A fantastic small museum in the heart of Fort William! Full of fascinating exhibits on Highland history, Jacobites, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and local WW2 stories. Well laid out, free entry with friendly staff and volunteers. A hidden gem—definitely worth a visit

This was a hidden gem of a museum to visit, delving into the history of the Highlands many decades back! Stories are told about the military from up here during WW2 and their advancement maps shown, alongside weapons that had been in use like different sized rifles and machine guns. Model ships are on display and there is a fascinating piece of info about how letters used to rely on the tide of the sea to reach the nearby St Kilda Islands, covered in a float made from sheep bladder! Classic Scottish culture elements such as bagpipes and kilt are focus points, powerful axes from the 20th century and machinery used by Flora Macdonald of the Jacobites have their info too. Dolls are cute of traditional Highland families and farmers, creatures include the rare feral goat and some even go many centuries back to the Jurassic age with the fossils!

This place is great! A really nice museum and is free. Has a good collection spread out over about eight themed rooms. I really loved it, especially the things which belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie. The volunteers were great and even had a brochure to explain the history through the lens of Outlander which I enjoyed! I would have enjoyed it without that too as I find the history really interesting. Everyone in there is nice. Donations very easy to give and nice little souvenir shop. Dog friendly too!!!

Bigger than you'll expect from the outside, especially for free admission! Several rooms showcasing different parts of West Highland history. Worth a visit during your day trip to Fort William

Friendly and helpful staff. Fantasic and worth a visit. Free entry. You can park at Middle Street Short Stay Car Park - free for half hour but remember to get a park and display ticket. Another option is to park at Morrisons (+5 minutes walk).

A passing visit to get out of the cold and rain turned into an enjoyable and informative couple of hours. Obviously, it's focused on the West Highlands, but includes a large section on the Commandos whose original training centre was close by. Plenty about the local geology, flower and fauna and, naturally, a large display on the Jacobite rising and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Being English (from about as far from Fort William as possible), it was interesting to see this from a different perspective. Admission is free, but well worth a donation to keep the place running.

The building is massive inside, and I was very surprised at the sheer amount if history that's stored in this museum. The volunteers explained the walkaround, and photography is very much encouraged. From fossils to swords, cannonballs to antique books, there's a myriad of ancient & antique items here to marvel at as well as a canny little shop at the end. A very fascinating place and a great way to spend a worthwhile half hour. Loved it.

Unfortunately still under construction. Understandable given the age of the building and the wear and tear from visitors but was hoping the fenced would be down by the time we got there. You can get OK pictures sticking your phone through the fence, just don’t drop it 😜 Otherwise, you can only see the outside of it from a distance and through a fence.

Beautiful place to visit but unfortunately it was closed to the public due to safety reasons but hopefully it will open again soon

A ruin. Not possible to access. Nice view on the river and train bridge

Access to the castle is restricted (30 April 2022), but you can view the exterior through the fence. It is in a beautiful area and is a nice walk from Fort William. There was no date posted at the site or online that I could find as to when the interior will reopen.

Nice castle ruins for kids to run about in. There are a few boards up giving the history. Some of the walls have scaffolding on them for restoration. There’s lots of grassy areas for picnics and a river directly behind it. There’s no restrictions to enter, just park up free on the lane outside and walk in. Worth a visit if you’re looking for things to do in Fort William.

It was nice to visit this place in the morning and have the ruins to myself. Approx. 30-40 min brisk walk from Fort William; if you dont fancy walking along a main road there is another path (also for cycling) following Great Glen Way through Inverlochy. Opposite the castle there is Jacobite photopoint where you can see the steam train passing around 10.20am.

Sadly this is closed for visitors to walk inside due to weathering/erosion but you can go to the car park and walk around the castle. There’s a soap factory/shop with a cafe that I would highly recommend. The cafe overlooks Ben Nevis

What I loved: getting to feel like I’m on the Hogwarts express, ordering for the trolley, and having that feeling of excitement. Staff was great though! What could be better: I know it’s an old train and that’s part of the charm, but given ticket prices, surely they can invest some into making it less moldy smelling, feeling more clean, working toilets and clean windows. I deleted about 70% of the photos taken for how bad they just came out. I had to really edit the ones I took to look decent. Still giving it 4 stars because I’m a huge HP fan and that still trumped the cons

