Fort William sits beneath Ben Nevis, and it's the perfect base for big, dramatic days out. Glencoe is a short drive south, Glenfinnan and its viaduct are along the road to the west, and the glens and lochs around the town are full of waterfalls, walks and wildlife. It's a place for huge landscapes, whatever the weather.
Every day is worked out stop by stop, with the drive between each place, where to stop for lunch, and what to book ahead, from steam train seats to boat trips. Some are gentle, with a short walk and a café at the end; others take in a proper hill. Bring a waterproof, choose your day, and enjoy the mountains.
Your best match · In Fort WilliamThe Old Fort, the Town Pier and a pint at the Ben Nevis BarOn foot, about two and a half hours.See the day
In Fort WilliamCow Hill with the dog and lunch at the Black Isle BarOn foot, about four and a half hours
In Fort WilliamA film at the Highland Cinema and a pizza in its restaurantOn foot, about three and a half hours
In Fort WilliamBreakfast at the Wildcat and the end of the West Highland WayOn foot, about an hour and a half
In Fort WilliamThe West Highland Museum and lunch at CrannogOn foot, about three hours
In Fort WilliamA Seal Island cruise and lunch at the Highland CinemaOn foot, about three and a half hours
In Fort WilliamA walk up to Dun Deardail above Glen NevisBy car, about three and a half hours
In Fort WilliamA tour at Ben Nevis Distillery and lunch at the Larder CaféBy car, about three and a half hours
In Fort WilliamThe Old Boat of Caol and lunch at An Cafaidh MaraBy car, about two hours
In Fort WilliamTreasures of the Earth and lunch at the Highland CinemaBy car, about three hours
About 5 miles awayThe Nevis Range gondola and lunch at the Larder CaféBy car, about three and a half hours
About 5 miles awaySteall Falls and lunch at the WildcatBy car, about three and a half hours
In Fort WilliamThe Jacobite steam train to MallaigBy train and on foot, about six hours
In Fort WilliamOn the Jacobite Trail from Fort WilliamA day by car, about 41 milesMembers
In Fort WilliamA wet day in Fort William and GlencoeA day by car, about 50 miles
About 6 miles awayBen Nevis and Glen NevisA day by car, about 14 miles
About 8 miles awayA walk to Inchree Falls and Wade's Road in Glen RighBy car, about an hour, or two and a half hours with both trails
About 8 miles awayThe Commando Memorial at sunset and supper at CrannogBy car, about three hours
About 9 miles awayA walk to the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall in KinlochlevenBy car, about an hour, or up to three hours with the longer round
About 9 miles awayGlencoe Lochan and a hot chocolate at the visitor centreBy car, about two and a half hours
About 9 miles awayThe via ferrata above KinlochlevenBy car, about three and a half hours
About 9 miles awayThe Pap of Glencoe and lunch at the Clachaig InnBy car, about six hours
About 10 miles awaySegway, archery and nine holes at Woodlands GlencoeBy car, about five and a half hours
About 10 miles awayA hilltop sauna at Woodlands Glencoe and Glencoe LochanBy car, about four hours
About 10 miles awayA walk by Loch Arkaig from the Chia-aig fallsBy car, about three hours with the lochside track; half an hour for the falls alone
About 10 miles awayGlencoe Visitor Centre and tea at the Isles of GlencoeBy car, about three hours
About 11 miles awaySignal Rock and a pint in the Boots Bar at the Clachaig InnOn foot, about three hours
About 11 miles awayThe walks of GlencoeA day by car, about 12 miles
About 13 miles awayThe Road to the IslesA day by car, about 87 miles
About 13 miles awayA walk on the Glenfinnan Viaduct TrailBy car, about an hour and a half
About 13 miles awayFrom Fort William to Skye via GlenelgA day by car, about 67 miles
About 15 miles awayThe old road at Kingshouse and a pint in the Climbers BarOn foot, about two and a half hours
About 16 miles awayA walk to the Fairy Bridge in Glen CreranBy car, an hour to an hour and a half for the 4 km loop by the bridge; about an hour for the 2.2 km Pine Marten Trail
About 19 miles awayA walk through Ariundle OakwoodBy car, about an hour and a half
About 20 miles awayThe Jubilee Bridge and Castle Stalker shore walkBy car, about an hour and a half
About 22 miles awayRound the Appin Rocks to Clach Thoull at Port AppinOn foot, about three hours, with lunch
About 24 miles awayThe seals of Garbh Eilean on Loch SunartBy car, about an hour and a half
About 25 miles awayA walk up Beinn Lora above BenderlochBy car, about an hour and a half to the Eagle's Eyrie and back, 3.3 km; up to three hours with the summit
About 27 miles awayA walk to Castle Tioram and the Silver WalkBy car, about three and a half hours with the Silver Walk; an hour for the castle alone
About 27 miles awayThe Falls of Lora and lunch at the Oyster InnBy car, about two hours
About 28 miles awayA canal walk at Fort Augustus to Loch Ness and the PepperpotBy car, about an hour and 20 minutes
About 28 miles awayLoch Ness by RIB to Urquhart CastleOn foot, about three hours
