About Fort William
Explore Fort William and the Scottish Highlands
Fort William is known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK, and for good reason. Surrounded by majestic mountains, glens, and lochs, it’s a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Popular activities include:
- Climbing Ben Nevis – The UK’s highest mountain, just a short drive or walk from the guesthouse.
- Riding the Jacobite Steam Train – One of the world’s most scenic rail journeys, made famous by the Harry Potter films.
- Walking the West Highland Way – A long-distance trail that ends in Fort William.
- Exploring Glen Nevis – A stunning glen with waterfalls, forest trails, and film locations.
- Visiting Local Attractions – Including the West Highland Museum, Old Inverlochy Castle, and Neptune’s Staircase.
Whether you’re here for hiking, biking, sightseeing, or simply soaking in the Highland atmosphere, there’s something for everyone.
Fort William is a fantastic starting and finishing point for a variety of hikes, with the West Highland Way being the most beloved one. This remarkable trail begins just outside of Glasgow and stretches 96 miles through some of the most breathtaking scenery Scotland has to offer, finishing at the southeastern end of Fort William High Street, right by the “Sore Feet” statue. But that’s not all! Many visitors find themselves coming back to Fort William to kick off their adventures on the Great Glen Way or the East Highland Way, making it a perfect spot for repeated visits!
Fort William’s history is quite fascinating, dating back to 1654 when a wooden fort was built by the English to help “calm” the Clan Cameron. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the fort was named Fort William in honor of William of Orange, the husband of Mary II, who became Queen after James II and VII was deposed. The fort played a significant role in suppressing the Jacobite uprisings in the 18th Century, and even though the Jacobites managed to capture the other two forts in the Great Glen, Fort William held strong against their two-week siege!
The Gaelic name for Fort William is An Gearasdan, which translates to “The Garrison,” though the exact origins of this name remain a bit of a mystery.
Getting Around Fort William
Need to know about transport in Fort William? Fort William has a small town centre and Guisachan Guesthouse is only a short walk to the centre of town including shops, restaurants, pubs and transport links. If you need to find out about getting around by anything other than on foot we have a few links below.
If you are looking for things to do in the area check out our page about things to do.
Local bus services
Shiel Buses is our local bus operator with services both locally and to outlying towns and villages.  You can view their timetables and routes on their website.
For example the N41 service is useful if you wish to go to the Nevis Range to take a trip on the mountain gondola. The N44 service will get you to Kinlochleven and Glencoe village.
Fort William taxi services
- Speeders Taxi’s – +44(0)1397 704000
- A&A Taxi’s – +44(0)1397 701702
- Nevis Taxi – +44(0)1397 703000
- Lochaber Taxi – +44(0)1397 701324
- DM Taxi – +44(0)7869 811223
- MacD’s Taxi’s – +44(0)1397 701125
- Cloudy’s Taxi – +44(0)7500 362424
- Greyhound Taxi’s – +44(0)1397 705050
Car Hire in Fort William
Public Transport to/from Fort William
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Train services run from Fort William to Glasgow and on to Edinburgh, to Mallaig on the west coast
The 900 Bus Service runs from Fort William to Glasgow
The 919 Bus Service runs from Fort William to Inverness
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Fully Electric Bus service from Fort William to Edinburgh or Glasgow by Ember
Book Your Stay Today
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, a family holiday, or a stop on your Highland tour, Guisachan Guesthouse offers the perfect blend of comfort, location, and Highland hospitality.
Book direct for the best rates and a warm welcome to Fort William.