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ESSENTIALS ~ TRANSPORT ~ DESTINATION GUIDES ~ HOSTEL REVIEWS ~ FORUMS |
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Destinations > Scotland > Highland > The Great Glen & the Cairngorms
The Great Glen & the CairngormsFort William & Ben NevisFort William is a popular destination for hikers and skiers who come here because of its close proximity to Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The town has a spectacular setting wedged between Ben Nevis and Loch Linnhe, but it is poorly planned and a busy dual carriageway cuts the town off from the waterfront. Practical InformationINFORMATION CENTRESFort William Tourist Information CentreCameron Centre, Cameron Square, Fort WilliamTel (01397) 703 781 Website www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Apr-Jun Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Jul-Mon-Sat9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm; Aug Mon-Sat 9am-8.30pm, Sun 9am-6pm; Sep-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm; Nov-Dec Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm Glen Nevis Visitor CentreGlen Nevis, Fort WilliamTel (01397) 705 922 Open Easter to mid-May 9am-5pm daily; mid-May to Sep 9am-6pm daily; Oct 9am-5pm daily Coming & GoingThere are several trains each day between Fort William and Glasgow's Queen Street Station and there is a daily train to London (Euston Station). Buses run from Fort William to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oban and Inverness. Local TransportHighland Country Buses (tel (01397) 702 373; website www.rapsons.co.uk) run Fort William's local bus service with buses around town as well as a country bus service that goes to Kinlochleven and Inverness. The most useful routes for most travellers are buses 41 and 42 to Glen Nevis as well as buses to backpackers' accommodation in nearby towns like Corpach. AccommodationTOWN CENTREBank Street LodgeBank Street, Fort William PH33 6AYTel (01397) 700 070  
CallunaHeathercroft, Fort William PH33 6RETel (01397) 700 451 
Fort William BackpackersAlma Road, Fort William PH33 7LSTel (01397) 700 711
OUTSIDE THE TOWN CENTREThere are several hostels outside the town centre, mostly in stunning natural settings, that cater mostly to outdoorsy-types. Achintee Farm HostelAchintee Farm, Glen Nevis, Fort William PH33 6TETel (01397) 702240
Ben Nevis InnAchintee, by Claggan Glen Nevis, Fort William PH33 6TETel (01397) 701 227
Blacksmith's Backpackers' LodgeStation Road, Corpach, near Fort WilliamTel (01397) 772467
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity CentreCorpach, Fort William PH33 7LRTel (01397) 772 315
Glen Nevis SYHAGlen Nevis, Fort William PH33 6SYTel 0870 004 1120
Loch Ossian SYHACorrour, By Fort William PH30 4AATel (01397) 732 207 or 0870 004 1139
The Smiddy BunkhouseStation Road, Corpach, near Fort WilliamTel (01397) 772 467
HikingThe hike to the summit of Ben Nevis (15km; 5-7 hours) begins at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre about 3km outside Fort William. During summer this is a very popular hike and the trail is busy with other hikers, but only experienced hikers tackle the summit during winter. There are a lot of shorter walks around town including several walks in Glen Nevis. SightsWest Highland MuseumThis museum in the centre of Fort William is renowned for its Jacobite collections and it also has exhibits on archaeology, geology, natural and local history. Cameron Square, Fort WilliamTel (01397) 702 169 Website www.fort-william.net/museum/ Admission £2 Open Jan-May Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; Jun Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Sep Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-4pm Inverness & Loch NessThe biggest city in the Highlands is a busy transport hub and a popular base for exploring nearby Loch Ness. Inverness boasts a castle and a couple of minor museums, but the main draw card is Loch Ness, which is only 10km away. Apart from trying to spot the illusive Loch Ness monster, the Loch's attractions include Kilravock Castle; Cawdor Castle, which was the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth; as well as several small villages such as Beauly and Nairn. Practical InformationInverness Tourist Information CentreCastle Wynd, InvernessTel (01463) 234 353 Open Jan to mid-Jun Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm; mid-Jun to Ag Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9.30am-5pm; Sep-Dec Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm American ExpressAlba Travel, 43 Church Street, InvernessTel (01463) 239 188 Open Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm Inverness Job CentreRiver House, Young Street, InvernessTel (01463) 888 100 Website www.inverness-online.com/jobcentre/ Laundry17 Young Street, InvernessTel (01463) 242507 Coming & GoingInverness's