Gowan Brae - Images
Gowan Brae has operated as a bed and breakfast establishment for over 60 years by three generations of the Smith family. In the 1970's an extension to the original building was added.
Front view of Gowan Brae 2010
The house is situated on the hillside above Fort William looking towards Loch Linnhe and Treslaig hills.
We are 10 minutes walk from the bus and rail termini and only 3 minutes walk from the town centre.
Porch Entrance
Room 2 Double Ensuite overlooking Loch Linnhe and Treslaig Hills.
Room 3 Double Ensuite looks onto the terraced garden.
The antique themed Dining Room.
Relax alfresco with your favourite Chianti
The Terraced Garden
Room 3 Double Ensuite looks out onto the terraced garden which is surrounded by trees on two sides. This gives ample cover for a variety of birds and occasionally two Roe Deer come in to sample the greens on offer!
The Jacobite Steam Train on it's way west to Mallaig
THE JACOBITE STEAM TRAIN
The Jacobite Steam Train runs from Fort William to Mallaig during the summer months. The scenery is truly breathtaking and the journey has been described as one of the great railway journeys of the world. This 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. It starts near the highest mountain in Britain (Ben Nevis), visits Britain's most westerly mainland railway station (Arisaig), then passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar), and the shortest river in Britain (River Morar) and finally arrives next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe - Loch Nevis. The train leaves Fort William at 10:20am and returns to Fort William at 4:00pm with an hour and a half in Mallaig. It is a great way to spend the day!
The train does stop en route to Mallaig at the village of Glenfinnan where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745. After crossing the world famous 21 arch Glenfinnan viaduct, which has been used in the Harry Potter movies, and offers wonderful views down Loch Shiel, the train stops at the station giving you time to stretch your legs and visit the Museum in the station buildings.
Beyond are the villages of Lochailort, Arisaig, Morar and Mallaig. On a clear summer's day from Arisaig you can see the "Small Isles" of Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna and the southern tip of Skye. From there the train passes Morar and the silvery beaches used in the films "Highlander" and "Local Hero"
The final destination is of course Mallaig an access point to the Isle of Skye with the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry.
WEST HIGHLAND MUSEUM
Situated in the high street in the heart of the historic town of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, The West Highland Museum’s collections tell the story of the region and its history. Our most renowned and unusual collection relates to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause.
But we also hold a wealth of curious and fascinating collections relating to less well-known aspects of the lives of the people of the West Highlands,
from the effects of political warfare, to the economic impact of tourism in the region, and the coming of the industrial and modern age.
The interest in the Highlands as a destination of choice for tourists and house-movers is a relatively recent one, however. It was not until the Victorian era, when Victoria and Albert made frequent trips to Balmoral and visits to the Highlands became fashionable among Victorian society, that the area as a whole received much attention from tourists from other parts of the UK and beyond.
The rugged landscape and geographical isolation of much of the Scottish Highlands made it a relatively inaccessible place for much of its political and cultural history. With this, however, came the evolution of its own very unique traditions, cultural life, and folklore.
Souter's Lass leaves the pier at 10.00 on her 1st trip of the day
SOUTER'S LASS
Board Souter’s Lass for a wonderful cruise down Loch Linnhe and enjoy the breath-taking scenery of Lochaber. With our unique and informative skipper’s commentary, you’ll experience some of Scotland’s best wildlife including the family of porpoise who live in Loch Linnhe, salmon, common and grey seals and maybe even a golden eagle.
You will also cruise past Britain’s tallest mountain and appreciate one of the most unique views of the southern slopes of Ben Nevis.
During the summer we also provide evening cruises, so you can enjoy the same sites of Lochaber while the sun sets - keep an eye on our website for dates of up-coming evening cruises or contact us for details.
Souter’s Lass benefits from a comfortable and spacious all-weather viewing lounge with a bar serving a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, plus handy restrooms, which means that everything you need for a great trip is onboard.
Take the ferry to historic Camusnagaul Bay...
From the Town Pier, we also operate the local passenger ferry service from Fort William to Treslaig. The trip to Camusnagaul Bay takes just 10 minutes, and from there you can enjoy stunning views back across Loch Linnhe to Ben Nevis and up the Great Glen.
You can take a short walk through Crofter’s Wood – which is signposted from the ferry terminal – and along the scenic shoreline, or take your bike and cycle along quiet B roads from Ardgour to Kinlocheil. You can also enjoy home-baking and local crafts at Treslaig Hall (opening hours vary depending on the season) or take a picnic to Picnic Rock.
