Fort William

It is hard indeed to love Fort William, the self styled Outdoor Capital of the UK. Unlike Oban which embraces the sea, Fort William not only turns its back on the sea but it then builds a dual carriage way and some very unpleasant housing to cut itself off from the sea completely. And of course the anchorage is hardly convenient for the shops, or particularly pleasant. But you may get stuck there, and if you do there are a few things worth doing (other than going somewhere nicer as soon as you can).

The main street is pleasantly traffic free where you will find the West Highland Museum (ph 01397 702169), originally a bank, built in 1840. And for seafood go to the excellent Crannog restaurant in the converted bait shed on the Town Pier, opened in 1989 to provide fresh local seafood direct from those who caught or farmed it. Mind you the paintings on the wall are not really to my taste (ph 01397 705589). And of course there are plenty of shops and supermarkets. I have not been to Inverlochy castle but it doesn't sound too enticing. 'Pevsner' remarks 'not very exciting castellated-manorial house ', the first stage of which was started in 1863.

The Lochaber Leisure Centre has a 25 metre swimming pool (ph 01397 704359).

Maybe the best ‘trip’ is to take the Jacobite steam train which in the summer runs up and down the fabulous 84 mile single track railway line to Mallaig, over the Glenfinnan viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter films (ph 01524 737751). It was opened in 1901 and thankfully, unlike the Ballachulish line, it remains not just open but actually used.

Lime tree studios and art gallery (ph 01397 701806) is as the name implies both an art gallery and I am told a very nice restaurant which features in a lot of guides, and it has beds too.