Fort William Scotland
United Kingdom
21
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Ponant (9 Cruises)
Silversea Cruises (1 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
In Loch Linnhe, facing the town. The tender ride is among the shortest anywhere: about 300 metres separate the anchorage from the pontoons, and a few minutes' walk then brings you to the main street.
Yes. The largely pedestrianised High Street is a few minutes from the pontoons and gathers outdoor gear shops, woollens, cafés and pubs. The West Highland Museum is right in the centre. Everything else — gondola, steam train, distillery — needs a vehicle or a ticket.
Three options work equally well: the Nevis Range gondola to gain height without climbing, a two-hour boat trip on Loch Linnhe, or the Ben Nevis distillery followed by the West Highland Museum. The steam train, by contrast, needs a full day.
No. Britain's highest point, at 1,345 metres, takes a full day and strong legs, which does not fit a port call. The alternative is the Nevis Range gondola, about fifteen minutes' drive north, which lifts passengers from 100 to 650 metres on the slopes of Aonach Mor.
Yes. The Jacobite departs from Fort William station and runs to the coastal village of Mallaig, crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct, the 21-arch curve made famous by the films. Allow a full half day for the return trip and book early: seats go quickly in season.
Seals, mussel farms and small islands, with Ben Nevis as a backdrop. Trips last about two hours and leave from the pontoons themselves, which makes them one of the easiest activities to fit into a port call.
Yes, the Ben Nevis distillery, one of Scotland's oldest, founded in 1825 at the foot of the mountain from which it takes its name and its water. The tour ends with a tasting. A few kilometres north, Neptune's Staircase and its eight locks can be walked from Corpach.
Yes. The Nevis Range gondola, with its terrace and interpretation centre, and the loch boat trip suit all ages. Glen Nevis, the glacial valley at the foot of the mountain, offers easy paths along a clear-water river.
Pounds sterling and English. Cards work everywhere, including for the gondola and the train. Scotland issues its own banknotes: they are valid locally but sometimes refused elsewhere in the UK.
May to September. The summit of Ben Nevis is often wrapped in cloud even in high summer — locals say you don't get to choose — and midges are troublesome from June to August in still weather. Bring waterproofs and sturdy shoes in any season.