We recently took the 84 mile round trip on the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig and back, and past spectacular scenery and landmarks such as a view of Ben Nevis, Glenfinnan Viaduct (which we had to drive to later to get pics and video of the second Jacobite Steam Train crossing in the evening), Jacobite Monument, Inverailort House, Loch Eilt (with the real life island of Eilean na Moine whiched served as the filming location for Dumbledore's burial site in the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film), The Small Isles and the Beaches of Morar. (I noticed prior to our trip, several reviewers were quite upset that when they had taken the train, as a diesel locomotive was used instead of the steam engine, and I asked about that and learned the diesel locomotive had to be used when the area hadn't received rain and they were afraid the steam engine would start fires.) Cold drinks, snacks, Harry Potter merchandise are available for purchase during the train ride. Tickets should be purchased months in advance. We enjoyed ourselves, however, If I had to do it over, I think I wouldn't had rode the train, and had just went directly to the Glenfinnan Viaduct and taken our photos and videos of the steam engine crossing the viaduct.

We were really looking forward to this train experience — the photos, the scenery, and the train itself. However, all tickets were sold out 3–6 months in advance, which was quite surprising. The website mentioned that limited tickets would be available on the day if you arrived early to queue, so we booked two nights in a hotel just for this. Unfortunately, it turned out rather disappointing once we actually got on the train. We arrived very early in the morning, only to be told the morning train was fully booked. We managed to get tickets for the afternoon one after waiting many hours at the station. In the end, just watching the trains depart and taking photos was probably the highlight. The ride itself felt like nothing more than a regular train journey — definitely not worth the something like £250 we paid.

We arrived 10:10 and had to hustle to get in the perfect hillside location due to full parking … so get there early!! Also know which side you should be on based on the time of day, because the best side will be awesome. Wear muck boots and be prepared for a bit of a hike up. Worth the journey, easy for Harry Potter fans.

A lot of 50/50 reviews on here but we had an amazing experience. We were able to ride the steam train, complimentary coffee and tea and we sat first class which is much nicer than the economy seats. Overall great experience, especially for two Harry Potter fans. Smooth ride too.

Absolutely brill. Was on train two years ago. A couple next to us never said much, I let them take photos out windows before me as there was a guy hogging the window and not letting anyone else get a chance. Think they were from another country. When leaving the train. The woman gave me an origami bird. Which I still have. I keep it in my mobile phone case for luck. Much appreciated. Had a great day out. Got to book in advance.

Staff were informative and pleasant. The train itself was Steam hauled made up of MK1 and MK2 carriages. I think it's important to note some reviewers are clearly not up to speed with what's modern and what's not when it comes to the UK railway. The carriages are a little tatty and weathered but that's to be expected for coaches made in the 1950's and 1960's which have been overhauled X amount of times throughout their life cycle. The journey itself was pleasant and we enjoyed the trip behind the steamer. Several reviews complaining about not being able to lean out of windows to take photos.. it's not an amusement ride, some common sense and health and safety needs to be upheld. Unfortunately idiots in the past (mostly on other rail tours) along with poor vegitation maintenance by network rail have spoiled this part of the enjoyment you may have had 10 years ago. Improvements Not once was we offered the trolley service for refreshments apart from the free complementary 'cold' hot drink and selling souvenirs. We paid the extra to travel in the highest fair possible, private table for 2 in first class. Unfortunately there was nothing first class about the service and if you are looking to book you will be treated exactly the same (bar the complementary cold 'hot' drink) in standard class. It's definitely not worth the extra cash. Lots of people get on this tour as a special occasion and pay an awful amount of money for something which is not upto first class standards. Why are the stewards not coming around selling bottles of champagne, wine or other alcohol beverages. Why is there not a complimentary glass of fizz when you board for first class. Why are the stewards in first class dressed the same as standard? West coast railways could certainly do alot more on board to make it that special experience you've paid for. All of this side we would recommend but have the correct explanations and don't pay for first class.

This is a fantastic place and a must see for anyone visiting Fort William. Experience the millions of years that formed Scotland’s beautiful landscape and inspire your Children to follow lucrative careers in Science Technology Environment and Mathematics STEM. Run by some tremendous volunteers and so worthy of your support. This is a volunteer organisation so if you can spare just a few pounds it will go a long way.

Really great visitors center, packed with very interesting information on the geology of this amazing region. Staff are friendly to visitors of all ages and interests. You come away with well informed insights into the history of mountains and seas that give this region its great beauty.

Really interesting place to visit. Lots of information about the geology of earth in general and the Highlands in particular. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Fort William

Great little visitor center with lots of interesting information on the geology of this region. Very helpful and friendly staff. Please support the work they do.

