Lyn’s Guidebook
Places to Eat Dinner in Fort William
The places to eat I have listed in the Guidebook are my recommendations of the best places to eat in the Fort William area.
The Inn is situated at the foot of Ben Nevis. We have stunning views of Glen Nevis, a friendly relaxed atmosphere, great food and beer, where you can sit in our 200 year old converted barn to enjoy a meal like nowhere else.
86 locals recommend
Ben Nevis Inn & Bunkhouse
Achintee RoadThe Inn is situated at the foot of Ben Nevis. We have stunning views of Glen Nevis, a friendly relaxed atmosphere, great food and beer, where you can sit in our 200 year old converted barn to enjoy a meal like nowhere else.
Crannog serve the freshest and best Scottish seafood. Meals can be enjoyed from their restaurant on Fort William Town Pier, overlooking Loch Linnhe.
64 locals recommend
Crannog Seafood Restaurant
Crannog serve the freshest and best Scottish seafood. Meals can be enjoyed from their restaurant on Fort William Town Pier, overlooking Loch Linnhe.
Street food with a story
Flavours inspired by our travels and a love for local produce. Local Shellfish specials throughout the summer. The Geographer even brews it's own beer! Stop by and give it a try.
16 locals recommend
The Geographer
88 High StStreet food with a story
Flavours inspired by our travels and a love for local produce. Local Shellfish specials throughout the summer. The Geographer even brews it's own beer! Stop by and give it a try.
Lochleven Seafood Café, Deli and Shop is situated on the shores of beautiful Loch Leven on the west coast in the Highlands of Scotland.
The restaurant is surrounded by an unspoilt and unique landscape with the Mamores mountain range towering above and views across Camus Mhor (the big bay) to the Pap of Glencoe.
Live shellfish for our family run Restaurant and Deli is kept in seawater tanks in the adjacent worldwide shellfish distribution centre. After being caught locally by our own fishing boats, the shellfish is stored in these tanks, where the water is pumped continuously from the cold clean sea-loch on our shore. This allows our Chefs to access the freshest possible west coast seafood for the Restaurant and our Deli before exported to various UK and global fish-markets.
The seafood cannot get any fresher than cooked to order fresh from our own tanks, offering the highest quality Scottish seafood.
62 locals recommend
Lochleven Seafood Café
B863
Lochleven Seafood Café, Deli and Shop is situated on the shores of beautiful Loch Leven on the west coast in the Highlands of Scotland.
The restaurant is surrounded by an unspoilt and unique landscape with the Mamores mountain range towering above and views across Camus Mhor (the big bay) to the Pap of Glencoe.
Live shellfish for our family run Restaurant and Deli is kept in seawater tanks in the adjacent worldwide shellfish distribution centre. After being caught locally by our own fishing boats, the shellfish is stored in these tanks, where the water is pumped continuously from the cold clean sea-loch on our shore. This allows our Chefs to access the freshest possible west coast seafood for the Restaurant and our Deli before exported to various UK and global fish-markets.
The seafood cannot get any fresher than cooked to order fresh from our own tanks, offering the highest quality Scottish seafood.
The Spice Tandoori Indian Restaurant is a warm and relaxing place to enjoy a great quality Indian meal in Fort William in the Highlands of Scotland.
45 locals recommend
Spice Tandoori
141 High StThe Spice Tandoori Indian Restaurant is a warm and relaxing place to enjoy a great quality Indian meal in Fort William in the Highlands of Scotland.
The Glenfinnan House Hotel is situated on the shore of Loch Shiel across the bay from the Bonnie Prince Charlie Monument. It is in a truly beautiful location. There is a beautiful dining room and a welcoming bar where traditional music is often heard. The venison is sourced locally from Glenfinnan Estate.
19 locals recommend
Glenfinnan House
The Glenfinnan House Hotel is situated on the shore of Loch Shiel across the bay from the Bonnie Prince Charlie Monument. It is in a truly beautiful location. There is a beautiful dining room and a welcoming bar where traditional music is often heard. The venison is sourced locally from Glenfinnan Estate.
Highland Cinema is proud to bring the big screen experience to Lochaber, in a purpose built cinema that combines cutting-edge technology with a beautiful traditional style Highland building.
Our café bar, seating 84, has a wood burning stove, cosy seating and a covered terrace overlooking the town square.
Our bar has a real focus on local, unique and harder to get whiskies, Scottish gins and beers. We have a special relationship with Glen Spean Brewery, Ben Nevis Distillery and Moët Chandon champagne.
