Introduction to Fort William

214km (133 miles) NW of Edinburgh; 109km (68 miles) S of Inverness; 167km (104 miles) N of Glasgow

Fort William, on the shores of Loch Linnhe, is the best place for an overnight stop between here and Inverness, in the northeast. It's a good base for exploring Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest mountain, and also for a day trip to Glencoe.

Fort William stands on the site of a fort built by General Monk in 1655 to help crush any rebellion that Highlanders might have been plotting. After several reconstructions, it was finally torn down in 1864 to make way for the railroad. During the notorious Highland Clearances, a few wealthy landowners evicted many starving tenants or squatters, who were shipped to the United States. Today, Fort William is a bustling town, thriving on the summer tourist trade and filled with shops, hotels, and cafes.