It was informative on geological and geographical aspects of the surrounding area. The staff were great with questions and their knowledge of the area for walks, hikes etc.

Great use of an old shop, lovely display of geological artifacts and fossils. Educational, and also some interesting items for sale.

Had a great chat with the two people working there and learned a lot about the geography and history of Scotland!

5 Stars. Food: The food was delicious. The two types of meals my family ordered were fish-and-chips and cod. The meals were large, and only one of us finished the full meal. We also ordered squid rings that came with a special sauce for a starter. It was good, no doubt about that. Service: The waiters were good. It took a little while for the servers to take our orders and for the food to get to us, but other than that the service was great! Atmosphere: The ambiance of the place was wonderful! The chairs were comfortable and the decorations added to the charm.

\\ A Singaporean Girl Review 🇸🇬 I found the chef’s interpretation of Cullen Skink more towards a “watery” version. My haddock had a 2cm bone- so just be careful. Food is okay. Generously good servings of Fish and Chips and Mussels. Both of which, I would recommend. Atmosphere is quiet and peaceful.

This was a wonderful experience in our short visit to Fort William. All the food was really tasty. Oysters absolutely fresh. The scallops, cooked to perfection. The seafood tagliatelle, was rich, full of seafood and the seasoning was spot on. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. Recommended to reserve a table. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved our meal at Crannog at Garrison West! We had the special of the day with lobster and mussels in a creamy sauce—perfectly cooked and full of flavour. The creamy fish chowder starter was rich and delicious, and the dessert tart with brown butter, pistachio, and rhubarb was so unique and tasty. Cozy atmosphere, very friendly staff, and great value for money. Definitely coming back next time I’m in Fort William!

when choosing this restaurant we were skeptical as there were some mixed reviews but after going there everything changed. The service was awesome, the food was delicious. We tried Oysters for the 1st time and I loved it there. Going to this restaurant was the highlight of our trip. This place is worth the hype it gets.

Absolutely beautiful food and a lovely warm atmosphere. The staff are great and our waitress even laughed at my husbands rubbish jokes about fish with no eyes 🙄. We had the mussels and soup of the day to start, followed by Haddock and chips and Crispy Sea Bass. Would highly recommend.

Excellent food, excellent service. The mussel is so fresh and big! I really like the oyster with inspired Vietnamese sauce, it's perfect to go with the oyster. The only bad thing is the additional 4 pcs of bread cost £4.5

I can't comment on the rooms but I can sure comment on dinner. The atmosphere was fun and the food delicious! But the service was just fabulous! We just spent 25 days in Scotland eating out all over Scotland and the waitress we had at the Ben Nevis Inn was by far and away the best! And we had some excellent service! If you in Fort William find this place for dinner and go!

Location….. stunning, epic views. Tiny road to get too, but worth it. Hikers base to get to top of mount here. So parking is a bit tight along the road. The building is cute, looks like some reconditioning is going on currently , (10/25) Inside is a wonderful old hall, small bar, and bunch of tables. The food was wonderful, I chose chicken and haggis, it was great. The gravey was wonderful , and loved it all, cleaned the plate. Another in our party got the exact plate, and cleaned his as well. My wife got cajon chicken, bit spicey for me , but delicious nonetheless. We were part of a group 17 in all, not a single person left hungry or disappointed. And in total the bill, $375 for everyone!! I think we left $50 for our portion, with a tip. Well worth it.

This is actually a review for the Ben Nevis pub/restaurant. Fantastic food and incredibly friendly service in a 200-year-old converted barn. The Cullen Skink may be the best soup we've ever tasted! Great spot for lunch, dinner, or a casual pint after a long (or short) hike. Highly recommended!!

Fantastic location, lovely cosy pub for food and drinks. Great atmosphere, staff are all cheery and helpful. Food was fantastic and well worth the cost and a good variety for adults and kids. Live music was on later on as well.