35 locals recommend
Highland Cinema
Cameron SquareHighland Cinema is proud to bring the big screen experience to Lochaber, in a purpose built cinema that combines cutting-edge technology with a beautiful traditional style Highland building.
Our café bar, seating 84, has a wood burning stove, cosy seating and a covered terrace overlooking the town square.
Our bar has a real focus on local, unique and harder to get whiskies, Scottish gins and beers. We have a special relationship with Glen Spean Brewery, Ben Nevis Distillery and Moët Chandon champagne.
Enjoy fantastic food in beautiful Glen Nevis. Our menu includes pub classic and, traditional Scottish dishes for you to try. Make a day of it with a riverside or forest walk.
9 locals recommend
Glen Nevis Restaurant
Enjoy fantastic food in beautiful Glen Nevis. Our menu includes pub classic and, traditional Scottish dishes for you to try. Make a day of it with a riverside or forest walk.
Inverlochy Castle is probably the most beautiful place to eat in Fort William. Dining at 'Albert and Michel Roux Jr at Inverlochy Castle' is a culinary experience to savour and offer the finest dishes using local produce. It has been awarded AA 3 Red Rosettes.
11 locals recommend
Inverlochy Castle Hotel
Inverlochy Castle is probably the most beautiful place to eat in Fort William. Dining at 'Albert and Michel Roux Jr at Inverlochy Castle' is a culinary experience to savour and offer the finest dishes using local produce. It has been awarded AA 3 Red Rosettes.
Wide range of organic beers – from their core beers to seasonal and regular specials. They brew great beer from naturally grown barley and hops free from synthetic pesticides and herbicides. Excellent place to grab a pizza and a beer.
18 locals recommend
Black Isle Bar Fort William
Gordon SquareWide range of organic beers – from their core beers to seasonal and regular specials. They brew great beer from naturally grown barley and hops free from synthetic pesticides and herbicides. Excellent place to grab a pizza and a beer.
Activities
Vertical Descents are the whitewater rafting and canyoning experts in our area. They provide fun adveture activities such as gorgewalking, river bugging, coasteering, canyoning, river tubing and via ferrata high wire adventure climb. Watch them on YouTube and book online via their website www.verticaldescents.com Activities available in Fort William, Oban and Kinlochleven.
29 locals recommend
Vertical Descents
Righ CrescentVertical Descents are the whitewater rafting and canyoning experts in our area. They provide fun adveture activities such as gorgewalking, river bugging, coasteering, canyoning, river tubing and via ferrata high wire adventure climb. Watch them on YouTube and book online via their website www.verticaldescents.com Activities available in Fort William, Oban and Kinlochleven.
The Jacobite Steam Train is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, made famous by the Harry Potter Films. The train goes over Glenfinnan Viaduct and it may pause, time permitting, to allow you to take in the magnificent view.
35 locals recommend
Jacobite Train
Station SquareThe Jacobite Steam Train is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, made famous by the Harry Potter Films. The train goes over Glenfinnan Viaduct and it may pause, time permitting, to allow you to take in the magnificent view.
A mountain resort in the beautiful Scottish Highlands
At Nevis Range you can enjoy:
Gondola rides – 650m up Aonach Mor mountain (a neighboring mountain of Ben Nevis)
Beautiful scenic walks
Mountain biking, mountain bike lessons and mountain bike hire
Snowsports, snowsports lessons and snowsports hire in winter
Mountain dining with a view in the Snowgoose Restaurant & Bar
Great coffee, cakes and lunch in the Pinemarten Café
139 locals recommend
Nevis Range Mountain Resort
A mountain resort in the beautiful Scottish Highlands
At Nevis Range you can enjoy:
Gondola rides – 650m up Aonach Mor mountain (a neighboring mountain of Ben Nevis)
Beautiful scenic walks
Mountain biking, mountain bike lessons and mountain bike hire
Snowsports, snowsports lessons and snowsports hire in winter
Mountain dining with a view in the Snowgoose Restaurant & Bar
Great coffee, cakes and lunch in the Pinemarten Café
Places to Visit
The Jacobite Steam Train crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct (a location made famous in the Harry Potter films) in the morning and afternoon. It best to get to Glenfinnan in plenty of time as at peak season it can see up to 1,000 visitors a day.
To get the best views of the train crossing the viaduct, you can climb the small hill behind the National Trust of Scotland. At the top, you can see panoramic views of Glenfinnan and the best spot to see the train go past!
The approximate times to be at the Hill to see the train go past are 10.45 am or 3.00 pm daily.
131 locals recommend
Glenfinnan Viaduct View Point
A830 RdThe Jacobite Steam Train crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct (a location made famous in the Harry Potter films) in the morning and afternoon. It best to get to Glenfinnan in plenty of time as at peak season it can see up to 1,000 visitors a day.
