Days out from Fort William with kids

[walkoflifewoohoo]

Hi, looking for recommendations of days out or things to do in and around Fort William.

Staying 3 nights in august and want to see the train pass over Glenfinnan viaduct (Potter fans) but otherwise we've nothing planned.

Kids are 7 and 9. Thanks

Is the cable car still running? Mine enjoyed that but the restaurant at the top was rubbish (about 14 years ago now right enough), it was a freezing cold Easter when we were there but had a wee wander and some snacks at the top then headed down again.

From the viaduct carry on passed Arisaig and visit camusdarach beach if the weather is good. White sand, dunes and turquoise sea. It is so beautiful.

My DC liked the locks on the canal at Neptune's staircase, and the cable car.

We're going there this summer too, will watch this thread for tips. We went to the Highlands last year also and Loch Ness was a big hit, although we were on the other side of it.

camusdarach beach sounds lovely. Is there parking nearby? We will have all of our beach gear with us and hoping for good weather!

Mine climbed Ben Nevis at that age (we were big hikers though). There was a hydro electric project that was interesting and we went ice climbing (indoors)

www.nevisrange.co.uk/. This is the cable car we went up with young children years ago. It seems to be open.

Thank you. The cable car is more likely, no way on earth would I get up Ben Nevis

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness is only an hour's drive from Fort William...plenty of space for kids to clamber around and used to have a decent cafe in the visitor centre: www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/

I grew up rund there and took the family on hols last year. Get there early for the steam train, the car park is tiny.

We also walked up glen nevis rather than the Ben. It's a gentle walk. Again though parking gets busy.

At Glencoe ski centre they have tubing, not sure if nevis range do the same. That was lots of fun.

There are lovely beaches near Mallaig which aren't too far to drive to.
Or the boat trip out to see the seal colony from fort William is also good.

Fantastic @blackteaplease

I was just looking at the boat trip and steall falls too.

Do you know if the steam train passes at the same time each day? I suppose if we parked up around 45 minutes before that might be ok? Or earlier than that do you think?

My kids loved hiking to Steall Falls (can be reached from Glen Nevis car park). If the are Harry Potter fans, Steall Falls was a filming location in Goblet of Fire.

As others have said Neptune’s Staircase was also a highlight.

Slightly further afield we went to the Seal Sanctuary near Oban, was a beautiful drive too. And we went up to Mallaig (where the Harry Potter train ends) and took a boat trip where we saw dolphins.

[quote AZisgreat]Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness is only an hour's drive from Fort William...plenty of space for kids to clamber around and used to have a decent cafe in the visitor centre: www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/[/quote]
That's where we went when we went to Loch Ness, I didn't realise it was only an hour away. We had such a great time there, it was beautiful and a fun adventure for the kids.

Fort William is my kid’s favourite ever holiday. They are always asking to go back

Good to hear @FTB21

Eilean Donan Castle was stunning. Its about 1.5 hours from Fort William - you could then also pop over to Syke for a visit.

What kind of things do you and the kids enjoy ?

Why not go on the train rather than just see it ? It is pretty expensive.

The seal sanctuary has closed down. It was on my to do list as I have fond memories of day trips there as child.

@walkoflifewoohoo I think the train is at the same time every day. The timetable is on the train website but there is also a website dedicated to spotting the train that has details. I'll see if I can dig it out.

www.connormollison.co.uk/how-to-photograph-the-glenfinnan-viaduct/

@walkoflifewoohoo the car park at camusdarach beach is small and there is a few minutes walk through the dunes but it's definitely worth it.

As @TheNameTheWebsiteForgot says going on the train is good. We did the route on a Scotrail train to Mallaig rather than the Jacobite, it obviously wasn't steam, but follows same route and goes over the viaduct.

That’s so sad the seal sanctuary has closed down. It was so beautiful there!

Thank you. That link is handy.

I asked if they wanted to go on the train, the Jacobite is about 2 hours each way and they didn't fancy it so watching it pass over the viaduct will do (and it's cheaper)

A second car park has been built in Glenfinnan.

www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/3077068/full-steam-ahead-improvements-at-glenfinnan-will-ease-parking-pressure-as-harry-potter-train-gets-back-on-track/

I love this area

Personal recommendations are the canal at Corpach, watching the train at the viaduct is amazing, but also good views of it at Arisaig station - but big fave is the silver sands of Morar - a beach just south of morar which itself is just south of mallaig. Google it - amazing beach! If you’ve ever watched the film Local Hero, it was filmed here.

Oban is also well worth a trip.

And sorry - glen entive near glencoe - where skyfall was filmed (the bit at the end of the film). The whole of the glencoe area is stunning though.

Oh, a new car park! Won't worry too much then although we will still arrive early.

Googling all the suggestions now!