airport (website www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport.html) handles frequent flights, including budget airlines such as easyJet. The airport is located 16km east of Inverness and local buses run regularly between the airport and the city centre. Coaches terminate at the coach station at Farraline Park. National Express coaches run to London and Scottish Citylink (tel 0870 550 5050; website www.citylink.co.uk) run coaches to destinations throughout Scotland with the most frequent services going to Edinburgh and Glasgow. The train station on Station Square has trains to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Thurso. Local TransportHighland Country buses (tel (01463) 222 244; website www.rapsons.co.uk) run Inverness's public transport service; there are buses to destinations throughout the city and the surrounding countryside including much of the area around Loch Ness. The Tourist Trail Rover ticket is a good deal if you want to do a lot of sightseeing by public transport. For £6, this travel pass gives you unlimited travel on Highland Country buses routes 11, 11C, 12, 12A and 13 which allow you to make a day trip from Inverness visiting Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness. AccommodationBazpackers Backpackers' Hotel4 Culduthel Road, Inverness IV2 4ABTel (01463) 717663
Eastgate Backpackers38 Eastgate, Inverness IV2 3NATel (01463) 718 756
Highlander Hostel23a High Street, Inverness IV1 1HYTel (01463) 221225
Ho Ho Hostel23a High Street, InvernessTel (01463) 221 225
Inverness Student Hostel8 Culduthel Road, Inverness IV2 4ABTel (01463) 236 556
Inverness SYHAVictoria Drive, Inverness IV2 3QBTel (01463) 231 771
Inverness Tourist Hostel24 Rose Street, Inverness IV1 1NUTel (01463) 241962
The Long Lie In28 Ardconnel Street, InvernessTel (01463) 713 517
Eating & DrinkingThe big Safeway supermarket on Millburn Road is the best spot to stock up on food. There is also the usual selection of fast food joints around town. SightsINVERNESS CITYInverness CastleThis castle dominates the city centre and its Drum Tower is open to visitors with an exhibition portraying the castle's history. Between Castle Road & Castle Street, InvernessTel (01463) 243 363 Open Easter-Nov 10.30am-5.30pm daily Inverness Museum & Art GalleryThis museum features mostly local history and the adjoining gallery plays host to a programme of art exhibitions. Castle Wynd, InvernessTel (01463) 237 114 Admission free Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm OUTSIDE INVERNESS CITYBrodie CastleThis castle is located in Moray, 38km west of Inverness, so it is not technically in Highland but it is included in this chapter since it is close enough to Inverness to make a nice day trip. Brodie Castle dates from the 16th century and the interior features some nice art plus the usual collection of old furnishings and porcelain. Brodie, Forres, MorayTel (01309) 641 371 Website www.nts.org.uk Admission £5 (£3.75 HI/SYHA) Open Apr noon-4pm daily; May-Jun Mon-Thu & Sun noon-4pm; Jul-Aug noon-4pm daily; Sep Mon-Thu & Sun noon-4pm; grounds all year 9.30am-sunset daily Cawdor CastleLocated near Inverness Dalcross Airport, Cawdor Castle is one of Scotland's most famous as it was the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth. The castle dates from the 14th century and its grounds boast some nice walks and golf course. Website www.cawdorcastle.comAdmission £6.50 (£5.50 students) Open 1 May-10 Oct 10am-5.30pm daily Culloden BattlefieldThis historic battlefield is the site of the last Jacobite uprising in 1746. Most of the battlefield including Leanach Cottage, which survived the battle, has been restored and there is an exhibition at the visitor centre that explains the history behind the battlefield. B9006, Culloden Moor, InvernessBus 12 Tel (01463) 790607 Website www.nts.org.uk Admission £5 (£3.75 HI/SYHA) Open Feb-Mar 11am-4pm daily; Apr-Jun 9am-6pm daily; Jul-Aug 9am-7pm daily; Sep-Oct 9am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 11am-4pm daily Culrain & Carbisdale CastleAlthough Culrain is no more than a small village a 45-minute drive north of Inverness, thousands of backpackers come here to stay at Carbisdale Castle – a youth hostel set inside a real Highland castle. AccommodationCarbisdale Castle SYHACulrain, Highland, IV24 3DPBus Macleod's Coaches Tain-Lairg bus to Invershin Hotel Train Culrain Tel (01549) 421 232 or 0870 004 1109
DrumnadrochitOnly 20km south of Inverness, Drumnadrochit is one of the main tourist centres on Loch Ness. The town is home to two exhibition centres and the impressive Urquhart Castle. Practical InformationDrumnadrochit Tourist Information CentreThe Car Park, DrumnadrochitTel (01456) 459 076 Coming and GoingHighland Country bus 17 goes to Inverness, which is only 30 minutes away, making Drumnadrochit close enough for a day trip. AccommodationBackpackers ParadisePolmaily House, A831, Drumnadrochit IV63 6XTTel (01456) 450 343