The ferry service runs from Monday to Saturday.
HIGHLAND ACTIVITIES
Highland Activities are a modern outdoor adventure company offering quality outdoor activities. Our activities include quad biking, white water rafting, canyoning & gorge walking, clay pigeon shooting, off road driving, paintballing, archery and mountain biking and much more.
We have two stunning Highland locations near Fort William, Inverness and Aviemore. Our centre at Ardverikie Estate is where all of our quad biking, clay pigeon shooting and land based activities take pleace and our water sports centre is at The Great Glen Water Park near Invergarry but activities can also be mobile and some offered in both locations.
Highland Activities will guarantee you a fun, safe and memorable outdoor experience and can cater for individuals, families, stag parties, hen parties, corporate events or just a fun day out with friends, please check out our activities to see what we have on offer for you this season.
A gondola cable car and mountain bike travel up Aonach Mor at Nevis Range
NEVIS RANGE
The Nevis Range Mountain Experience
Let Britain's only mountain gondola transport you effortlessly to 650m. Meander along the mountain trails to the panoramic viewpoints, then relax in the restaurant & bar with breathtaking views.
Gondola opening times - 9.30am - 6pm, 7 days a week from Sat 3 July until end Aug 2010, weather permitting. Thereafter 10am - 5pm until mid November when we close for annual maintenance, reopening again mid December.
NEW - High Wire Advenure - ALL COURSES OPEN NOW - a series of high ropes courses at Nevis Range for children, families and the more adventurous.
Nevis Bike School - Guided bike rides for all the family on the Witch's Trails in Leanachan forest, the Nevis Red XC and the downhill. Coaching at all levels also available more details here. Bike hire also available on site.
A momento of your visit - Our Visitor Guide is available onsite. Packed with photos by top photographer Andy Gray, it leads you round Nevis Range, providing names and heights of the mountains that you see from our viewpoints, and introduces you to winter snowsports, summer mountain biking and the events that take place here.
Stuck for a present? Give a gift from Nevis Range. Available online here. Vouchers include lesson packages for beginner skiers or boarders, day snowsports lift passes, gondola tickets and gondola season tickets. If you can't find what you are looking for on the website, then please call us on 01397 705825
SPEAN BRIDGE
Wherever you go in the Highlands, you keep coming across bridges and other structures constructed by Thomas Telford in the early 1800s. And you could be forgiven for thinking that Spean Bridge was named after his crossing of the River Spean here, built in 1819.
Spean Bridge is also home to a railway station, on the line to Fort William. Its buildings have been converted into the Old Station Restaurant.
Commando Memorial
Though the land immediately to the south is heavily forested, it is still possible to gain excellent views up to the imposing northern faces of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor, plus the entire range of the Grey Corries sweeping away to your left.
The views are still more spectacular from the northern side of the river, where the lovely Kilmonivaig Church and churchyard form a pretty and peaceful oasis. And a little further north again, where the main A82 crests the hill, is the dramatically imposing Commando Memorial, a bronze monument crafted by Scott Sutherland and placed here in 1952 to commemorate the many members of the elite commando units who trained in the area during the second world war.
Treasures Of The Earth
TREASURES OF THE EARTH
Europe’s finest private collection of Crystals, Gemstones and Fossils.
You will be amazed by this incredible display, which took nature more than 500 Million years to create.
Housed in an atmospheric simulation of caves, caverns and mining scenes, you will find crystals over a meter tall and geodes over 7 feet tall; fossilised remains from tiny insects trapped in amber to vicious prehistoric monsters like our fossil Mosasaur.
See real Gold and Silver, ancient Petrified Wood, Rubies, Diamonds and Emeralds.
Learn about the largest Gold Nugget ever discovered and the History of the Scottish Gold Rush, and watch crystals magically change colour and glow in our UV Cave.
Come, experience the magic, and wonder which will leave the whole family in awe.
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 moat that surrounded the castle has long gone but the location at the western end of the Great Glen and natural defensive postion against the River Lochy gave Inverlochy castle a superior advantage. The old Military Road built by General Wade passed right by the castle and can still be followed back in to Fort William.
