Fort William
Fort William, the largest town in the highlands of Scotland is found on the side of Loch Linnee at the end of the south end of the Great Glen
Fort William sells itself as the outdoor capital of the UK and as such it attracts climbers (close by Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain) mountain bikers and hill walkers. It is also one end of the West Highland Way a walk of 96 miles from Milingavie by Glasgow to Fort William. The town is also on the road to the isles and has areas of interest in Scottish History.
The Jacobite steam train which travels from Fort William to Mallaig is famous as a train in the Harry Potter films especially the view of it on the Glenfinnan viaduct.
In the summer the town has large mix of languages as people from all over Europe visit to view the many attractions around the time. Hotels and Bed & Breakfast houses abound, especially on the A82 coming into the town.
Fort William can be reached by taking the A82 from Glasgow (101 miles) and along the banks of Loch Lomond. Later the road runs through Glencoe and on to the banks of Loch Linnhe. Fort William is on the side of this loch near the top of it. The train also runs to Fort William from Glasgow and the station is at the opposite end of the town from the road entering the town from Glasgow.
Practically all of the drinking establishments lie, between the A82 as it enters the main town and the station, along the High Street. The exception, however, does take you out of the way.
Glenfinnan viaduct Glenfinnan visitor guide Fort William Visitor Guide Ben Nevis Jacobite Steam Train
Behind the station is the Loch Eill which is connected to a Premier Inn. Near this is the Nevis Centre which has a ten-pin bowling alley in it which has a small lounge bar but is basically for the bowling alley. You then have to go a walk.
Leave the station to walk further up the A82. The Nevis Bank Inn is across the road and five minutes further appearing just before the next roundabout. Real ale is sold in the bar/restaurant (Browns) of the Nevis Bank Inn. Returning to the station but staying on the town side of the road there is the Alexandra Hotel at one of the corners of the gardens. The Cobb Lounge can be found at another corner. There is a gondola (of the going up mountain kind) hanging up outside it, as the bar is below the Nevis Sport shop. This is also the start of the High Street which is pedestrianised.
Leaving here you wish to wander along High Street which runs along one side of the gardens. At the first street on your right, you can look down to the Imperial Hotel and also see The Crofters Bar and Restaurant on the corner of the High Street.
Walking further along and on the left, there is a small narrow alley entrance to The Maryborgh. Further along on the right is The Volunteer Arms. Then also on the right is the Ossian Hotel. Drinking then shifts to the left side to find the Grog and Gruel and almost next door is The Tavern. Back to the right and there is soon The Ben Nevis.
A walk to the end of the High Street brings you to the A82 and the Westend Hotel and a few buildings further on is The Cruachan Hotel
Added to the trail are icons in orange: After The Maryborough Inn, two streets on the left isCcameron St at the top of which is Garrison West
After The Ben Nevis is, Wetherspoon’s has reached Fort William as The Great Glen and round the corner from it is
Black Isle bar, which is associated with The Black Isle Brewery, and then to The Westend Hotel
Useful web pages
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Books on Beer
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.
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Scottish pub crawls
Craig Stevenson and John MacKay have used their bus passes to good effect. They have toured the towns and cities of Scotland visiting pubs. They recount their adventures in a series of books:
The Auldest Boozers in Town
The Cheap Way Round
Still Goin’
Inn Aff The Bar
Goin’ Roon The Edge
Mud, Sweat and Beers
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Highland CAMRA
Local CAMRA Branch
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Books on Pubs
A selection of recommended books on pubs and their history. There are books on the social history of pubs and the design of pubs through the ages.
There are also books on visiting pubs and ones recommending pubs to visit.
CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide
Death of the English Pub by Christopher Hutt
Brewers, Brands and the Pubs in their Hands by Tony Thornton
Licensed to Sell by Brandwood, Davidson & Slaughter
And many more
PLACES TO VISIT WITH PUBTRAILS
The towns and villages highlighted on this web site have a wide variety of pubs and beers in them. All of the places are great to visit, whether for a day or longer, and most have tourist attractions for all of the family.
