Fort William
Fort William is a Highland base for hillwalking and climbing on Ben Nevis, with Glen Coe, Glenfinnan and the Road to the Isles within easy reach.
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Fort William is a town of 15,757 people at the 2011 census, on the eastern shore of Loch Linnhe in Lochaber, in the Highland council area. It is the second-largest settlement in the Highlands after Inverness and the main town of Lochaber. The mountains draw most people. Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland and the UK, is close by, and the town is a base for hillwalking and climbing. Glen Coe lies just to the south. The West Highland Way, about 95 miles from Milngavie near Glasgow, ends here.
The other draw is the railway. The West Highland Line stops in town on its way to Mallaig, and Glenfinnan, about 17 miles west, has the Glenfinnan Viaduct and monument. The High Street was pedestrianised in the 1990s and is the centre of town, with several squares off it. Bus and coach stands are on MacFarlane Way, next to the railway station. The weather is generally cool and wet, and it changes quickly year-round. Summer has the longest days.
Fort William in five
- Choose a Jacobite date before the hotelWest Coast Railways lists the 2026 morning service from 1 June to 23 October and the afternoon service from 10 June to 25 September, Fort William to Mallaig and back, return tickets only.Glenfinnan and the Jacobite
- Give Ben Nevis a full dayThe Climb Ben Nevis guidance puts the route from the visitor centre at roughly 16 km (10 miles) and about 8 hours on average, with the summit often around 10 degrees colder in summer.Climb Ben Nevis
- Take the Nevis Range gondola on a clear dayNevis Range lists 2026 adult gondola day passes at £28.95, with the first gondola up at 9.30am. Last-down times change with the daylight, so check its mountain report that morning.
- Stop at Glenfinnan MonumentThe National Trust for Scotland lists adult entry at £5.00 and the car park at £5.00. The Viaduct View Café is open spring to autumn, and the visitor centre tells the 1745 rising story.
- Arrive on the Caledonian SleeperThe sleeper runs from London Euston to Fort William, with private rooms or a seated coach, and saves a hotel night on the way north. Book it ahead of the Jacobite dates.Trains, buses and cars
Need to know
- Airport
- Inverness (INV) or Glasgow (GLA), both a long ride away
- Getting there
- West Highland Line from Glasgow, the A82, or the Caledonian Sleeper
- Getting around
- Walk the town; car, bus or taxi for Glen Nevis and Glenfinnan
- Best base
- Town center for trains; Glen Nevis or Corpach for quiet
- Time needed
- 2 nights for Ben Nevis and the train; 3 with Glencoe
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain21 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low1°Snow on the BenJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow on the Ben
- FebruaryRain20 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Cold, wetFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 234 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
- MarchRain18 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cold, quietMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Bright, wetAprilRain
Best
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Bright, wet
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Long daysMayRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Longest daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Longest days
- JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Busy, midgesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 158 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, midges
- AugustRain22 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Warm, busyAugustRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 202 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain20 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Autumn lightSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn light
- OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 244 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain19 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low3°Dark, wetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, wet
- DecemberRain21 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 244 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Short days
Average daily high and low in Fort William, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Fort William
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
3
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 95%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Fort William
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°0°0%Monday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue9°4°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed7°1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu8°4°0%Thursday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°5°6%Friday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat7°4°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun5°4°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 08:34 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
Day trips from Fort William, the full guide- Glenfinnanby road or on the Mallaig lineMonument, viaduct viewpoint and visitor centre, best paired with a Jacobite date.Read the guide
- Glencoeby road along the A82A free National Trust for Scotland glen with a visitor centre and a car park charge.Read the guide
- Mallaig and SkyeCalMac sails Mallaig to Armadale in 45 minutesAn alternative to the road bridge onto Skye, with advance booking advised.Read the guide
Before you go to Fort William
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Rules for Fort William, checked
- Jacobite 2026: morning service 1 June to 23 October, afternoon service 10 June to 25 September; Fort William to Mallaig and back, return only.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Glenfinnan Monument (NTS): adult £5.00, concession £4.00, child £4.00, car park £5.00 on the day checked; visitor centre 9.30 to 18.00.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Nevis Range 2026 gondola day pass: adult £28.95, junior £14.95; first gondola up 9.30am; last gondola times follow the daylight.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Fort William FAQ
How many days do you need in Fort William?
Two nights cover Ben Nevis, Glenfinnan and the Jacobite or the gondola. Add a third for Glencoe or Skye. A single night works only as a stop between Glasgow and Inverness.
Is Ben Nevis hard to climb?
It is a long mountain walk, not a technical climb. The Climb Ben Nevis guidance gives roughly 16 km and 8 hours on average, warns about fatigue on the descent and advises checking mountain weather forecasts.
Is the Jacobite steam train worth it?
Yes if the viaduct and the Mallaig coast are your reason to come, because it is a fixed-time return trip. If you only want the viaduct photo, the Glenfinnan viewpoint and the regular train are a cheaper route.
Do you need a car in Fort William?
Not for the town, the station, the Jacobite and Mallaig. A car helps for Glen Nevis trailheads, Glenfinnan and Glencoe, though taxis and buses fill some gaps, so check timetables.
Can you visit Fort William as a day trip from Inverness?
It is a long day. The Great Glen road links the two, but Ben Nevis and the Jacobite need separate days. One night in Fort William turns a rushed drive into a plan.