Fort William and Lochaber contains some of the most scenic and diverse walking country in the whole of the UK, including Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK, the incredibly beautiful Glen Coe with the wilderness of Rannoch Moor and the romantic islands of Mull, Rum and Eigg.
Possible walks range from strenuous and exhilarating scrambles, to stiff climbs to the tops of Munros (peaks over 3000ft), to short but delightful strolls. Not all our hills demand super fitness, nor is age necessarily a deterrent; many people in their 70s and 80s and whole families enjoy regular walks and climbs in the area.
The famous West Highland Way winds its way from Milngavie outside Glasgow, crossing Rannoch Moor, past Buachaille Etive Mor to the head of Glen Coe, climbing the Devil’s Staircase, descending to sea level to cross the River Leven at Kinlochleven before entering Lairigmor and Glen Nevis and finishes at Gordon Square in Fort William.
Special-interest walks are often organised and include hunting for orchids and rare Scottish butterflies, watching eagles and bats and deer rutting and, in the autumn, collecting edible fungi. Others lead to sites of archaeological importance, which are particularly rich in Lochaber.
Walks in Oban and Argyll, Oban and Argyll, PA34
A mostly easy walk to the cleared village of Inniemore - Aoneadh Mor, returning up a short but steep incline which affords views across Loch Arienas.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This circuit explores the industrially-exploited but today very beautiful and peaceful Glen Leven, including a visit to the bleak Blackwater Dam.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This moderate walk makes a circuit around attractive Loch Oich utilising the Great Glen Way along the southern shores and the Great Glen Cycle route higher above the loch on the northern side. NOTE: Suspension bridge at Invergarry is currently closed until Summer 2010, detour on road required.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This is a delightful riverside walk which can easily be extended to give a longer route if desired.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This idyllic walk explores some of the fabulous beaches on the northern coast of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. In good weather, there are great views out to the Small Isles of Muck, Eigg and Rum.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
These three Munros are quite isolated in the wilds south of Loch Laggan. Beinn a'Chlachair is a massive whale-like ridge with steep sides, Geal Charn a sprawling mass and Creag Pitridh a pointed summit on its northern slopes.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This is really a combination of two very short and easy but contrasting walks. The first is a visit to the old Ballachulish slate quarries which supplied most of Scotland with slates for generations; after this look at industrial heritage the second part of the walk is a delightfully scenic stroll around the peninsula behind the Isles of Glencoe Hotel.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
Creag Meagaidh is a magnificent massif, a bare plateau fringed by some of the grandest cliffs in Scotland. This traverse takes in two neighbouring Munros and makes for a memorable day.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
Ben Tee is a prominent Corbett, visible from many points along the Great Glen and Glen Garry, and makes a fine, wide ranging viewpoint.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
An easy but very pleasant walk which follows the Caledonian Canal between Loch Lochy and Loch Oich, returning via the old railway line.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This forest walk climbs up through the trees to a great viewpoint with views of Lochs Arkaig and Lochy as well as Ben Nevis. It then descends to an attractive waterfall with a perfect picnic site.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
A pleasant leg stretcher through forestry, with a short section of riverside. This walk only has glimpses of the nearby mountain scenery as it is mainly in the trees.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
These two Munros are the easternmost of the Mamores range. They stand apart from the rest of the ridge as isolated cones of scree, giving arduous ascends but wonderful views.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
Cow Hill is the summit that blocks the view of Ben Nevis from Fort William. It gives an enjoyable circuit with fine views, both over the town and down Glen Nevis and Loch Linnhe.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This short and easy walk passes through beautiful ancient oak woodlands close to the shores of Loch Sunart.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
An all-abilities trail with picnic tables and benches through beautiful woodland and then up to a viewpoint below the mountain of Creag Meagaidh. The gentle uphill section can be omitted to make the route completely flat.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This final stage of the West Highland Way climbs up through the woods above Kinlochleven before following the route of the old Military Road through an empty glen flanked by grand mountains. There is then a stretch through forestry before a gradual descent into stunningly beautiful Glen Nevis - with the highest mountain in the UK towering ahead. The town of Fort William beckons for a deserved celebration.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
A gem of a walk following waymarked trails through ornamental woodland at the foot of Glen Coe.The picturesque and serene lochan and its wooded shores contrasts with the wild and dramatic mountains of the glen which are seen across it.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
This long walk to Mam na Gualainn towering above Loch Leven provides great ridgewalking with extensive views of the Mamore and Glen Coe mountains.
Walks in Fort William and Lochaber, Fort William and Lochaber, PH33
An easy walk exploring the remains of the original settlement at Daingean. The walk has some nice views over Loch Garry and beyond.