There is a large variety of pubs throughout the different towns shown below. Some you may wish never to visit again but even discovering these can be interesting. There are pubs that you would not take your wife into. While some you could not take your girlfriend into. A few you would not take either into. However, most of the pubs are very pleasant.
HOME MAP of places visited
Alnwick Ambleside Anstruther Bakewell Bamburgh Barnard Castle Bath Berwick upon Tweed Birnam & Dunkeld Bourton on the Water Bowness on Windermere Bridge of Allan Chester Chichester Dunblane Dunoon Edinburgh Ely Fort William Glasgow Gourock Greenock Helensburgh Inverness Kelso Keswick Knaresbourgh Largs Linlithgow Lyme Regis Melrose Montrose Newton Stewart North Berwick Norwich Oban Pebbles Penzance Portree Pitlochry Quorn Richmond Rothesay St Andrews Seahouses Seend Shrewsbury Skipton Stirling Stratford-upon-Avon Stockton Heath Whitby Windemere Whitstable York
The Loch Iall
The Loch Iall is the bar diner Brewers Fayre associated with the Premier Inn. No different from expected - reminds you of others. Food all day and disabled access.
Have a half pint
bitter/heavy : Belhaven Best
lager : Carlsberg, Tennents, Becks, Stella
cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Nevis Centre
A large sign indicates The Nevis Centre, showing the presence of a lounge bar. This is a small room connected to the bowling alley. Really, it is for having a drink while waiting on bowling and only the most determined crawler would want to visit
bitter/heavy : Tetley
lager : Carlsberg
cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Nevis Bank Inn
The Nevis Bank Inn is a hotel and restaurant a few minutes away from the centre of town. The bar/restaurant is called Browns and is very modern - all dark wood and black leather with some high tables. The lounge area is comfortable but still has feel of hotel/restaurant rather than lounge. Good food and friendly staff. Evening meals, disabled access and dog friendly.
Have one here
real ale : Deuchars
bitter/heavy : John Smiths
lager : Fosters, 1664
Guinness
Alexandra Hotel
Alexandra Hotel is a large imposing hotel at the end of the High Street opposite the station. Large lounge with variety of tables and a restaurant (the Food stop) and there is some outside seating at the car park overlooking the gardens. Lunch and evening meals, disabled access.
Have a pint here
bitter/heavy : McEwan's 70/-
lager : 1664, Fosters
cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Cobb Lounge
closed for refurbishment
The Cobb Lounge is under the Nevis Sport shop. It has a large lounge area and a smaller mezzanine. It does bar meals and occasional music. A Sports bar because it has a large TV. Fire has wood over it painted to resemble a fire but there is a tub of rubbish sitting beside it to be burned - a turn off.
Good Beer Guide on occassion
Have a pint here
real ale : (changes regularly)Tower Ridge, Dark Island (both Isle of Skye); Wayfairer, Belhaven IPA
bitter/heavy : Belhaven Best (+cold)
lager : Carlsberg
PUB QUIZ
What is the world's smallest, flattest and and second driest continent?
Answer at foot of page
Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel (Best Western) is a large old building just off the High Street. It has a small lounge to the left of the larger more comfortable reception. Service was quick for a hotel but the background music was local radio (lazy). It has some outside seating.
Half pint here
bitter/heavy : Ember (Tennents)
lager : Stella, Tennents
cider : Magners
The Crofter Bar
The Crofter Bar and Restaurant has two doors to the High Street. The left-hand side takes you into a small bar with large TV. Half way around the bar the floor becomes carpeted and you are in the lounge. The lounge can be entered from the right-hand doorway, where the serving area is to the left and a large seating area to the right. The raised restaurant is further back from the lounge. A younger persons local and packed on at weekends. Lunch and evening meals, disabled access.
Have one here
heavy /bitter : John Smiths, McEwans 70/-
Lager : Fosters; Stella
Cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Maryburgh
The Maryburgh Inn, Fort William
The Maryburgh Inn, Fort William - down the stairs
The Maryburgh is reached by a narrow doorway leading down steps to an alley (usually with smokers) to a two roomed pub. Band area to the rear (rock pub for FW) with bar to the front. A claim to fame is that it contains an old well, covered in perspex to put glasses on, which blocks part of the serving area. Always noise with conversation and loud music even in mid afternoon.
