Fort William hotels

Fort William is famous as the gateway to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, making it a hotspot for hikers and climbers. It’s also well-known for its stunning location on the shores of Loch Linnhe and near the dramatic landscapes of the Nevis Range. The town serves as a base for exploring the Scottish Highlands, including nearby attractions like Glen Nevis, the West Highland Way walking trail and the Jacobite Steam Train—famous from the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express. 

Yes, Fort William does have a harbour. It’s located on the shores of Loch Linnhe and historically served as an important port for trade and fishing. Today, the harbour area is quieter but still offers waterfront views and access for boats and small yachts. It’s a lovely spot to stroll along, especially with the scenic backdrop of the surrounding mountains and lochs. 

The closest major airport to Fort William is Glasgow Airport (GLA), around 2.5 to 3 hours away by car or train. Another option is Inverness Airport (INV), about 2.5 hours away. Both airports offer domestic and some international flights, but Glasgow has a wider range of connections. From either airport, you can reach Fort William by train, bus, or car. 

Fort William is popular because it’s known as the UK’s outdoor adventure capital, right next to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain. It’s perfect for hiking and mountain biking, plus it offers stunning Highland scenery. The town is also famous for the Jacobite Steam Train, known as the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter. With so much natural beauty and outdoor fun, it’s a magnet for nature lovers and adventure seekers. 

Start your day by heading out to explore Ben Nevis, whether you fancy a hike to the summit or a gentler walk in Glen Nevis with its beautiful waterfalls. After some fresh Highland air, take a relaxing cruise on Loch Linnhe—these boat trips offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and wildlife. Back in town, visit the West Highland Museum to learn about local history. If you’re visiting in the evening, keep an eye out for events or live music. 

Yes, you can walk up Ben Nevis from Fort William! The most popular route is the Mountain Track (also known as the Tourist Path), which starts just outside of town at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis—about a 30-minute walk or a short taxi ride from the town centre. The hike to the summit takes around 7 to 9 hours round trip, depending on your pace and weather conditions.  

Fort William has a mix of high-street stores, outdoor gear shops and local boutiques. There are also independent shops selling local crafts, whisky, tartan and souvenirs, making it a great place to pick up something uniquely Scottish. The High Street is the main shopping area, and there’s a small shopping centre called The Cameron Square Retail Park nearby too. 

Yes, you can get around Fort William quite easily without a car. The town centre is walkable, and many attractions are within easy reach on foot. For places just outside town, like the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre or Nevis Range Gondola, there are local buses and taxis available. You can also take guided tours or day trips to explore more of the Highlands without needing to drive. If you’re up for some scenic travel, trains and buses connect Fort William to nearby destinations like Mallaig, Glasgow and Inverness. 

Flex – Pay now or on arrival, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Our most flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 1pm on the day of arrival. You can also amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Semi-Flex – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to three full days before arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to three full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Advance – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 28 full days before arrival, free to amend thereafter until the day of arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 28 full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Standard – Pay now, non-refundable. Free to amend booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Slightly flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel and get a full refund, but you can amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Non-Flex – Pay now. No amends or refunds. Our least flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel or amend your stay after booking.

Our standard check-in time is 3pm. For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

Checkout is by 12 noon on your departure date. If luggage storage is available, our teams will be happy to store any bags for you if you’d like to check out before 12pm.

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

In 2020 we launched Premier Inn CleanProtect™, our rigorous, daily cleaning method that’s used throughout our UK & Ireland hotels. Developed in partnership with Diversey, a global leader in cleaning and hygiene products for the healthcare and hospitality industries, our promise seeks to give you extra peace of mind so you can always book and stay with confidence.

Check-in - minimising contact at reception and providing hand sanitiser in most public areas for peace of mind. 

Bed linen and towels - laundering all our linen and towels at over 60°C to thermally disinfect them, so you can enjoy a great night’s sleep. We’ve also placed spare pillows in a zip-up bag, for extra peace of mind.

Equipping our teams - providing our team members with all the equipment and sanitisers they need, as well as always operating in the safest way possible for our teams and guests.

A generous serving of safety - you can relax knowing that enhanced cleaning measures are in place throughout our restaurants. Tables are cleaned between visits and contactless payment is in place too, so you can dine safely and comfortably with us every time.

Clean on request - if you'd like your room cleaned during your stay with us, just let us know at reception and use the handy door hanger on the back of your door by 12pm each day.

Most Premier Inns have specially-adapted rooms allowing easier access for customers with disabilities. If there is no specially-adapted room available at the hotel of your choice, we will be happy to offer you alternative accommodation at a nearby Premier Inn. If you have difficulty walking, but do not need a specially-adapted room, please feel free to request a room near reception on the ground floor for easy access. 

If you'd like get in touch, you can reach out to our specialist team via email at pi.accessible@whitbread.com or call us on 0333 0919 817 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday (calls charged at local rate).

Unfortunately, with the exception of trained assistance dogs, we don't allow pets to stay at our hotels.