Things to Do in Fort William with Kids and near Fort William
Things to Do in Fort William with Kids – This cool town in the Highlands is renowned for outdoor activities, but you don’t have to be uber outdoorsy or the next Bear Grylls to have a fantastic time with your family. We were blown away by some of the activities we experienced and we found immaculate accommodation too.
Nevis Range Gondola / Loch Linnhe Boat Trip / Highland Soap Company Workshop / Neptune’s Staircase / Glenfinnan Monument / Glenfinnan Viaduct / Jacobite Steam Train / Commando Memorial / Where to Stay
Catch the Nevis Range Gondola – Things to do in Fort William with Kids
I LOVED our day out on the Nevis Range. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the UK. To be honest there’s no way my family could hike up Ben Nevis, so instead we headed to the Nevis Range which offers seasonal skiing on the mountain of Aonach Mor. For a hike on top of the world catch the UK’s only Mountain Gondola up to 650 metres. The ride itself took around 15 minutes each way, so it’s a significant experience and journey in its own right. Leave the gondola and you’ll immediately see a clearly signposted hike to the Sgùrr Finnisg-aig viewpoint, a short 20 minute walk to stunning vistas over lochs and glens. For more info on walking routes at the Nevis Range click here.
In winter, leave the gondola to discover the beginner’s skiing area with a mix of green and blue runs plus an artificial slope. This is also the home of the Snowgoose Bar and Café (the highest bar in the UK). After our hike we had lunch in the café, and dipped onto its terrace for MORE views and photo opps.
Running underneath the gondola is an epic mountain biking course and if you’re lucky, like we were, you’ll see bikers going at speeds, doing jumps, hitting the bends with a bravery/craziness you cannot imagine. Brilliant!
The gondola takes several bikes at a time, it also welcomes dogs for free. More info here. In terms of prices, a family pass was £59.95 for four, and you can go up and down the mountain as many times as you wish that day. There’s a host of different types of tickets available. [Easy to park with electric charge points too.]
Boat Trip – Things to do in Fort William with Kids
Take a short boat trip (two hours) from central Fort William with Loch Linnhe Cruises to Seal Island. The captain tells tales of local industry, shipwrecks and aquaculture en route, pointing out any red deer, eagles or porpoises he may spot. The kids were delighted to see the seals, plus two tiny seal pups. Tickets cost £72 for a family ticket, but you receive 10% off as guests of our accommodation provider Highland Holidays (see Accommodation section), so £64.80. Hot and cold drinks plus snacks can be purchased, but we brought our own snacks to save pennies.
Highland Soap Company Soap Making Workshop – Things to do in Fort William with Kids
The Highland Soap Company Visitor Centre is a lovely stop, but it also offers soap making workshops. It’s an elegant way to spend some time in Fort William. A great rainy day option as well. Kids over 8 are welcome with an accompanying adult.
Our lovely guide Teeny (who was brilliant with my children) gave us an introduction to soap then it was time to get practical. Firstly, you choose your moulds, scents and your essential oils. [Your family will surprise you with their choices – for Mr Tot (aged 9) went for whisky(?) and raspberry, which worked SO well.]
Then add one colour of your choosing. Mixing it all up together and watching the yellow glycerine liquid soap change colour was SO exciting for our kids. The liquid soap is then poured (with great concentration) into three moulds of your choice that you can decorate with flowers and exfoliating natural ingredients such as oats, heather, rose petals and marigold. The whole creation process takes about an hour. While your soap sets you can spend a drinks voucher in the café, and buy good quality food, snacks and cakes. The whole place had similar vibes to Brodie Country Fare/Glendoick/House of Bruar.
The shop is SO tempting, with beautiful homewares and toys, as well as Highland Soap products. You could easily spend £20 here, so the workshop costs £30 per person, but you walk away with so much quality soap, plus the experience. Kids cost the same as adults because they receive the same quality products and time as adults.
When you collect your soap it’s time to package it up in little bags with ribbons of your choosing. Plus add labels with your name and the ingredients you chose, making them excellent gifts and mementoes. Such a lovely experience, and a surprise hit with my boys. Allow two hours in total.
