the world, and it sells out fast in summer, so book ahead.
3. Watch the train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct. More on this below, because it deserves its own guide — but standing on the hillside as that steam train curves across those twenty-one arches is the kind of thing people remember for the rest of their lives. Read our full Glenfinnan Viaduct guide.
4. Lose yourself in Glencoe. Half an hour south, the mountains close in and the mood shifts. Glencoe is beautiful and a little haunting, all brooding peaks and rushing water, and it’s breathtaking whether the sun’s out or the mist is down.
5. Wander Glen Nevis. Right on the town’s doorstep, this is the gentle counterpoint to the Ben above it — river meadows, waterfalls, and the famous walk up to Steall Falls.
For the Adventurous
Fort William didn’t earn its “Outdoor Capital” title by accident.
If your pulse likes a workout, you’re spoilt: (6) the world-cup mountain-bike tracks at the Nevis Range, (7) the gondola that carries you up Aonach Mòr for views that go on forever, (8) kayaking and paddleboarding on Loch Linnhe, (9) walking a stretch of the legendary West Highland Way, and (10) the gorge scramble to Steall Falls with its nerve-testing wire bridge. In winter, (11) the Nevis Range turns into Scotland’s premier ski and snowboard resort. Add (12) gorge walking and canyoning in Glen Nevis, (13) a gentle cycle along the Caledonian Canal, (14) the Ice Factor’s indoor ice wall at Kinlochleven, and (15) wildlife watching for red deer, golden eagles and seals, and you’ve a fortnight’s worth of adrenaline right there.
Heading to a trailhead, the Nevis Range or the Ice Factor?
We carry bikes, boards, skis and packs — just tell us what you're bringing.
A Little History and Culture
Between the adventures, Fort William tells its stories.
Step into (16) the West Highland Museum and you’ll find Jacobite secrets and Highland history under one roof. Nearby stand (17) the atmospheric ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle. Drive a little north to (18) the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, where three bronze soldiers gaze out over the very ground they once trained on, with Ben Nevis behind them. There’s (19) Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie — eight canal locks climbing the hillside, an engineering marvel from Thomas Telford — and (20) the Glenfinnan Monument on the shores of Loch Shiel, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745. Round it out with (21) the sparkling Treasures of the Earth gem exhibition, (22) the Glenfinnan Station Museum, (23) the quiet beauty of St Andrew’s Church, (24) the eerie “Parallel Roads” of Glen Roy, and, if you time it right, (25) a proper Highland Games.
Food, Drink and a Little Shopping
All that fresh air works up an appetite, and Fort William delivers.
The High Street is lined with (26) cafés and restaurants, many serving (27) Loch Linnhe seafood so fresh it was swimming that morning. Whisky lovers should book (28) a tour and tasting at the Ben Nevis Distillery, and beer fans can seek out (29) a local craft brewery. Start your day with (30) a proper Scottish breakfast, treat yourself to (31) handmade Highland fudge, and browse (32) the independent gift and craft shops for something to take home. Catch (33) a farmers’ market if the timing’s right, settle in for (34) a leisurely Highland afternoon tea, and — our favourite tip — enjoy (35) a whisky tasting knowing you don’t have to drive. Leave the car with us and let our private hire service run you home.
Bringing the Family
Little ones in tow? Fort William is easier with kids than you’d expect.
They’ll love (36) the crystal caves at Treasures of the Earth, (37) the easy riverside walks in Glen Nevis, and (38) feeding time at a local farm park. The (39) gondola is a hit with tired legs of any age, and (40) the pebble beaches along Loch Linnhe are made for stone-skimming. When the rain comes — and it will — there’s (41) indoor soft play, the sheer magic of (42) the steam train, and (43) the Ice Factor’s ice wall to keep everyone smiling.
Day Trips Worth the Drive
When you’re ready to roam further, Fort William is the perfect launchpad.
Head to (44) Glencoe and the Three Sisters, cross to (45) the Isle of Skye, chase the monster at (46) Loch Ness and Inverness, feast in (47) Oban on the west coast, ride to (48) Mallaig and the silver sands of Morar, take (49) a Loch Shiel cruise from Glenfinnan, or catch (50) the Corran Ferry to wild, remote Ardnamurchan.
We run comfortable, fixed-price long-distance trips to every one of these — with a local at the wheel who knows exactly where to pull over for the photo you’ll be showing off for years.
Ready to explore?
Riz Taxi is your local, reliable way around the Highlands — no parking, no stress, just the good bits.
A Few Questions People Always Ask
What is the best thing to do in Fort William?
Climbing or admiring Ben Nevis and riding the Jacobite Steam Train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct are the two must-dos, with Glencoe and Glen Nevis a very close third.
How many days do you need in Fort William?
Two to three days lets you cover the headline sights and squeeze in a day trip further afield.
Do you need a car in Fort William?
No. Plenty of visitors explore entirely by train and taxi — we'll get you to the trailheads, the attractions and the day trips without you ever circling a car park.
What can you do in Fort William when it rains?
Museums, the Ice Factor, distillery tours and Treasures of the Earth are all brilliant when the clouds roll in.
The Easy Way to See It All
Here’s the honest truth: the best way to enjoy this list is to let someone else do the driving. The single-track roads, the timing of the steam train, the car parks that fill by nine in the morning — that’s our job, not yours. Riz Taxi offers airport transfers, sightseeing trips and full day tours across Fort William and the Highlands, with friendly local drivers and comfortable cars.
Book your Fort William adventure today. Call 07349 948977 or book online. Local, reliable, and ready when you are.