Originally dating back to the 13th century, Inverlochy Castle last played a part in Scottish and English history during the Civil Wars of the 1640's. In 1645 the royalist Earl of Montrose routed the roundhead forces of the Campbell Chief Duke of Argyll at the second Battle of Inverlochy.
In 1654 the Castle was abandoned in favour of a large timber fort built nearby by Oliver Cromwell which in 1690 was then replaced by a stone fort named "Fort William" after King William III. The town which grew around it was named Maryburgh after the Queen, Mary II, though eventually it took the same name as the fort.
Ben Nevis Distillery
BEN NEVIS DISTILLERY
There are some who would have you believe that there exists a kind of divine secret, a miraculous ingredient or genius behind the manufacture of Scotch Whisky. I however, acknowledge no miracle other than that which is worked when science and nature combine.
The principal ingredients are three, notably water, barley and yeast, with a measure of peat smoke or reek.
Of these there can be no doubt that water is the foremost. On Ben Nevis I was fortunate to find a constant and consistent source of pure clean water in two small lochans.
In order of importance, the second ingredient is barley. This must be clean and plump, fully rounded and quite dry, containing exactly the right amount of protein.
Special distiller's yeast is the third ingredient. This has the texture of dough or putty and is vital to the process of fermentation.
And fourthly there is peat, which comes to the whisky through the water passing over peat bogs on its way down the mountain, and from the 'reek' from the fire lit during the manufacturing process.
Once again, we are fully fortunate in that nature in her magnificence, has created on the hill behind us, an ample supply of peat in our own banks to fuel the fires drying the barley.
John MacDonald
- 14th June 1827
The Dew of Ben Nevis is a distinctive blend of whiskies from all over Scotland. You are invited to come and share the knowledge of John MacDonald - creator of the Dew of Ben Nevis and founder of Ben Nevis Distillery in 1825.
Come and see the miracle and magic of whisky making,be prepared to be entranced when you learn the secrets of the three principle stages of Germination, Fermentation and Distillation: see the copper pot stills, mash tun and other items of equipment.
THE ICE-FACTOR
The ultimate day out in the Scottish Highlands at the UK's premier adventure centre…
indoor ice + rock climbing… winter + summer outdoor hillwalking, mountaineering + climbing… tree top adventure course with tower, abseiling, giant swing + drop zone… shop… restaurant… bar/bistro… children’s play areas… equipment + bike hire…
ice…
The ice wall is a jaw dropping facility which simply has no rival in the world. It is more than 5 times bigger than any other indoor ice wall. The wall contains nearly 500 tonnes of snow, which has been packed, and maintained, by hand to create a variety of routes from easy angled snow slope through to monster overhangs.
rock
The central feature, is the UK's largest, steepest and only fully articulated freeform-sculpted resin climbing wall. The lower part is fixed at 20 degrees off vertical leading to the articulated upper wall. This moves at the touch of a button on huge hydraulic rams from vertical to 6m overhanging. This wall has minimal features to ensure routes can be set at the hardest grades. Of course any one route changes grade with each degree that the wall overhangs! At the extreme limits this wall will cater for the best climbers in the UK and it will certainly prepare climbers for the trials and standards of international events or the plethora of routes in the surrounding mountains.
The new official end of The West Highland Way
THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY
Slighe na Gàidhealtachd an Iar
Scotland’s first official long distance route links Milngavie to Fort William – a distance of 154km (96 miles) - from the northern outskirts of Glasgow, to the foot of Ben Nevis at Fort William.
The Route passes through Mugdock Country Park, follows the shores of Loch Lomond, passing Ben Lomond, through Glen Falloch and Strathfillan, crossing Rannoch Moor, past Buachaille Etive Mor to the head of Glencoe, climbing the Devil’s Staircase, descending to sea level to cross the River Leven at the head of Loch Leven before entering Lairigmor and Glen Nevis.
The terrain ranges from lowland moors, dense woodland and rolling hills, to high mountainous regions in the Scottish Highlands. These environments provide habitats for a diverse range of wildlife species, both flora and fauna.
SHINTY - THE SPORT OF THE GAEL
Shinty (Scottish Gaelic: camanachd, iomain) is a team sport played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Highlands of Scotland, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England[1] and other areas in the world where Scottish Highlanders migrated.
Whilst comparisons are often made with field hockey, the two sports have several important differences. In shinty, a player is allowed to play the ball in the air and is allowed to use both sides of the stick. The stick may also be used to block and to tackle, although a player may not come down on an opponent's stick, a practice called hacking. A player may tackle using the body as long as this is shoulder-to-shoulder as in football.
