Fantastic Fort William by super scenic Scottish Citylink

With 74% of Brits planning to pursue outdoor hobbies in 2026, 1.1 million entering the ballot for the 2026 London Marathon (a world record that’s nearly double the figure from two years ago) and a quick Instagram search of #hiking bringing up over 90.9 million posts, the appetite for adventure has never been stronger. Fort William, dubbed as the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’, now feels more relevant than ever. Sitting on the shores of Loch Linnhe, in the Western Scottish Highlands, and at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, it’s often treated as a pit stop between more popular Highland sights, but this overlooked treasure is worth more than just passing through.

Scottish Citylink coach services offer journeys to Fort William from Inverness, Isle of Skye, Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond, making it one of the best places to explore Britain’s current outdoors obsession, especially via public transport, with a view from the window that’s truly unmatched. If you’re arriving by coach, the Alexandra Hotel is a handy place to stay, just two minutes from the coach station – ideal for dropping off your bags and getting straight out into the trove that is the Scottish Highlands.

Originally called Inverlochy, the Highlands gem started to become the town we know today in 1654, when a small earth and timber fortress was constructed on a strategic point by Cromwell’s General Monck to pacify Clan Cameron after the Wars of Three Kingdoms. In the 1690s, the fort was rebuilt out of stone for King William III, giving it its name and turning it into a garrison town designed to keep control over the Scottish clans around it. From there, Fort William grew around both movement and necessity, with soldiers, traders and adventurers travelling through it, long before it was a hiking hotspot. The late 1800s was when this really began, with the main Ben Nevis path to reach the summit observatory built in 1883 and the railway arrival in 1894 cementing its reputation as a Highland hub. Almost 100 years later, in 1980, the West Highland Way (Milngavie to Fort William) opened, and the town became an almost “finishing line” for walkers. Nowadays, the West Highland Way gets over 45,000 visitors completing it annually and, even more impressively, over 130,000 climb Ben Nevis.

The West Highland Museum, one of the oldest museums in the Highlands, is the best place to visit to get a deeper understanding of the town’s history and beyond, exhibiting stories of local life, clan history and Jacobite conflict in a building tucked just off the centre of Fort William’s high street.

Alongside the fascinating West Highland Museum, there are plenty of other spots in Fort William that make it worth not rushing through. The town is home to the stunning Duncnasburgh Church, Gothic-style and dating back to 1692, when it initially served as a prison and then a sheriff’s office, but became a church due to the ancient Celtic cross on-site.

There’s also St Andrews Church, built in the style of the Oxford Movement and a sight not to be missed for its breath-taking collection of stained glass. Or, perhaps you’ll want to see what gave Fort William its name – there are still some remains left of the old fort, overlooking the picturesque Loch Linnhe, perfect for a picnic on a sunny afternoon.

Whilst Fort William is rich with history, its softer, slower side is not to be overlooked. Pop into the Highland bookshop, on Fort William’s high street for a vibrant selection of reads, the charming building feeling straight out of a Hallmark film. On the topic of films, be sure to check out Highland Cinema, a cool, quirky, two-screened venue that’s popular with both tourists and locals alike. Or, for a very Scottish moment that needs no explanation, wander up Cow Hill, the gorgeous summit that blocks the view of Ben Nevis from Fort William, full of endless flower fields and – hence its name – the most adorable Highland cows.

After all this exploring, there’s no doubt that you’ll have worked up an appetite. Thankfully, Fort William is not short on scrumptious suppers – much more than just haggis and tatties! Fort William is home to TikTok popular, 100% vegan café, The Wildcat, serving speciality coffee, tea and delicious, home-made food. But if you do fancy something more traditional, there’s The Ben Nevis Bar on the high street, a classic Highlands pub with hearty portions and a welcoming, cosy vibe. They also have vegetarian and gluten-free options available, meaning every adventurer can enjoy their mouth-watering selection. There’s also The Volunteer Arms, the oldest pub in Fort William, for some Scottish ale and live music. Finally, for a Scottish breakfast, The Old Deli is an excellent choice, or Farine, a very aesthetically-pleasing, artisan bakery, if you’re feeling like a sweet treat instead.

Besides the incredible hike up Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis and nearby Munros, Fort William truly lives up to its title of being the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ with its plethora of open-air sports that it has to offer. There’s trail running, with the Ben Nevis Race being a famous local favourite, mountain climbing and snow sports on the Nevis Range, as well as cycling – the Fort William Downhill World Cup is hosted here. Given the town’s proximity to so many lochs, water sports such as kayaking, canoeing and white-water rafting dominate the scene, too, giving adventurers the exciting option to swap hiking boots for a paddle whatever the mood. There’s few more beautiful and versatile parts of the world for outdoor thrill seekers to venture than Fort William.

For Harry Potters fans, Fort William may feel familiar. It’s the starting point for The Jacobite steam train, which is, in other words, the Harry Potter steam train, rattling over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the curved bridge that’s seen in the films.

A great place to stay is the Alexandra Hotel which is less than 5 minutes walk from where the Scottish Citylink services stop at the Bus and Coach Station. The welcome there is really friendly, the rooms are top notch and so too the food. It’s also in the heart of the wonderful town centre too and with views over towards the water!

Fort William isn’t a secret, but it’s often glossed over, with Ben Nevis stealing the limelight. Yet in the midst of Britain’s current outdoors obsession, this magical town refuses to be ignored. Come for its convenient location, but stay for its rich local history, lively food spots, sporting side quests and of course, rugged, dramatic landscapes that truly make Fort William the goldmine it is. With Scottish Citylink coaches offering trips here from all different parts of Scotland, Fort William is now easier to get to than ever before and the rolling views of lochs, glens and mountains make the coach journey part of the adventure before you’ve even arrived.

To find out more and plan your action-packed scenic sojourn to Fort William by Scottish Citylink, check out https://www.citylink.co.uk/