We will be three full days in Skye, and three full days in Fort William. Our family of 5 (two teenage boys and a preteen boy) loves to hike, and we don't mind weather too much. What hikes do you recommend in Skye and the Fort William area? Also, what are other fun activities, or off-the-beaten-path fun that you recommend? We want to visit Loch Ness while in Fort William because it seems like a bucket list thing to do. So I was thinking kayaking or a boat tour of Loch Ness, or a hike around it? We have a car so we can drive to wherever we need to go. I also hope to visit the sheep dogs from Rick Steve's video on the highlands. Thank you for your help! We are very excited about this trip but I am having major FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) that I will somehow accidentally skip something amazing. Last thing: My oldest LOVES sea shanties so if you have any ideas where we might hear sea shanties I will just sing your praises!
Thank You!
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8360 posts
The highest point in the UK, Ben Nevis, is just outside Fort William. My husband was going to climb it one day while we were staying there, but awoke feeling really queasy, so didn’t do it, and missed the opportunity. There is one thing … the descent needs to be done on one hikable side (not the side with cliffs!), and it’s well reported to have a compass, so that if the summit is fogged in, you go down in the right direction. It’s not Mt. Everest or anything, but any mountain needs to be respected. Climbing a High Point might be a highlight?!?
Posted by
Lake District, England
9528 posts
You can't hike around Loch Ness, either literally or in a day.
There is a walk around it, but it is an 80 mile walk, so 5 or 6 days. On the North West side especially the presence of the motor road means that you go high into the surrounding hills.
The rib boat rides run from Fort Augustus, see cruiselochness.com Due to the length of the Loch no boat trip (either those or the Jacobite ones from the Inverness end) runs the full length.
For much the same reason, but also that the Loch is more of an inland sea, kayaking is probably not the most effective use of time. The Loch is sufficiently dangerous that the RNLI have a lifeboat station on the Loch.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1391 posts
The Ben.Nevis Inn and the pub/ hotel at arisaig might be worth checking out.
Both are very nice , for an.off best thing Carlotters Eyrie is only about an hour from arisag.You are likely to have the entire bay to yourselves.
You could walk back to Fort William Corrour station.
Corrour is a bucket list type spot, excellent food at thevstatiin house
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1964 posts
We followed the roadtrip from this blog. It was very helpful because we saw many of the major sites in an orderly fashion and without backtracking. You don't have to follow it exactly if you don't want to, but you can use it as a guide to decide where you to want to go and where to hike on Skye. A lot of people do the hike at the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, The Fairy Glen, and the Fairy Pools. The Fairy Pools are one of our favorites. An easy walk and spectacular scenery. You can also take a nice walk to the Duntulm Castle ruins. We didn't walk all the way because we were short on time but I wish we had more time to make it all the way to the ruins.
I also recommend visiting the ruins of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. This gives you the opportunity to see Loch Ness and visit the ruins. As you can see, I love castle ruins! It's a great scenic location.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2635 posts
If you haven't already found it, the Walk Highlands website is the walker's bible. It has lots of ideas of walks in both Skye and Fort William area and gives a grading of how easy/difficult a walk is as well as underfoot conditions. There is a good map marking the route. Clicking on profile also gives a descriprtion and photos.
Posted by
Oregon
378 posts
For the sheep dog demonstration, you need to email them from this website: https://workingsheepdogs.uk Give them your dates. They are holding demonstrations at 5pm one day and 6pm the other day I'm there. He may add a 12pm demonstration if there's enough interest.
Posted by
26 posts
You all will have a great time!
I highly recommend the hike to Steall Falls in Glen Nevis, just outside of Fort William. The short drive is gorgeous and so is the hike.
The falls are beautiful.
On YouTube, look up the cable rope bridge that crosses the river near the foot of the falls. I bet your boys would love the challenge and the bragging rights afterward. And if not, it’s still a gorgeous, worthwhile hike that takes no more than a couple of hours total.
Posted by
26 posts
PS: If you go to Steall Falls, I'd recommend starting at the trailhead where the paved road ends. There's a parking lot there at the dead end. There is one more trailhead before you get there, but I suggest you keep going to the last parking lot.
Posted by
9 posts
On Skye, you might want to go to Sligachan (Intersection of A87 and A863). At the Collie & MacKenzie Statue there is a trail head. We walked out about an hour or more and then came back. We know the trail went further but we were more interested in a short hike. On this trail you totally get away from people. It is very quiet and pretty. Just be careful of what we can 'no-see-ums. The Scottish call midges. They can be feisty.
On the northern end of Skye, there is The Quiraing. It is a nature preserve. Very beautiful area. There are hiking trails there also.