Fort William Holiday Lodge
Mountain Biking
We’re extremely lucky to have the Nevis Range right on our doorstep which is home to the best Mountain bike trails in the United Kingdom. Whether you and your kids are extremely skilled or just getting started there’s no better place in the UK to be.
The range has friendly guides and perfect routes for you if you’re just starting out. If you or the kids are experienced riders then there are some absolutely epic routes down the mountain, after all the Nevis Range is home to the Mountain Bike World Cup.
The Nevis Range has a gondola which you can hook your bikes onto that will whisk you up the mountain so you can all focus on the fun bit.
Another option for mountain biking is at the Glencoe Mountain resort down the road. Or there’s a number of great routes which you can see on our cycling page.
Skiing & Snowboarding
If you’re visiting in the winter the Nevis Range converts from a mountain biking centre into a ski centre and is an absolutely fantastic place to learn to ski. Qualified instructors and good runs will have you and the kids comfortably skiing or snowboarding in no time!
Another option for skiing and snowboarding can be found down the road at the Glencoe Mountain Resort. The weather in the highlands can be unpredictable at best so it’s worth keeping an eye on what the weather is doing, high winds can close the gondolas and it’s good to check the resort webcams to see how much snow there is.
Munro Bagging
You’re never too young to fall in love with being out in the wild and bagging some Munros. There is an incredible amount of fantastic days out walking for the whole family, you can see our favourites on our walking page.
One brilliant option for the whole family is again at the Nevis Range, by taking the gondola up the mountain you skip out on quite a lot of the slog and jump straight into the spectacular views phase of the walk, from there you can head up and bag Aonach Mor a brilliant Munro with great views of the CMD Arete, the famous Ben Nevis north face, the Mamores and Glencoe.
Hogwarts Express
The Jacobite Steam Train is an incredible train journey that takes you from Fort William to Mallaig. You pass some truly stunning scenery including the Glenfinnan Viaduct which was featured and made internationally famous in the Harry Potter films. A magical day out for the whole family.
The fun doesn’t need to end with just the Steam train journey. Once you’re in Mallaig with a bit of planning you can jump onto the West Isle Cruise and spot some incredible wildlife, there’s a chance to see Whales, Orcas, Dolphins, Seals, Eagles and more! Then after the cruise hop back on the Hogwarts Express for the return to Fort William!
Water Sports
There’s an incredible amount of Water Sports to do nearby from White Water Rafting, Canyoning, Gorge Walking, Coasteering, White Water River Tubing for the adrenaline junkies to calm Paddle boarding in Glencoe & Kayaking on the West Coast. With so many options there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Check out our Water Sport page for more information!
Hunt for Nessie
A short (~40mins) drive to the North will get you to Fort Augustus, a lovely village at the end of the world famous Loch Ness. From here you can take a cruise and take in the beautiful scenery on the biggest Lake by volume in the United Kingdom.
You have a few options when taking a Loch Ness cruise. You can either go in the evening to take in some gorgeous sunsets or go in the day where the light might be better for spotting Nessie.
You can also choose between a scenic cruise option or a high adrenaline ‘speed’ option. For more information visit the Cruise Loch Ness website.
Beaches
When you think of the Highlands, incredible beaches may not be the first thing that comes to mind, however the beaches and coast line near Arisaig and Morar are some of the best the United Kingdom has to offer.
Beautiful white sands and turquoise water makes the one hour trip along the famous ‘Road to the Isles’ a must do in good weather. Combine the beach, with a stop off in Glenfinnan to see the famous viaduct and a fresh seafood Mallaig to complete an unforgettable day out.
Pony Trekking
If you have an Equestrian in your family then there are a number of Pony trekking options close by where you can explore the incredible scenery on horseback. For a beach trek head West to the coast and Silversands Trekking Centre.
At Silversands you will be taken on a guided trek of the stunning coastline and beaches, ideal if not everyone is mad on horses as the rest of you can chill out on the beach!
Another option is to head East to the Cairngorms, in Kinguissie there is ‘Highland Horse Fun’ who have been pony trekking since 1952! At Highland Horse you have the options of having a carriage trip, a trek or to go out hacking (if you’re an experienced rider) in the beautiful Cairngorms.
Aviemore Go Karting
For something a bit different head about an hour 20 minutes West to Aviemore in the Cairngorms and go Go Karting! Kids have to be over 4 to drive their 120cc, 200cc or tandem Go Karts. You have to be 17 or above to compete in their adult only karting with the 270cc go karts.
Highland Wildlife Park
The Highland Wildlife park is another option in the Cairngorms so makes for an ideal activity to combine with the go karting to make a full day out. The Highland Wildlife park is between Kingussie and Aviemore and has a number of great animals to see including Polar Bears, Tigers, Foxs, Bison, Elk, Lynx, Snow Leopards and more!
Landmark Forest Adventure Park
One of the top Adventure parks in the UK with loads to do including a Dinosaur Kingdom, Wild Water Coaster, Butterfly House, Tarzan Trail, Wee Monkey Trail, ‘Skydive’, Ropeworx, Forest Tower and much more. The Landmark Forest Adventure Park has something for all ages. It’s an hour and 30min drive but passing some great scenery in the Cairngorms makes the journey fly by.
Highland Folk Museum
A memorable and interesting day out an hours drive East in the Cairngorms. The Highland Folk Museum is a step back in time where you can see what the Highlands were like between the 1700s and 1950s with over 35 historical buildings to explore.
Ice Factor
It’s Britain’s biggest ice climbing wall so the perfect place to get the kids started! The Ice Factor in Kinlochleven also has a number of top rope, lead and bouldering walls so there is a great number of options for the kids to find out what they enjoy the most.
Outside of the centre there is an Aerial adventure course which is also great fun!
Minimum age for instructed ice climbing is 12 years old, for bouldering and top rope climbing the minimum age is 3. The Ice Factor has a cafe overlooking most of the walls which is a good option for the adults!
Highland Cinema
The Highland Cinema in Fort William is a great option for the kids if the weather is not co-operating, the cinema has all the latest blockbusters and very comfortable seats, you can even sit and watch a movie in a Lotus car. The cafe at the cinema is also highly recommended.
3 Monkeys Climbing
We have indoor climbing on our doorstep, which is perfect if the weather is a little rough! The 3 Monkeys climbing centre is impressively set in a converted church. Has 70 bouldering problems and 25 top rope/lead walls. If you just want to relax they have a lovely little cafe where you can sit back and watch the climbers.
Bowling & Soft Play
The Nevis Centre at Fort William has something for the whole family including bowling, softplay, roller skating, table tennis and badminton.