Have one here
heavy : Belhaven Best
Lager : Tenennts, Stella
Cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Volunteer Arms
The Volunteer Arms is a pleasant wee local. Two large square rooms one with the bar area and the other with pool table. All brown wood and mirrors and old pictures. Seating around side with taller tables in middle. Full of conversation and variety of ages. Always smokers outside. offers disco some evenings. Friendly staff. Disabled access.
have one here
heavy : John Smiths (and cold); Tartan Special
Lager : Fosters, 1664, Carling
Cider : Strongbow and Bulmers Guinness
Ossians Hotel
Ossians Hotel is in the centre of the High Street. It was hard to tell if it was being improved or poorly looked after. Like most hotels it had no bar staff behind bar (on two visits) and poor selection of beers. Offers food and discos.
half pint if you must
heavy : Tennent's Special
Lager : Tennent's Lager
cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Grog and Gruel ★ ❤
The Grog and Gruel is the CAMRA pub of the year for the Fort William and Lochaber. It is long and thin with modern dark wood and low lighting. It is quite atmospheric bar with a variety of styles of seating. Pub food and a restaurant upstairs with same food. Live music some evenings. Dogs welcome, all day meals until 9pm
Regular in Good Beer Guide (CAMRA) - been in since 1997, including 2023, 2024
Have several here
Real ale : Usually 7 pumps - eg
Lomand Gold, S uilven ( an talloch ale), Standrad Ale ( Glenfinnan Brew.); Black Gold (Cairngorm brew.), Ruby, Red Cullen, Hebridean Gold, Y oung Pretender (all Isle of Skye brew.) Nessie's Monster Mash, Wildcat
Lager : Carlsberg
Cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Tavern
The Tavern is a small bar that makes claims to be a gastropub. It is more a diner than a pub and is very popular. You can sit at the bar and have a pricey pint.
Have one here
bitter/heavy : Belhaven Best
Lager : Carlsberg, San Miguel
Cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Ben Nevis ★
The Ben Nevis, Fort William - to left
The Ben Nevis, Fort William
The Ben Nevis, Fort William - Jacobite Lounge to right
The Ben Nevis pub has two doors. The right hand one takes you to a lovely Jacobite lounge with cosy fire at front and an entrance to decking at far end and a variety of styles of seating. The left hand door opens to the Ben Bar which has pool, TV and darts at front with comfy seating and tables further on (not really living up to its being 'the bar'. Both rooms have views over the loch. Upstairs is the Monro restaurant serving well priced bar meals. Live music in lounge some evenings.
Regular in Good Beer Guide including 2023, 2024
Have several here
Real ale : Deuchars, Dark Island
bitter/heavy : McEwan's 70/-
Lager : Becks, San Miguel, Millar, Tennent’s
Cider : Strongbow Guinness
The Westend Hotel
Just at the roundabout where the A82 meets the High Street is The Westend Hotel. It is an old building that has been modernised by a conservatory and outside seating at the front. A lane besdie the hotel points to the lounge bar giving it the approach of an old style hotel bar. However, it leads to a large lounge. This is very much a hotel lounge with small tables and the ability to have a dance floor in the middle. Unlike most hotels not expecting non-residents service was prompt. Although like most hotels there was limited choice for the beer drinker. Disabled access, and lunch and evening meals
Have one here.
Real ale : Trade Winds NO REAL ALE ANYMORE
bitter : John Smiths, McEwan's 70/-
Lager : Fosters, Tennent Guinness
The Cruachan Hotel
The Cruachan Hotel is a large hotel just outside the High Street open to non-residents. It has a large comfy lounge offering bar meals. There are sofas in the reception area and outside seating on the patio overlooking the loch. Like most hotels bar service seems a low priority.
Have one here
bitter : John Smiths, McEwan's 80/-
Lager : Fosters, 1664
cider : Strongbow Guinness
“I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they are going to feel all day.”
— Frank Sinatra
ANSWER: Australia (Antartica is drier)