Seal Island – a Loch Linnhe Cruise and Lunch in Town
A few hours, from Fort William station and back.
The route
From Fort William's Town Pier, the catamaran Elsie takes you out on Loch Linnhe to Black Rock, the little islet locals call Seal Island, where common and grey seals lie out on the rocks.
Back on dry land, the Highland Cinema's bright restaurant on Cameron Square is a few minutes' walk away for lunch. Dogs are welcome on board.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Woodlands Glencoe, 10 miles away. Sleeps 2.
Book the Seal Island cruise with Cruise Loch Linnhe online, ideally the 10.30am sailing so you're back for lunch: it sails all year, but the winter timetable is shorter and weather can change it, and booking means they can tell you.
Book Highland Cinema Restaurant & Bar
Book a table on its website at busy times; walk-ins are welcome.
The day
Loch Linnhe
A short walk down to the pier, two hours on the loch with the seals and the mountains, then a warm lunch back in town.
About three and a half hours
Cruise Loch Linnhe
It's a 10-minute walk from the station down the High Street to the Town Pier at its far end, where Cruise Loch Linnhe's boat ties up beside the red-roofed building. By car, the West End car park is about two minutes from the pier and takes long stays. The Seal Island cruise lasts two hours. The skipper takes you out to Black Rock, between Fort William and Ardgour, where common and grey seals haul out, with a running commentary on the loch, the Great Glen and Ben Nevis. From March to November the seals are usually there, and porpoises and eagles are seen regularly, though nothing wild is promised. The boat has an indoor cabin, a raised outdoor deck and a toilet, and sells tea, coffee, shortbread and hot chocolate. Well-behaved dogs sail free. It isn't wheelchair accessible: you board by a narrow gangway that can be steep at low tide. Dress warmly for the deck.
4 min on foot
Highland Cinema Restaurant & Bar
Lunch
From the pier it's 4 minutes' walk up to Cameron Square for lunch at the Highland Cinema's restaurant, a bright room beside the community cinema with a wood-burning stove in colder weather. It serves pizzas from its oven, burgers and salads from noon, with the last food orders at 8pm. It's family and dog friendly, and booking a table on its website is advised at busy times. If it's full, Crannog is on the same square. It's 7 minutes' walk back to the station.
If it rains
The boat has an indoor cabin, so light rain is no reason to stay ashore; in a gale the skipper may not sail, and the West Highland Museum on Cameron Square, beside the lunch, is the plan instead.
Lime Tree Hotel, restaurant with an art gallery.
The Wildcat, a café in Fort William.