Nice enough pub, lovely staff and decent beers. Nothing amazing but certainly not bad either, wouldn't go out of my way to go back for a drink but definitely worth stopping in if you're passing, especially if you've just finished the walk back from Ben Nevis. *Not dog friendly, be aware if you have your dog with you you'll have to sit outside

Came for a Special Anniversary meal with friends, our first visit and we wasn't disappointed, great staff, very helpful and accommodating. Lovely food, being a vegetarian I had the Mediterranean Sandwich it was lovely, very tasty. Rustic inside and the views of the mountains what else could you want, will definitely come again. I would love it if they added more veggie options though 😁

Went in here after the climb in hopes for a table, was fully booked but luckily had a no show when I went so I managed to get some well-needed dinner. The waitresses and FOH were so lovely and accommodating to me despite my appearance being of a poor state after a full day walking in high heat! I ordered the beef burger but received the venison instead without being told and finding out when I took a bite, this was unfortunate but I was too hungry to complain and ate it anyway. That was the only disappointment about my experience as it didn’t taste like I expected and was overcooked and a bit dry. I’m still giving this place a high rating as every other table’s food looked absolutely incredible, I think I just made a poor choice. The chips and salad accompanied by the burger were great, and had the choice of a pint of Diet Coke as opposed to a can or small bottle like in a lot of other local restaurants, which I was very pleased with. The atmosphere was great on a late Saturday night when I went, packed tables and a good vibe. The service was also very quick for the food, drink and bill at the end when requested as I was just looking for a quick bite before going on the road. It’s a great location at the bottom of the mountain, and has outdoor seating for those just looking for a drink at the end. Great views from the outside and through the window at the mountains and sheep outside. Plenty parking so it seems right outside. Toilets - there was only one cubicle for the ladies although I didn’t have to wait but felt rushed with those who came in after me.

The food is OK, Nothing massively special but not a disappointment either. You can generally get in when the rest of Fort William is absolutely rammed and they have a couple of nice beers on tap. Service is OK although the staff are clearly rushed off their feet so don't expect attentive. Overall, not bad if you can't get in elsewhere.

The food was mediocre at best. My fish and chips was a very thin piece of fish that was dry and over cooked. The hamburger was more similar to meatloaf in flavor and had very little moisture. The staff was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere was a little sterile seemed like the wanted to capture the tourist market but with providing very little effort beyond putting an open sign.

We ordered the **Soup of the Day**, which today was **mushroom soup**. I chose the **baguette** as a side—the bread was wonderfully soft, and the mushroom soup was **delicious and comforting**. Highly recommend the soup; it was **perfect for relieving fatigue**. We also got a **beef pie**—the meat was **tender and slow-cooked**, seasoned just right, and the **flaky pastry paired beautifully with the rich gravy**. Additionally, we tried their **craft beer**, which had **a great balance of maltiness and fruity notes**—definitely worth a try! The **dining atmosphere was pleasant**, though the **service was a bit slow**. Still, the food was **worth the wait**!

Came here ahead of participating in the Rat Race Sea to Summit Ben Nevis. What an absolute find. Sat upstairs in the restaunt area and the bar area downstairs was quite busy, a great atmosphere in both areas. Staff were polite and attentive. The food was delicious, cant recommend the Wild Boar and Haggis burger enough and the chutney was superb (could have done with a little more though). Nice selection of ales as well. Would highly recommend

We went with our family a couple weeks ago. I did phone up to see if we could book but it was pretty much just walk ins. We got a table. They are dog friendly and the food was fantastic. Nice to have a kids menu. Decent price. Our server was lovely. 🥰

Food is average, not bad nothing special. It was one of the only places we could get in without a reservation so it filled a need. The biggest turnoff though was the service. There were four or five women behind a bar area talking forever as we just sat there for 15 minutes before anyone came to the table. Once the food came they went backtick to chatting and ignoring people, we had to eventually go get someone’s attention so we could actually pay the bill and get out of there.

Cozy place, perfect for a stop during a day tour. Enjoyed our food. Unfortunately the lady with black hair wasn’t friendly and gave dirty looks. Luckily we had a very friendly blond girl who helped us with takeaway when we had to go after waiting 30min for our food.

Could hear the restaurant all day long and into the evening whilst we stayed above in the self catering accommodation. Breakfast was very average and the staff were rude.

Smallest amount of food I've ever had for the price. The ingredients of a £32+ dish don't cost more than £3. From someone who has eaten from the cheapest of places to michelin star restaurants. This is the worst experience I've ever had. Went to buy from morrisons after. At least could eat something. What a disgrace this restaurant is.

A hidden gem in The Highlands. The food is fabulous, and whilst a relatively small menu, the dishes are creative, and made with quality ingredients. Innovative choices for vegan and vegetarian eaters too. The team are super friendly, in the restaurant, and the wine list also offers some unusual and well priced wines. Would recommend staying somewhere else, because the hotel itself is overpriced, with poor standards, but the independently run restaurant is a real treat. We’ll definitely be back and would highly recommend.