To get the best views of the train crossing the viaduct, you can climb the small hill behind the National Trust of Scotland. At the top, you can see panoramic views of Glenfinnan and the best spot to see the train go past!
The approximate times to be at the Hill to see the train go past are 10.45 am or 3.00 pm daily.
The Highland Soap Company Visitor Centre & Larder Café look forward to welcoming you to their new factory and cafe, set between the River Lochy and the 13th Century Old Inverlochy Castle in six acres of grounds and gardens. With stunning views over Ben Nevis and just off the A82 one mile north of Fort William, stop in for a day of factory tours, shopping and soap-making workshops – or just a delicious homemade coffee and cake with the family.
You will find their locally produced products in our Guest rooms.
26 locals recommend
The Highland Soap Company Visitor Centre & Larder Cafe
North RoadThe Highland Soap Company Visitor Centre & Larder Café look forward to welcoming you to their new factory and cafe, set between the River Lochy and the 13th Century Old Inverlochy Castle in six acres of grounds and gardens. With stunning views over Ben Nevis and just off the A82 one mile north of Fort William, stop in for a day of factory tours, shopping and soap-making workshops – or just a delicious homemade coffee and cake with the family.
You will find their locally produced products in our Guest rooms.
Highland Cinema is proud to bring the big screen experience to Lochaber, in a purpose built cinema that combines cutting-edge technology with a beautiful traditional style Highland building.
35 locals recommend
Highland Cinema
Cameron SquareHighland Cinema is proud to bring the big screen experience to Lochaber, in a purpose built cinema that combines cutting-edge technology with a beautiful traditional style Highland building.
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1,345 metres (4,411 ft) above sea level, it is at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area.
The mountain is a popular destination, attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year, around three-quarters of which use the Pony Track from Glen Nevis.
133 locals recommend
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1,345 metres (4,411 ft) above sea level, it is at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area.
The mountain is a popular destination, attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year, around three-quarters of which use the Pony Track from Glen Nevis.
She has become known as, "The Corpach Wreck," however, her real name is MV Dayspring. She was built in 1975 and in her prime an excellent fishing vessel bringing mackerel and herring. She was renamed Golden Harvest by new owners and made her last voyage under her own power in 2001. She was left moored for several years at Kinlochleven Pier. Due to a raiser chain failure during a heavy storm she ran aground near the Corpach Sea Lock on the 8th December 2011 and has lain there ever since.
The boat is situated near the far end of the Caledonian Canal on the Loch Linnhe beach at Corpach.
Corpach is about 6.2 miles away from our house. If you drive to Canal Parks, Caol, Fort William PH33 7DT, the boat should be behind the large playing/ sports field.
Here is a link to a YouTube video which shows the playing field in the background https://youtu.be/uk33_ElsokQ
Canal Parks
She has become known as, "The Corpach Wreck," however, her real name is MV Dayspring. She was built in 1975 and in her prime an excellent fishing vessel bringing mackerel and herring. She was renamed Golden Harvest by new owners and made her last voyage under her own power in 2001. She was left moored for several years at Kinlochleven Pier. Due to a raiser chain failure during a heavy storm she ran aground near the Corpach Sea Lock on the 8th December 2011 and has lain there ever since.
The boat is situated near the far end of the Caledonian Canal on the Loch Linnhe beach at Corpach.
Corpach is about 6.2 miles away from our house. If you drive to Canal Parks, Caol, Fort William PH33 7DT, the boat should be behind the large playing/ sports field.
Here is a link to a YouTube video which shows the playing field in the background https://youtu.be/uk33_ElsokQ
The Ben Bronze Ford, a full-size replica of a Model T can be viewed from Cameron Square in Fort William. You can even sit in the car beside Henry Alexander and get your picture taken!
Cameron Road
Cameron RoadThe Ben Bronze Ford, a full-size replica of a Model T can be viewed from Cameron Square in Fort William. You can even sit in the car beside Henry Alexander and get your picture taken!
When visiting the Fort William area do stop off to look around Old Inverlochy Castle. Although now a ruin this was one of the most important castles in Scottish history and has been the backdrop for two major historical events, the first and second battles of Inverlochy.
40 locals recommend
Old Inverlochy Castle
When visiting the Fort William area do stop off to look around Old Inverlochy Castle. Although now a ruin this was one of the most important castles in Scottish history and has been the backdrop for two major historical events, the first and second battles of Inverlochy.
The Sliver Sands of Morar is one of the most beautiful sandy places you will visit and on the coast line from Arisaig to Morar.