Loch Ness Backpackers LodgeCoiltie Farmhouse, East Lewiston, Drumnadrochit IV63 6UJTel (01456) 450 807
SightsOfficial Loch Ness ExhibitionThis is a museum about Loch Ness and the Loch Ness monster that attempts to provide a scientific and reasoned coverage of Nessie with information on the natural history and geology of the region and less emphasis on the stories and legends that surround the monster. A82, DrumnadrochitTel (01456) 450 573 Website www.loch-ness-scotland.com Admission £5.95 Open Jan-Easter 10am-3.30pm daily; Easter-May 9.30am-5pm; Jun 9am-6pm; Jul-Aug 9am-8pm; Sep-Oct 9.30pm-5.30pm; Nov 10am-3.30pm Original Loch Ness Exhibition CentreLike the Official Loch Ness Exhibition, this museum features exhibits on Loch Ness, the monster and various aspects of Scottish history. It is a little more geared towards Nessie and the legends surrounding it. DrumnadrochitTel (01456) 450 342 Website www.lochness-centre.com Open 9am-8pm daily Urquhart CastleUrquhart Castle is one of Scotland's largest and most important castles and it occupies a beautiful site, overlooking Loch Ness. The castle was built in the 1230s, but most of what you see today dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. There is a visitor centre at the castle with exhibits and an audio-visual presentation. A82, 3.25km south of DrumnadrochitTel (01456) 450 551 Website www.historic-scotland.gov.uk Admission £6 (£4.50 students) Open Jan-Mar 9.30am-4.30pm daily (last entry 3.45pm); Apr-Sep 9.30am-6.30pm daily (last entry 5.45pm); Oct-Dec 9.30am-4.30pm daily (last entry 3.45pm) Fort Augustus, Invermoriston & InvergarryFort Augustus, Invermoriston are at the southern end of Loch Ness. Invergarry is a little farther south on the bank of Loch Oich. All three villages offer a quieter alternative to staying in Drumnadrochit or Inverness. AccommodationFORT AUGUSTUSMorag's LodgeBunoich Brae, Fort Augustus PH32 4DGTel (01320) 366 289
INVERMORISTONLoch Ness SYHA HostelGlen Moriston, near Invermoriston IV63 7YDTel (01320) 351 274 or 0870 004 1138
INVERGARRYInvergarry LodgeMandally Road, InvergarryTel (01809) 501412
Strathspey & the CairngormsOne of Scotland's most visited regions is the Cairngorm mountain range, Scotland's second highest, and the nearby towns on the River Spey. The Cairngorms feature tundra and some good hiking trails including the 39km Lairig Ghru Trail. During winter there is a popular ski resort here. Virtually all towns in the area straddle the River Spey, which is noted for its excellent salmon fishing. All the towns in the region are ideal bases for exploring the Cairngorms. Most of them are small, quaint places but Aviemore, the region's largest town, has much less charm. Regardless of where you choose to stay, you should expect plenty of tourists, particularly during holiday periods. Practical InformationAviemore Tourist Information CentreGrampian Road, AviemoreTel (01479) 810 363 Open Jan-Jun Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm; Jul-mid Sep Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm; mid Sep-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm Grantown-on-Spey Tourist Information Centre54 High Street, Grantown-on-SpeyTel (01479) 872 773 Open Easter-Oct 10am-5pm daily Kingussie Tourist Information CentreDuke Street, KingussieTel (01540) 661 307 Open Apr-Aug Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm; Sep-Oct Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm Newtonmore Tourist Information CentreMain Street, NewtonmoreTel (01540) 673912 Website www.newtonmore.com Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm Coming & GoingAviemore is the best-connected town in the region and most travellers find it easiest to use this town as a transport hub while visiting the region. There are frequent trains and buses from here to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Local TransportHighland Country (tel (01479) 811 211; website www.rapsons.co.uk) operate bus services between Inverness and Newtonmore with stops at most towns in the Strathspey region, including Kingussie, Kincraig, Boat of Garten, Nethy Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Carrbridge and Aviemore. They also run a bus service between Aviemore and Cairngorm. A funicular railway (website www.cairngormmountain.com) runs to the summit of Cairngorm, but there is no access to most hiking trails from the Ptarmigan Centre station at the top. The train runs every 15 minutes and costs £7.50 return. AccommodationAVIEMOREAviemore Bunkhouseby the Old Bridge Inn, Dalfaber Road, Aviemore PH22 1PUTel (01479) 811 181
Aviemore SYHA25 Grampian Road, Aviemore PH22 1PRTel (01479) 810 345 or 0870 004 1104
Cairngorm Lodge (Loch Morlich SYHA)
Loch Morlich, Glenmore Forest Park PH22 1QY |
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