First and foremost I have to say that this site offers the most amazing views. The flat open area of land that is the caravan site sits literally at the water side. Mountains form a dramatic backdrop across the water, Firth of Clyde. You can gaze across at the mountains and watch the passing boats that regularly travel to and from Fort William.
Great Glen Canoe Trail
One of our reasons for coming to Fort William (as well as to appreciate the wonderful scenery) was to paddle the 60 mile Great Glen Canoe trail, a popular but challenging route that many paddlers complete each year, and add 60 more miles to our 500 Fresh Air Miles project (
http://www.dotrythisathome.com/category/500-fresh-air-miles/)
We hired a twin sea kayak from Boots n Paddles (
http://www.boots-n-paddles.co.uk/) and took it in turns (one adult and one child) to complete stretches of the trail each day, returning to the comforts of the caravan each night. Not the conventional way to do it but it suited us a family. Although we would have loved to wild camp, the caravan provided a welcome comfort in the evening.
Paddling the full length west to east across the country from Banavie, near Fort William to Inverness is rewarding but smaller stretches along the beautiful canals and picturesque lochs are equally satisfying and well worth considering. We are not experienced paddlers but taking into consideration the weather conditions and safety precautions, a gentle paddle in a canoe or kayak is a great family activity.
Neptune's Staircase
This is the starting point for the Great Glen canoe trail, near Fort William. It is an impressive series of 7 locks that allow sea craft to pass from the open waters of the Loch Linnhe into the Great Glen canal. Even if you aren't paddling the trail or travelling by boat along the canal, this impressive sight is worth a visit and even a photo!
Walk up Ben Nevis
The tallest mountain in Britain is at your doorstep. It towers above Fort William and is an obvious attraction for many visitors to the area. At a height of 1344m (4409ft) it often has snow on the top. Our walk up Ben Nevis was after heavy snowfall, which had fortunately started to melt but meant that we able to reach the summit.
Local walks from the caravan club site
if you don't want to venture far then there's plenty to do near the site. At the reception there is a leaflet detailing a few local walks. One particular one, is a short stroll away, taking away a playground, squirrel hide and an amazing waterfall - definitely worth a trip to see.
Catch a ferry
A short walk down the road leads to Corran ferry. For foot passengers it's free. The journey, which takes you across the Loch Linnhe, only lasts 10 minutes and it takes you from Nether Lochaber over to Ardour where you can explore the villages on the other side. Before returning, stop off for a soup and sandwich (which they claim never to run out of!) at the Corran Ferry Hotel.
The ferry runs regularly, leaving every 20 minutes. It always seems busy and it's fascinating to see them squeeze vehicles of various sizes (e.g. a tractor!) on like a jigsaw puzzle. If travelling over by vehicle, the costs are reasonable. This is an alternative route if planning on travelling to Mull; rather than taking one 45 minutes ferry from Oban, you drive down to Lochaline or Kilchoan and take a second short trip to Mull.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
On the Scottish ten pound note there is a picture of the Glenfinnan viaduct, which isn't far away from the Fort William site. This viaduct was actually used in the Harry Potter films. You can get trains from Fort William that cross the viaduct but there are also walks that take in superb views of the viaduct and Glenfinnan monument.
Visit a Loch
The most famous loch nearby is Loch Ness and this is a popular visitor attraction. It is truly vast, whether you drive along the coast, take a boat trip or paddle it, it's easy to forget that it is an inland body of water (that contains more water than all the lakes in England put together). The famous Loch Ness monster theory attracts many tourists and therefore shops and centres dedicated to this mythical creature are dotted along the route.
One recommendation that we unfortunately were not able to explore was a man who lives in a caravan in Dores and has dedicated his life to Nessy. This self-made tourist attraction has photos and stories to tell any visitors that pass his way.
There are many other lochs in the area that are equally worth visiting and whilst they might not have any monsters in them they do offer amazing views.
Eagle Barge
The Eagle Barge is a converted Dutch barge that sits in the canal near Laggan locks at the end of Loch Lochy. Its humble exterior provides little clues about the goings on inside. Quaintly decorated with references to birds, boats and swords, the surrounding are snug and comfortable. The Barge houses a well equipped bar and offers a small selection of bar snacks. You can book in advance and have a wider selection of seafood cooked for you but this has to be arranged in advance. The Eagle Barge is a popular stop off and certainly a different venue for a drink and a bite to eat.
Mull
Mull is the large island closest to the mainland, easily accessible by ferry from the mainland. Youngsters in the family might be familiar with Balamory and it was in Tobermory on Mull that the filming took place. So, as well as ticking off a visit to the beautiful fishing town of Tobermory, explore the island further by driving along the coast, spotting wildlife and finding beautiful bays. One such find was Carnegy bay, a beautiful sandy beach with crystal clear water. On a sunny day, it could easily be mistaken as an exotic location. A day trip to Mull gives you a good flavour of the place but it is probably worth returning for a longer visit!
Scottish Sealife Sanctuary
The Scottish Sealife sanctuary is located in woodland, not far from Oban - it is a beautiful location. The sanctuary not only provides help for stranded seals, that they nurse back to health and return to the wild but it is also the home to a wide variety of other creatures such as otters, sharks and many other fish. Although quite small is size, the centre provides plenty of information and action that will keep the family entertained for many hours. Any budding animal lovers will love the breakfast with seals that they offer.
