Visit Fort William in 2024

Lochs, mountains, rivers, adventures await...
Read more
Advertisement

Outdoor Activities and Outdoor Providers

Fort William and many other areas of Lochaber provide an amazing range and diversity of outdoor activities including watersports, mountain activities and leisurely outdoor trips

Not much point in calling Fort William and Lochaber - the Outdoor Capital of the UK if there was not an established local industry of businesses providing a range of outdoor activities and experiences for you. So if you want to hike, climb, run, sail, ski, snowboard, cycle, bike, canyon, raft, try quad biking or archery or paint-balling or whatever, you've come to the right place.

We have boat trip providers with Loch Shiel Cruises at Glenfinnan and Elsie on Loch Linnhe with slow leisurely cruises for sight-seeing and spotting local wildlife, or others with fast rigid inflatable rib boats - for an adrenalin rush on the sea; there are people who will take you out on a field trip for photography sessions, or natural history or outdoor skills courses.

Fort William and Lochaber is the undisputed Outdoor Capital for outdoor sports and activities in the UK - that's a fact! There is nowhere else in the British Isles where you can do almost everything from dive in the sea to fly in the air - with all watersports, country sports, cycling and mountain biking activities and of course mountain sports in between.
Come for a relaxing cruise on the Caledonian Canal, ride your bikes in our forest tracks, or what about a game of golf on all four Lochaber golf courses... the Fort William area boasts the widest choices of activities for everyone interested in a holiday in this unspoilt, natural, rural area where hills and glens, rivers and lochs, the sea coastline all offer something to do while enjoying the peace and tranquility. Visit Nevis Range, Fort William's outdoor centre for mountain biking, hill walking and winter snowsports.

Local activity providers offer a great range of activities for families, couples, corporate events and stag & hen weekends. How about white water rafting trips, canyoning, gorge walking, canoeing, kayaking and tons more. Or consider some bushcraft, natural history trips, outdoor craft activities, photography tours - all sorts of outdoor activities in and around Fort William.

The list of businesses below represents the broad range of activity providers in the Fort William and Lochaber area. If you are running an outdoor activity business, add your business today !
If you are looking for an activity - get on the phone or drop them a text - our Lochaber Business Directory customers are waiting to be of service.  Check out our videos below.

Visiting Fort William in a motorhome or campervan ? Read this !

Local Provider? Get yourself listed on the VisitFortWilliam website today
Fewer photos

Read next

Show fewer

Enjoy these videos

Cruising and visiting the Caledonian Canal in Lochaber
A short video featuring Fingal in Loch Oich
Cycling around Fort William & Glen Nevis
Some great locations to enjoy while visiting Fort William and Glen Nevis, as well as some of our local businesses
Cruise Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil with "Elsie"
Take an evening boat trip on Loch Linnhe and through the Narrows of Loch Eil on Elsie and enjoy the stunning scenery
Beautiful Glen Nevis
Discover the natural beauty of Glen Nevis any day of the year - waterfalls, magnificent mountains, wildlife and secluded places
Wildlife Day Trips
Take a tour with WildWest and look out for otters, deer, wild goats, sea-life and birds and more... and enjoy a trip on Corran Ferry

