It’s that time of year again. The pavements become littered with auburn crispy leaves and the temperature starts to cool, but Autumn weather can be magical. It can also be the ideal weather for some walking and sightseeing.
The Sun recently named the Scottish town area of Fort William as one of the best places to visit this Autumn, and they’re not wrong.
Fort William is known as the outdoor capital of the UK and it’s home to the highest mountain in the UK. Ben Nevis is 345 metres above sea level and you won’t find anything higher within 739 kilometres in any direction.
Being the UK’s most towering mountain, it’s a pretty popular destination, and it’s estimated that over 150,000 hikers climb it each year. Many mountain bikers come to cycle the hill range as well.
But you don’t have to tackle the biggest mountain in the UK if you’re going to Fort William, there’s plenty more to do.
Fort William is considered to be one of the most historic places in Scotland, with roots relating to the Jacobites, Glenfinnan and the Old Fort William and Inverlochy Castle ruin, there’s plenty to visit for history buffs.
Why not take a trip on the famous Jacobite Steam Strain, impressively described as the greatest railway journey in the world? This 84-mile round trip takes you past some of the great sights of Scotland.
The train starts at Ben Nevis and passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar, as well as the shortest river in Britain, River Morar. It finally arrives next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis.
You’ll also find stunning beaches, iconic film locations, sweeping hill ranges, historic castles, and distilleries in the area. In truth, the Ben Nevis Distillery is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland.
Nature lovers will find themselves in paradise in Fort William. The Lochaber Geopark boasts some of the most awe-inspiring countryside in the world. Here, you can explore mountains, lochs, rivers, and coasts.
There is no end to wildlife in the area, and many of these species can’t be found in England. Some indigenous animals in these parts include the golden eagle, minke whale, basking sharks, red deer and red squirrel.
You can even take a whale and dolphin cruise from Mallaig Harbour, which is only an hour’s drive away from Fort William.
The roaring Scottish countryside is the perfect way to kick off the Autumn season and experience nature, history, and adventure.