Regional centre and outdoor sports hub

Fort William is not a pretty place despite is great setting on the lovely shores of Loch Linnhe, and close to the hulking snow-dappled Ben Nevis (1,344m; 4,409 ft), Scotland’s highest mountain. Much of the town is a mix of ugly concrete traffic islands, underpasses, shopping centres and bland housing.

Yet despite the aesthetic challenges the pedestrianized centre has a pleasant buzz about it: it’s an important regional centre for Highlanders and rivalled only by Aviemore as an outdoor activity hub in Scotland.

It’s also at Fort William that the West Highland Way ends and its the nearest town to the gloriously scenic Glencoe.

“Fort Bill” is also a major venue on the Mountain Bike World Cup circuit, with all the action on the foot-slopes of Ben Nevis, where you can take a gondola up and, if you like, ski or mountain bike back down.