Explore these featured listings

Hunter Mountaineering
First Class, friendly Mountain Guiding & Instruction on British Walking, Climbing, Scrambling and Mountaineering. Summer and Winter Private Guiding and Courses. From Walking up Ben Nevis to Climbing in Glencoe. Based in Fort William. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer feedback (Find us on Trip Advisor). We offer Private Guiding and the Courses that follow - Private Guiding, all year round: Our most popular choice is a bespoke service. This is the solution if you want to 'tick' specific climbs or summits, or work on particular skills. Do you want to Climb Ben Nevis via the mountain track, Tower Ridge or Ledge Route? Do you want to become more independent as a mountaineer, or develop your trad or winter leading? Or do you want to complete a particular climb, e.g. Aonach Eagach, Curved Ridge? Get in touch and we can start to make your plan happen. Summer Courses or ideas for Private Guiding could include - 1  Ben Nevis Walk 2  Munro Summits 3  Hill Walking, Navigation and Safety 4  Scrambling and Mountaineering 5  Rock Climbing 6  The CMD Ridge or Ledge route on the North Face 7  Tower Ridge, or other North Face Ridges 8  Aonach Eagach, Curved Ridge or other Glencoe Classics Winter Courses or ideas for Private Gudiing could include - 1  Winter Skills and Safety 2  Walking the Winter Munros 3  Winter Mountaineering 4  Introduction to Winter Climbing 5  Winter Climbing Hunter Mountaineering is run by myself, Max Hunter. I hold the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor award (the WMCI - the highest professional certification for Mountaineering & Climbing in Great Britain), and am a member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) and the Mountain Training Association (MTA). I am also a qualified and experienced school teacher.
No data
No data
Adventure Nevis
If you are looking for a Ben Nevis Mountain Guide, Adventure Nevis is a Scottish-based guiding service offering classic mountain days on Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, standing at 1,344 metres. The Ben Nevis mountain footpath ascent - 6 to 8 hours - is ideal for public, private and charity groups. For the slightly more experienced walker, Ben Nevis via the CMD arete - 8 to 10 hours - is a fantastic mountaineering experience. Adventure Nevis is owned and operated by Peter Khambatta.  Peter has over 20 years' experience and holds both Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Awards. To check availability and to tell me about yourself or group, please complete the form below. I look forward to hearing from you.
No data
No data
Paddleboard Fort William
Guided paddleboard trips around Fort William and the local area! Our friendly and experienced guides are here to give you an amazing time out on the water, whether it is your first time on a SUP or you are a seasoned expert. Paddleboarding is one of the fastest growing adventure sports in the world, join us at Paddleboard Fort William to experience it for yourself. -Daily trips from Corpach with brilliant views of Ben Nevis and chance to see the Jacobite steam train as it leaves.  -Paddle Board Trips at Glenfinnan as the Steam train crosses the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films.
No data
No data
Cruise Loch Linnhe
Our Cruises on Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil are a ‘must do’ in Fort William and offer the perfect way to relax after exploring the Mountains and Glens of Lochaber!  Our ’Seal Island & Ben Nevis View’ cruise is the best choice for those looking to spot some of Scotland’s best wildlife and learn about the local history and culture. Our Evening Cruises are perfect for those looking to rest their legs while enjoying stunning views of Ben Nevis and sample a selection of local beers and whisky. Or if you’re looking to celebrate that special birthday or anniversary why not book a private charter? Our cruises offer something for everyone whatever the occasion. • Our vessel's offers both heated indoor seating as well as outdoor seating and a 360-degree elevated viewing deck so our cruises are enjoyable whatever the weather!  • Our friendly crew is on-hand to look after you and provide a range of hot drinks, refreshments, and snacks throughout your cruise. • Our Skipper will keep you entertained with an informative live commentary.  • Our cruises are all dog-friendly so you can bring your four-legged friends along. • We want our cruises to be accessible for everyone so we encourage guests with mobility issues to please get in touch so we can discuss the best cruise options with you prior to booking.  Rib Adventures Our 1-hour Rib Adventures depart from Corpach Marina at the end of the Caledonian Canal and take you out onto Loch Linnhe. Out on the water, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenic views of the surrounding mountains, including the famous Ben Nevis! You’ll also get a front-row seat to see Loch Linnhe’s unique wildlife! And don’t worry if you’re a little chilly when you get back to the Marina, we’ve got you covered with complimentary hot drinks from the An Cafaidh Mara coffee shop right as you step off the boat! Rib Adventures with Lunch Stop As soon as you set off from the marina into Loch Linnhe you’ll be admiring your beautiful surroundings with fantastic views of Ben Nevis and its neighbouring mountains. You’ll also get the chance to spot some of the area’s stunning wildlife including Seals, Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, Eider Ducks, Herron, Porpoises and even Dolphins! You’ll then make your way to one of our loch-side partner restaurants on the shores of Loch Linnhe and Loch Leven to enjoy a delicious seafood lunch made with fresh local produce before heading back to Fort William. Find out more and book online at: https://cruiselochlinnhe.co.uk/cruises/ advanced booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment!