Old Inverlochy Castle
FREE The ruined castle under the stewardship of Historic Scotland is right next to the Highland Soap Company so you may as well take a peek. Currently closed internally for works, it’s still possible to explore the exterior.
Visit Neptune’s Staircase – Things to do in Fort William with Kids
FREE – This innovative series of canal locks, that lifts boats up and down the water, was designed by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century. There’s a café with outdoor seating so you can sit and slowly watch the boats go by. There’s a wee ice cream shop too, with an incredible range of Fanta flavours, so we grabbed an ice cream and watched two boats being lifted up one lock of the canal, with water swirling and gurgling, locks opening and closing. The boys had SO many questions and found it WAY more interesting than I’d expected. Boats take hours to navigate all 8 locks so chances are you’ll catch some action. [The water does swirl fast, and there are no safety barriers so keep a close eye on toddlers.]
Visit the Glenfinnan Monument
FREE – Roughly half an hour west of Fort William is the Glenfinnan Monument, managed by the National Trust for Scotland, honouring those who fell supporting the Jacobite cause. First stop should be walking up to the viewpoint (a five minute walk) clearly signposted next to the Visitor Centre, gift shop and café. From here you really appreciate the stark beauty of the monument and the breathtaking sublime landscape it calls home. You also get views over to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, so if you’re short of time this very brief hike delivers so much. It’s easy for little legs too.
We also walked down to the water’s edge to visit the memorial itself and hang out by the loch. At very fixed times (for one hour every day) you can ascend the monument to the top!
Visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct
FREE – From the same NTS car park at the Glenfinnan Monument you can also take a 15 minute walk to the handsome 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct, renowned for its appearance in Harry Potter. There are great spots to take photographs, and read a little more about the viaduct. We managed to see two trains going overhead – one Scotrail and a separate luxury train passed by. It’s also possible to ride the Harry Potter train but be sure to aim to book about 10 months in advance.
Catch the Hogwart’s Express or Scotrail!
The Jacobite Steam train’s 84 mile round trip between Fort William and Mallaig books up SO far in advance. We didn’t stand a chance when planning a trip on two months notice. Alternatively you can catch a normal Scotrail West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig day return, and you’ll get exactly the same views at a fraction of the price.
Visit the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge
A humbling experience. During WWII a secret group of elite soldiers was formed and named the Commandoes. Many trained at the rugged and often inhospitable, challenging terrain just outside Fort William near the Commandoes top secret base at Achnacarry Castle. The trio of soldiers stare out over the land they’re famed for training in. A fascinating bit of history. The wreaths, family messages and memorials to individual fallen soldiers, often from recent conflicts, often mere teenagers, break your heart.
Discover the ‘Fort’ of Fort William and Visit the Town Centre
We took a stroll along the high street, dipping into the rather lovely Highland Bookshop then walked along the waterfront (which has a main road running next to it). I don’t feel the town centre is a huge draw, but we did discover the ancient walls of the original fort that gave Fort William its name.
Where to Stay
I cannot fault the Ben Nevis Holiday Park as the accommodation is impeccable and it suits so many price points. You can camp, bring a motorhome, rent a glamping pod or a hot tub pod, stay in a static caravan or lodge, or book a lodge with a hot tub. The mountainous backdrop is breathtaking. We ate dinner on the decking, my son swam in the river, and he played with other kids who were camping.
We stayed in an immaculate three bedroom lodge with tub. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare meals, there’s even a wine fridge! Plus tea/coffee sachets and a cleaning kit. Each bedroom has an ensuite, and comes with robes and slippers. Many self-catering properties are void of toiletries, whereas at Ben Nevis you’re treated to the luxury of Highland Soap Company hand wash, hand lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. Many hotels don’t even stock conditioner. I love this place, all I can say is book it.
Other Activities
Other activities we didn’t fit in but may try at a separate date.
Walk to Steall Falls
Pedal or Walk some of All of Great Glen
Climb the Fort William Ice Wall
Tackle Ben Nevis – I’ll probably never do this!
Visit Glencoe – half an hour’s distance
Try these posts too
Things to do in Aviemore with Kids
Things to do in Newtonmore with Kids
Have a great time.
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