A true culinary highlight in Fort William! We are deliberately not posting any pictures of the food – this is something you simply have to experience for yourself. If you’re looking for an outstanding dining experience, this is the place to go. We are quite spoiled when it comes to good food, which made this surprise all the more delightful: an excellent menu, perfectly prepared and served with great attention to detail. The young team on site impressed us with their attentive and very friendly service – relaxed, warm, and at the same time highly professional. It is also worth noting that this restaurant has already taken part in Scottish competitions for the country’s best cuisine. In my opinion, it truly deserves a star – if not already, then certainly in the near future. Very close indeed! A big compliment to the entire team for this unforgettable evening. We will definitely be back.

The SGATLT team received us warmly, and the menu was quite enticing. Both the meat and fish starters were very tasty. The meat and fish mains were beautifully presented, and great eating. The wines were just right. We had a great experience within the smart gallery/restaurant.

Absolutely outstanding!!! The food was superb - a melding of flavors that worked perfectly together. One of the best meals we had on our 3 week trip through Scotland. I had the monkfish and my husband the chicken.

Last minute find - though they were fully booked, they were able to seat the 2 of us by 8pm. One of our dishes was unavailable so we changed tack and had 4 starters and 2 desserts between us. Every dish delicious. Highlights were the gin cured salmon with a tasty relish, the pidgeon with hot haggis (superb) and zesty yuzu tart with raspberry sorbet (only minor criticism was a heavy pastry base). Staff very professional and friendly - we really enjoyed our evening thank you.

Good restaurant with a good menu and friendly service. The burger was good, but not great. Inside it is a little too dark for our liking. It gets packed on weekdays in the evening with a queue outside. Overall a solid spot.

Been there at 5.30pm on Monday, waited for 30mins for a table. The sea bass tastes good and fresh but fish portion is small. The sweet potato and salad is a good balance of the dish, a healthy pick if comparing to fish and chips. Some people detour to the Ben Nevis Bar and Restaurant for dinner right opposite, instead of standing outside to wait for the table, where is in high rating as well. The staff are friendly and caring. It didn’t take long for the dishes to serve.

We had a great experience at The Geographer! They were filled up by 6:45, and my husband and I waited about 10min for a table. They list their daily proteins on a chalkboard, telling you where they were sourced for your meal. Mussels and Sea Bass were incredible! So fresh! We also tried haggis for the first time here and were really impressed! We didn’t think about what it was and finished the entire portion! Shout out to the owner who was there on a Wednesday night working just as hard as everyone else, supporting his staff. A great manager is the foundation to a great restaurant and they’re definitely doing it right here. Thanks for the great meal! Pictured from top to bottom - mussels, haggis in the middle, and halloumi for starters.

Great atmosphere, service, and flavours. Fish n chips, the way I most enjoy them, very much like where I grew up in Western Australia where the battery is neat and thin. A tiny mix of salad came with the fish n chips and the ingredients varied a lot yet tasted very refined, having a great flavour together in big bites. The chips/fries were perfectly made as well. The chicken tenders salad was also great though I would have skipped on that main sauce they put on it after they plate it. The decorations were fun to be around and brought extra coziness. Staff were great and worked very fast. Food came very fast too. It was packed on this Friday evening around 7.30pm but we were the first in line for a table so it was a short 5 minute wait for some table to be available.

I recommend you get here when they open because they stop letting people in at capacity and it’s popular. The food and service were amazing. I had the steak and fries. My server was fantastic.

We stumbled upon Geographer by chance three years ago while visiting Fort William for hiking, and after just one dish we knew there was no need to look elsewhere for dinner. The à la carte menu is small but perfectly thought out, excellent fish and chips, delicious mussels, and so much more. I still dream about their Eton Mess, and the sticky toffee pudding is just as amazing. I also had probably the best lobster and langoustines of my life here. We came back three years later and nothing has changed – still absolutely banging. All in all, Geographer has become my absolute favorite spot in Fort William.

Heading to Inverness, passing through Fort William, it’s the best choice and decision for us to try walk in at 7:45pm on Thursday night. They are not like other restaurants that not welcoming any late walk in customers. Mussels are fresh with generous potion for a starter. I like the cooking method with butter, sweet but didn’t stop the favour of the mussels. See bass was well cook with crispy skin and soft inside, once you eat you know this white fish is fresh enough, generous potion of side salad and sweet potato coming together which are not we expected and we do appreciate that. Even ketchup for kids fries, loads were given. Steak is fine. No special. Fort William should be a place for seafood. If more varieties of seafood can be provided to choose in main, that will be great.