The sport was derived from the same root as the Irish game of hurling but has developed different rules and features. These rules are governed by the Camanachd Association.
Shinty is also one of the forebears of ice hockey: in 1800, Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia played a game on ice at Windsor. In Canada, informal hockey games are still called shinny.
Another sport with common ancestry is bandy.
One of a family of Highland Cattle who are currently resident in Glen Nevis
GLEN NEVIS
Beautiful Glen Nevis lies at the foot of the towering Ben and the scenery is truly breathtaking.
Accessible by road or foot, the Glen is seven miles long and the road narrows to single track at the Lower Falls.
A further two mile stretch ends at the car park where the keen walker can leave their vehicle and take the trek through The Gorge.
Good footwear is recommended for the short journey along a mountain path with a steep slope onthe right leading down to the river below.
Green pastures and a cascading waterfall greet you as you emerge on the other side of the gorge.
Don’t forget to bring your camera!!
The Glen Nevis Visitor Centre is situated 1.5 miles along the Glen Nevis road from the Nevis bridge mini-roundabout. Here you will find information on walking and the local area. There are toilets and a shop where you can buy essentials, such as maps and snacks or a gift to remind you of your visit. The grounds around the centre have parking for approximately 80 cars and there are lots of places to picnic beside the riverside. The Visitor Centre bridge allows you to cross to the other side and you can either follow an enjoyable walk along the riverside or continue onto the Ben Nevis track.
GREAT GLEN WAY
The Great Glen Way was officially opened on the 30th of April 2002 by H.R.H. Prince Andrew, Earl of Inverness.
The route, which spans 73 miles/117km between Fort William and Inverness, can be walked in 5-6 days, staying overnight in the various communities within the Glen. The Great Glen Way suits all levels of walker. For the less experienced it is the perfect introduction to long distance walking, being for the most part low-level and following mainly towpaths and woodland tracks. There are some challenging sections though, and the more experienced may wish to tackle a few Munros or Corbetts within reach from the route
The route can be walked in either direction, however, walking from Fort William to Inverness you have the prevailing wind behind you and begin with the easier sections of the Way.
The route begins at the Old Fort in Fort William, under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britains highest mountain. From here it skirts the shores of Loch Linnhe to join the historic Caledonian Canal at Corpach.
A recent photograph of the ever elusive Loch Ness Monster taken in the Winter 2010 at 23.56
There was a loud spalshing noise in the darkness and a roar that almost put my camp-fire out! It was fast approaching midnight and although it was raining from above, I had the piece of mind to grab my camera. I took shot after shot of this magnificent creature and have posted the best and most clearest here. It's there in the dark, just to the left of centre..............
THE LOCH NESS MONSTER
A new Loch Ness mystery has unfolded with the discovery of a huge underwater cavern which sections of the media have dubbed 'Nessie's Lair'. Auxiliary coastguard and Drumnadrochit businessman George Edwards made this spectacular find when he was on a coastguard training exercise on the Loch. He picked up an abnormal signal on his sonar. The depth of the Loch is around 750 ft, and as he made a circular manoeuvre with his boat he got a reading of 812 ft on his sonar equipment. George, who over the years has seen many strange shapes on the Loch, has been a tour boat operator for 12 years. His findings have been quoted by experts as 'the most significant in years', but it has only come to light now as he was fearful of being accused of promoting self-interest. Being a firm Nessie believer, George says there must be more than one creature in the Loch and this cavern could lead to a network of caves. He feels the time has come to investigate the underwater caves and has been contacted by a North Sea oil company offering equipment and experts to seek out 'Nessie's Lair'.
EILEAN DONAN CASTLE
As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands.
Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.
Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years until Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and proceeded to restore the castle to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labour the castle was re-opened in 1932.
Today, you can explore nearly every part of the castle, and enjoy a journey through the history of the area.
The Castle now has its own visitor centre, which includes the Ticket Office, Coffee Shop, Gift Shop and toilets.
Ample Car parking is available at no charge, and we also welcome large parties and groups.
Although we have no disabled or wheelchair access into the castle itself, we do have a computer-based Virtual Tour available for those that are unable to manage the large number of steps. Please ask at the visitor centre if you require this facility.
Some people say Eilean Donan is the most beautiful castle in Scotland. Come and decide for yourself!
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