Lochaber

Lochaber boasts some of the best scenery to be seen anywhere in Scotland. The main centre of population, Fort William, is best known today as a brilliant base for outdoor activities. Renamed the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ there is a range of exhilarating and exciting activities on offer here from skiing down stunning slopes to mountain biking to tackling white water rapids.

Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain at 4,409 ft, stands proud above Fort William. Lochaber is home to some of Scotland’s finest mountain scenery. The undoubted highlight is Glen Coe, one of the most breathtaking places in the country. Explore the visitor centre to learn more about an infamous massacre which took place there, one of the most tragic events in Scotland’s clan history.

The West Highland Museum in Fort William gives a fascinating insight to the history of the Lochaber region. The museum places a particular emphasis on Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite uprisings and exhibits many relics from this turbulent period of Scottish history. Other historic attractions include the Mallaig Heritage Centre and the Clan Cameron Museum.

The Gaelic language was and is prevalent here as can be seen by the names of hills, streams and lochs but also spoken by many locals fluently and naturally in their everyday activities. Many islanders from the Outer Hebrides came here to seek work and stayed creating a hot-bed of contemporary Gaelic cultural activities.