No data
No data
Thomas Telford Corpach Marina Ltd
If you are planning a visit to Fort William by sea be sure to book a berth at Thomas Telford Corpach Marina at the entrance to the Caledonian Canal. Our marina has 45 sheltered berths with fresh water and electricity. Ashore we have first class toilets and shower facilities and a small coffee shop. Close by are shops and pubs with regular transport into Fort William. Our marina is community owned and managed and is not directly involved with the Caledonian Canal. An Cafaidh Mara An Cafaidh Mara is our new coffee shop at the entrance to the Canal within our marina facilities building, open to customers seven days a week.  Check out their social media. Book a berth or slipway use If you are bringing a boat to Fort William we have a sheltered all weather slipway within the marina for launching and car parking of cars and trailers. Book online to launch your boat in Loch Linnhe. You can get to the marina by road along A82/A830 or by mailing train - Corpach Station is 100 metres from the marina. Discovering the Outdoor Capital of the UK from our marina will be easy with excellent transport links, car hire, shops, restaurants and marine services nearby. For all enquiries please contact Brian MacKinnon, our Marina Manager:  +44(0)7410 884902
No data
No data
Wild West
Wildlife safaris and scenic tours in wild places    Wild West offer a selection of wildlife safaris and Scenic tours based in the Lochaber area. See Scotland's " Big Five", Photograph red deer or discover the landscapes and legends of the Scottish highlands. Due to Covid restrictions all tours are offered on a private basis and prices are for a group of up to six people, not per person.  The following is a selection of safaris and scenic tours available with Wild West. for more choices please go to the Wild West website BOOK NOW The Big Five Scotland’s big five of golden eagle, red deer, red squirrel, otter and harbour seal can all be found within 25 miles of Fort William and on this safari, it’s possible to see them all on the same day.  The trip runs every Wednesday and includes a 2 hour cruise on Loch Shiel, taking you into the heart of some of Scotland’s wildest country. Cruises/boat trips can be included in full day safaris on other days, by request. Cost: £350 for up to six persons. Cruise is extra £30 per adult. £20 per under 16 Book online at Wild West - The Big Five The Wee Safari Starting from Fort william this tour crosses loch Linnhe by ferry and visits the Morven peninsula, a quiet wildlife haven well away for the main tourist hotspots. We find red deer and seals on most trips and regularly spot otters. Feral goats and red squirrels are often encountered as well as a great variety of birds. This trips last around 4 hours   Cost: £195.00 for up to six people Book online The Wee Safari The Wee Fort William Tour This is short private tour around the Fort William area.  You’ll visit Neptune’s staircase, one of the engineering marvels of the 19th century, enjoy views of Ben Nevis, hear the story of how Aluminium transformed the highlands of Scotland, see the site of the battle of Inverlochy and explore the ruined Inverlochy castle. We’ll also visit the commando memorial at Spean Bridge. But the highlight of this tour will be a walk to Steall valley through Steall gorge, a spectacular chasm forged by glacial forces 12, 000 years ago. Steall waterfall is the second highest in Britain and was used as a backdrop in a scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire. On the way, we’ll hope to find the “hairy coos” (highland cattle) that live in the glen Cost: £195.00 for up to six people Book online. The wee Fort william Tour Glencoe Mountains And Massacres This tour travels south from Fort William, following the shores of Loch Linnhe and Loch Leven to the village of Glencoe, overlooked by the famous Pap. We’ll stop off at the National trust visitor centre to learn the story of the 1692 massacre of Glencoe. We’ll travel through the spectacular scenery that is Glencoe, learning about the volcanoes and glaciers that shaped the landscape we see today.  Then we’ll take a walk up the steep narrow path to discover the Lost Valley where the MacDonald’s hid their cattle *. Carrying on to Glen Etive we will start with a visit to the falls on the river Coupall, the subject of innumerable iconic images. Further down the glen, we’ll stop to recreate the famous scene from Skyfall with Bond and M before looking for the red deer which can often be found grazing close to the road. Cost £350.00 for up to six people Book now. Glencoe Mountains and massacres *For the less adventurous this can be substituted with a ride up the chairlift. Supplementary charges apply, please ask. If you don't see what you are looking for in the choices above, please ask. Wild West will be happy to help you develop your own unique wildlife safari or scenic tour and multi day tours can be organised
No data
No data