From the Silver Sands there are views out to the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna.
11 locals recommend
Silver Sands of Morar
The Sliver Sands of Morar is one of the most beautiful sandy places you will visit and on the coast line from Arisaig to Morar.
From the Silver Sands there are views out to the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna.
Takeaways
***Recognised as a Top 3 Fish & Chip Shops in the Highlands*** We are a local family Fish & Chip shop, we use fresh fish from a local supplier & get our potatoes locally. We peel & cut our potatoes in shop, we believe in offering the freshest fish & chips possible. We strive to give excellent customer service. You can find our menu on Just Eat, where we have been awarded “local legend” due to our high levels of reviews & detail to orders. You can order in advance via the app, to deliver or collect
Macari's Fish and Chip Shop serves luxury ice cream in cones or tubs. Sit in or Take Away.
8 locals recommend
Macari's
90 High St***Recognised as a Top 3 Fish & Chip Shops in the Highlands*** We are a local family Fish & Chip shop, we use fresh fish from a local supplier & get our potatoes locally. We peel & cut our potatoes in shop, we believe in offering the freshest fish & chips possible. We strive to give excellent customer service. You can find our menu on Just Eat, where we have been awarded “local legend” due to our high levels of reviews & detail to orders. You can order in advance via the app, to deliver or collect
Macari's Fish and Chip Shop serves luxury ice cream in cones or tubs. Sit in or Take Away.
The Spice Tandoori Indian Restaurant provides a beautiful Take Away.
45 locals recommend
Spice Tandoori
141 High StThe Spice Tandoori Indian Restaurant provides a beautiful Take Away.
Abi's Kebab is a family friendly takeaway which specialises in delicious Turkish cuisine, including tasty Lamb Doner and Chicken Doner Kebabs, Lamb Shish and Chicken Shish Kebabs, daily fresh Pizzas, a range of quarter or half pounder beef and chicken Burgers, Fish, Chicken and Chips, Calzone.
Website https://abiskebab.co.uk/page-about-us-1.html
6 locals recommend
Abis Kebabs
28 High StAbi's Kebab is a family friendly takeaway which specialises in delicious Turkish cuisine, including tasty Lamb Doner and Chicken Doner Kebabs, Lamb Shish and Chicken Shish Kebabs, daily fresh Pizzas, a range of quarter or half pounder beef and chicken Burgers, Fish, Chicken and Chips, Calzone.
Website https://abiskebab.co.uk/page-about-us-1.html
Places to Eat Breakfast in Fort William
Breads, pastries, lunch, coffee and gifts on Fort William High Street.
24 locals recommend
Rain Bakery
41 High StBreads, pastries, lunch, coffee and gifts on Fort William High Street.
Railway station Cafe which provides a lovely hot breakfast or lunch and delicious cakes. This place is handy if you are going on the Jacobite Steam Train.
12 locals recommend
Fort William Travel Centre station
Station SquareRailway station Cafe which provides a lovely hot breakfast or lunch and delicious cakes. This place is handy if you are going on the Jacobite Steam Train.
The Wildcat
21 High StServes specialty coffee and delicious organic vegan food.
The Great Glen
104 High StServes a traditional full Scottish breakfast.
Food Shop
M&S Fort William Foodhall
Unit 3 North RdM&S is our local food shop. It also has a cafe.
Morrisons
RoadMorrisons is our local Super Market. It also has a Cafe.
Aldi
Unit A North RdAldi is one of our local food shops.
Lidl
Camanachd CrescentLidl is one of our local food shops.
City advice
Getting around
Fort William Electric Bike Hire Scheme
Hi-Bike Fort William launched on 4 April 2022 and is the new electric bike hire scheme. For more information view the website:
https://lochaberenviro.org.uk/what-we-do/fort-william-electric-bike-hire-scheme/
Book before you go
Restaurant Bookings
David and I advise that you book a dinner reservation as soon as possible. In the height of the season it can be very difficult to get a table if you have not booked. To avoid disappointment book as early as possible. If you don't manage to get a reservation you can always get a take a way or pick up something from one of the local supermarkets.
Don't miss
Glenfinnan Viaduct View Point
In the summer months, the Jacobite train runs twice a day from Fort William to Mallaig and back again. There is a view point behind the National Trust for Scotland which provides stunning panoramic views. The view point is a short walk up a hill which should take about 20 minutes.
After leaving FW, the train should be 25/ 30 mins away from the view point.
After leaving Mallaig, the train should be 60 mins away from the view point. Timings are approximate.
Before visiting, check the train times with the West Coast Railways official website.
Allocate time to park.