About 28 miles awayThe Ocean Explorer Centre and lunch at the Beach CafeBy car, about three hours
About 28 miles awayA wet day in ObanA day by bus and on foot
About 28 miles awayThe Allt na Criche Trail walk above Fort AugustusBy car, about an hour
About 29 miles awayFollowing the Quiet Road Around Loch AweA day by car, about 40 milesMembers
About 29 miles awayAngus's Garden at Barguillean, in Glen LonanBy car, about an hour and a half
About 29 miles awayA walk up to the Cruachan Dam above Loch AweBy car, about three hours by the steep path, or four by the dam road
About 29 miles awaySt Conan's Kirk and afternoon tea at the Oban Bay HotelBy car, about three hours
About 29 miles awayCamusdarach and the Silver Sands of Morar: two beach walksBy car, about two and a half hours
About 29 miles awayThe Coalers Trail walk in Glen NantBy car, about an hour and a half
About 30 miles awayA wood-fired sauna on Ganavan Sands, ObanBy car, about two and a half hours
About 30 miles awayGanavan Sands and lunch at Cuan MorBy car, about three hours
About 30 miles awayThe Mallaig Circular Walk and Loch an NostarieBy car, about an hour, or two and a half hours with the loch
About 30 miles awayThe boat to Inverie and a pint at the Old ForgeBy boat and on foot, a full day, set by the boats you book
About 30 miles awayA Saturday night at the Chlachain Inn in MallaigBy car, about four hours
About 30 miles awayA walk to Port nam Murrach from the Rhu road end at ArisaigBy car, about an hour and a half, plus time on the beach
About 30 miles awayA walk to the cleared township of Aoineadh MorBy car, about an hour and three quarters
About 31 miles awayDunollie and Ganavan Sands with the childrenBy car, about five and a half hours
About 31 miles awayDunollie Wood, the Dog Stone and Dunollie Castle walkBy car, about an hour on foot from the station and back; less from Corran Halls
About 31 miles awayThe Dog Stone with the dog and the Oban Chocolate CompanyOn foot, about an hour and a half
About 31 miles awayA day in ObanA day on foot, about 3 miles
About 31 miles awaySunset at McCaig's Tower and supper at the Waterfront FishouseOn foot, about three hours
About 31 miles awayOban War and Peace Museum and lunch at CoastOn foot, about three hours
About 31 miles awayA Day on the Isle of LismoreA day by car, about 14 milesMembers
About 32 miles awayA walk along Loch Aline to Kinlochaline CastleBy car, about two hours
About 32 miles awayA walk to Sandaig, Gavin Maxwell's CamusfeàrnaBy car, about four hours with lunch
About 33 miles awayDuart Castle and lunch in its tearoomBy car, about three and a half hours
About 33 miles awayA walk to Invermoriston Falls and Telford's old bridgeBy car, about half an hour
About 33 miles awayRound the south of Kerrera by Gylen CastleOn foot, about five hours from Gallanach, with both crossings
About 33 miles awayWalking on KerreraA day on foot, about 8 miles
About 33 miles awayGylen Castle on Kerrera and lunch at the Oban InnOn foot, about four hours
About 34 miles awayHistoric Kilbride and lunch at the Barn at CologinBy car, about two hours
About 34 miles awayThe Annat Loop walk above Loch RannochBy car, about four hours
About 34 miles awayA walk down to Camas nan Geall on ArdnamurchanBy car, half an hour for the bay, or about two and a half hours with the shore
About 34 miles awayArmadale Castle Gardens in SleatBy car, about three hours
About 35 miles awayA tour of Torabhaig DistilleryBy car, about two hours
About 35 miles awaySleat: Armadale and the west loopA day by car, about 43 miles
About 36 miles awayA walk up Craig Varr above Kinloch RannochOn foot, about three and a half hours
About 36 miles awayThe otter hide at KylerheaBy car, about two hours
About 36 miles awayA walk to the Falls of Falloch and lunch at the Drovers InnBy car, about two hours
About 36 miles awayA walk to Leitir Fura in Kinloch ForestBy car, about three hours
About 36 miles awayA walk to the Point of SleatBy car, about four hoursNot every day out needs to be a big one. A castle and a café, a walk and lunch, a museum when it rains: one place, somewhere good to eat close by, and the time between worked out.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours with lunch.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and train and on foot, about five hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By boat and on foot, about four hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about five hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By tram and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bike, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three hours with Nardini's.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By train and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.
By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about six hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours, with lunch.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.
Days out within an hour of where you are staying, nearest first.
Our writers’ own days out, from the places they know best.

