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Visitor Attractions Fort William Area

The Jacobite Steam Train Fort William

The Jacobite Steam Train Fort William

Described as one of the great railway journeys of the world this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis! Just over an hour drive from Binnilidh Mhor B&B. For further details visit their website www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/Jacobite/Jacobite-steam-train-details.cfm

Ben Nevis, Fort William

Ben Nevis, Fort William

Ben Nevis (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Nibheis) is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of Scotland, close to the town of Fort William and is affectionately known as 'The Ben.'

Ben Nevis attracts an estimated 125,000 complete and a further 100,000 partial ascents per year, most of which are made by walkers using the well-constructed Mountain Track (Pony Track) from Glen Nevis on the south side of the mountain. For climbers and mountaineers the main attraction lies in the 600-metre (2,000 ft) high cliffs of the north face. Among the highest cliffs in the United Kingdom, they harbour some of the best scrambles and rock climbs at all levels of difficulty, and are one of the principal locations in the UK for ice climbing. 
The summit, at 1,344.527m (4,411ft 2in) (or 1,345m on the new Ordnance Survey maps) above sea level, unusually for a mountain in Scotland, features the ruins of a building, an observatory, which was permanently staffed from 1883 until its closure in 1904.

The Origins of the Name

The name, 'Ben Nevis,' is from the Gaelic, 'Beinn Nibheis.'  While 'beinn' is a common Gaelic word for 'mountain' the word 'nibheis' is understood to have several meanings and is commonly translated as 'malicious' or 'venomous' therefore giving the meaning of 'Venomous (or malicious) mountain.'

 Another interpretation of the name Ben Nevis, is that it derives from beinn nèamh-bhathais, from the word nèamh meaning 'heavens (or clouds)' and bathais meaning 'top of a man's head.' This would therefore translate literally as, 'the mountain with its head in the clouds' although this is sometimes also given as the more poetic, 'mountain of heaven.' Only a 1 hour drive from Binnilidh Mhor B&B. For further details visit the website http://www.ben-nevis.com/index.php

Glenfinnan Village, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan Museum, Fort William

Glenfinnan Village, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan Museum, Fort William

For spring 2013 we finally celebrated the opening of our new and improved Viaduct Trail. It offers a great way to get up close to Glenfinnan Viaduct, with outstanding views of the surrounding mountainous terrain and Loch Shiel. It is also a brilliant way for those wanting to get to Corryhully Bothy from the train station, requiring no walking on roads from the train. We have produced a trail guide which is available from the museum reception, showing a map of the route and some of the flaura and fauna you may spot on the way.

The History of Glenfinnan Station and The Museum

Following the arrival of the West Highland Railway into Fort William in 1894 a movement to further develop the area and in particular to establish an important fishing harbour at Mallaig resulted in the Mallaig Extension being opened in 1901.

Glenfinnan Station formally opened to the public in April 1901 and continues to this day to serve the community as well as the large numbers of tourists who now visit the area each year.

Glenfinnan Station on the Iron Road to the Isles is a picturesque and tranquil heritage site celebrating the life and work of earlier generations on the West Highland Line.

Still a working railway station, the site offers a unique and hands-on introduction to West Highland railway heritage. The indoor exhibition provides interesting facts and stories about the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct and life on the West Highland, while the outdoor exhibits tell the story of a rural Scottish railway station over the last century.

  • Visit the Museum Exhibition to find out how the spectacular railway from Glasgow to Mallaig was built, and learn about the men who built it.
  • Enjoy the lovingly restored Signal Box and its heritage film studio.
  • Turn up for a close-up encounter with the Jacobite steam train.
  • Delve into the railway toy chest in the Booking Office.
  • Visit the restored Dining Car for scrumptious home baking or a light lunch.
  • Stay in the restored Sleeping Car overnight.
  • Visit the Gift Shop.
  • Enjoy the Woodland, Viaduct and Village Walks.
  • Book a guided tour of the heritage site.
Only 1.5 hour drive from Binnilidh Mhor B&B. For further details visit their website http://glenfinnanstationmuseum.co.uk/

 
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