Fort William

[LesleyA]

Hi can anybody tell me what Fort William is like? Considering moving there with 2 teenage girls from a sunny climate. Schools? Things to do, people. Business?

I live in Scotland and we often drive through when heading north. Now someone who lives there may be along but while the setting is just beautiful, the high street seems to be struggling. It will depend on what you want from a community I suppose. What’s attracted you to FW?

Not somewhere I would consider, especially with teens
As PP said, what attracted you to there to help us give a bit more advice.

Unless there's a specific reason it's not somewhere I would choose, and I'm originally from there!

@Cakestandkitchen
Show me a High St not struggling

The town is grim, but the area around it is absolutely stunning. Why Fort William?

Absolutely stunning area and touristy in summer and again during ski season but it's small, you're a good drive to any large cities with a big choice of shops etc and it's not without its problems like anywhere else. Property isn't that plentiful to buy or rent and its fairly expensive.

P.s cousins grew up near by and as teens drank heavily and got into drugs because unless they were into outdoor activities there wasn't much for younger people locally. Its an area close to my heart that I spend a lot of time in, and almost ending up moving to myself with DP but there's a huge difference in being regular visitors and living there permanently

It is a long long way from anywhere imo.

Other than climb Ben Nevis not a lot to do. High Street dull and depressed. Surrounding country side stunning.

[quote SBTLove]@Cakestandkitchen
Show me a High St not struggling[/quote]
Agreed however, last time I was in FW, most units were empty or closed. We tried mid afternoon to get something to eat and wanted something beyond a subway, ie a proper meal. Couldn’t get anything as everything was closed and not opening to 6 pm. I’d have thought, for such a tourist destination ,that restaurants or at least pubs doing food all day would have been open.

It rains...a lot. Beautiful for a holiday but I wouldn’t want to live there unless you are very keen on outdoor sports - walking, climbing, skiing, fishing...

Fort William is very wet. And in the winter it can feel dark all day long. It is very run down feeling at the moment but it seems to go in cycles. However, it doesn’t seem to be recovering from the most recent dip any time soon. And dear god the midges in the summer.

That said, it is in the middle of the most wonderful scenery and if you are outdoorsy people, it would be an amazing place to live. Bizarrely good transport links to the south with the Sleeper to London and trains to Glasgow. An M&S simply food (I was rejoicing when that opened) and some of the most glorious beaches a shortish drive away.

However, if I was looking for an outdoorsy lifestyle in the Scottish Highlands I’d be looking more at the Aviemore area. All the same benefits (except it’s just a petrol station-sized M&S 🤣) with less of the downsides.

Why do you want to move there? Genuine question.