A day by car, about 26 miles.

A day by car, about 110 miles.
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A few hours by car.
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A day by car, about 58 miles.
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A day on foot, about 3 miles.
The people we have met along the way, the makers, owners and writers, on the places they love most, in their own words.

“…stroll up to The Birks of Aberfeldy from The Memorial Arch, soaking up the woods and waterfalls that once inspired Rabbie Burns.”
Zanna Wilson, artist and gallerist who runs The Watermill Gallery in Aberfeldy, Perthshire

“My absolute favourite café with the best coffee in town.”
Lorna Freytag, artist and illustrator based in Oban, with a studio overlooking Oban Bay

“The best veggie and vegan breakfast around. Epic cakes and great coffee.”
Shelley Richmond, freelance photographer and creative based in Dervaig, Isle of Mull, who publishes The Isle of Mull Journal

“The breakfasts here are incredible.”
Karen Harvey, owner of Hoos and InHoos, two homeware shops on Great Western Road in Glasgow's West End

“We particularly love doing sections of the Fife Coastal Path, especially through the East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie.”
Joy and Nick, own Airdit, a woodland treehouse stay above St Andrews, Fife

“A visit to the Falls of Foyers is a must.”
Anna Low, co-owns and runs Foyers Lodge, a small boutique hotel overlooking Loch Ness

“I’m a big fan of the Isle of Raasay Distillery.”
Katy Fennema, whisky Ambassador at the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, and runs Braemar Highland Experience with her husband Julian

“…amazing panoramas all the way up to the Old Man of Storr.”
Calum Gillies and Leonie, artist Calum Gillies and his wife Leonie run The Exchange, a gallery and coffee spot in the old telephone exchange at Clachan, Isle of Raasay

“The Nethy House Café is a regular spot for lunch or coffee.”
Sarah and Phil, run The Lazy Duck, an off-grid eco-holiday site with cabins, a bunkhouse and a campsite in Nethybridge, Cairngorms National Park

“I would definitely recommend Arthur’s seat in Holyrood Park.”
Kirsty Campbell, knitwear designer from Banchory, Deeside, behind RYVOAN, who knits in her Edinburgh studio

“…the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Fairy Pools etc are all incredible natural wonders to see.”
Jennifer Pearson, jewellery designer and founder of ÒR, two creative retail stores in Portree, Isle of Skye

“Exploring the incredible beaches of Oldshoremore, Polin, Achmelvich, Sandwood Bay all within 30-40 minutes drive, all with their unique character.”
Catherine Sinclair, textile designer behind Cove*, who also runs Kylesku Lodges on the north-west coast

“Both are incredible ruined castles on the coastal cliffs and have such interesting history alongside spectacular views.”
Laura (Fernweh), designer and maker of waxed-canvas bags and accessories at Fernweh UK, with a studio at Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen

“Leith hall, Drum Castle and Crathes Castle gardens are all personal favourites.”
Hollie Berries, sustainable florist running Hollie Berries Flower Studio and Cutting Garden in Aberdeenshire

“Blackford Hill is my very favourite spot in Edinburgh.”
Emily Hogarth, papercut artist and illustrator who lives in East Lothian and works for Edinburgh clients, including Hidden Scotland's folklore illustrations

“…head down to the Harbour for Lobster & chips at either ‘The Rocketeer’ or ‘The Lobster Shack’.”
Stephanie Lothian, co-owns The Barn at Williamstone Farm Steadings, a holiday cottage in North Berwick
Two days and more: the days joined up, with somewhere to sleep between.








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Every day out has a Customise button: give it your own name and date, say where you are staying, move or drop a stop, and keep it in your account to share with whoever is coming.