FURTHER AFIELD
LET’S EXPLORE! If you have some time to spare, why not head further afield and see what lies on the region’s doorstep?
©ERIC ISSELE/ADOBE STOCK; VISITBRITAIN/ADAM BURTON
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painted buildings all along the main street to the pier. Keen-eyed visitors might recognise it as the set to children’s TV programme Balamory. Stop in at the iconic Mishnish, a real Tobermory institution that has been serving up food, drinks and rooms since 1869. The Isle of Mull is also a wonderful destination for wildlife-watching and you could see eagles, otters, corncrakes, whales, dolphins and basking sharks. From Fort William, you’re only around 50 miles from Loch Ness, so you might want to take a drive to see this brooding loch, and perhaps even the Loch Ness Monster. Probably the world’s most famous loch-dwelling monster, the elusive Nessie has fascinated locals and visitors for many years. The best way to spot the mythical creature is to take a cruise, starting from Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus or Inverness. Hear the area’s fascinating history as you cruise through the beautiful waters – all the while keeping your eyes peeled for a possible sighting. Keen walkers? Why not try the West Highland Way, which stretches almost 100 miles all the way from Milngavie just outside Glasgow to Fort William, taking in a huge variety of scenery along the way, from countryside parks to loch-shores and open moorlands to steep mountains? Another slightly shorter but no less scenic route is the Great Glen Way, around 78 miles between Fort William and Inverness. l
ochaber is a great base for exploring the rest of the Highlands, so if you have time, you’ll want to get out and about to see as much as you can. An easy way to tour the area is by taking a tour. Local tour companies like Highland Mini Tours take small groups or private parties to all the most interesting places in the comfort of a minibus, while their knowledgeable guides teach you more about the area’s fascinating history. One of the most popular places to visit is the Isle of Skye, and it’s an easy journey from Lochaber. Take the 30-minute CalMac ferry ride from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye, where you could take in some of Skye’s best known as the Cuillin mountains, Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. Oban is some 45 miles from Fort William, and again, the drive itself is impossibly scenic, taking in atmospheric lochs and majestic mountains. This quaint seaside town has plenty to see and do, with boat trips, distilleries and castles all in the near vicinity. Seafood lovers have to try The Seafood Hut on the pier. This tiny wooden hut sells the freshest seafood and on any given day you may be able to choose from scallops, crabs, salmon, langoustines and mussels. If you have a bit longer, take the CalMac ferry from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull, which takes around 45 minutes. From there, take a drive or a bus to Tobermory, the pictureperfect fishing port with brightly
“ANOTHER PLACE TO VISIT IS THE ISLE OF MULL, IT’S A WONDERFUL DESTINATION FOR WILDLIFE-WATCHING AND YOU COULD SEE EAGLES, OTTERS, CORNCRAKES, WHALES, DOLPHINS AND BASKING SHARKS”
WELCOME TO FORT WILLIAM & LOCHABER
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