Once built as an English garrison to police the unruly Highlands, Fort William, or An Gearasdan (the Garrison) as the Gaels call it, is the biggest town in the West Highlands and only three minutes' drive from Valley House. It is well provided with outdoor, woollen and craft shops as well as all the usual services, and enjoys excellent rail and road communications.

Places to visit include the remains of the old fort down by the loch and the West Highland Museum in Cameron Square, where you can view its Jacobite exhibits as well as fine collections of tartans and costume, natural history and archaeology. Why not enjoy a boat trip down Loch Linnhe from the town’s pier, or take in a game of shinty (the Highlands' “national” game) at An Aird?

The town boasts two Indian restaurants, a Chinese restaurant, the Crannog seafood restaurant on the town's pier, fish and chip shops and a variety of pubs offering good food, good drink and live music.

As Outdoor Capital of the UK Fort William also has a lot for the more energetic, including white water rafting, canoeing, golf, fishing, climbing, sailing, hill-walking, mountain biking, swimming, skiing and boarding.

Its central location means Fort William is the ideal centre for touring the West Highlands, with Glencoe, Oban, Mallaig and the Small Isles, Inverness and Skye all within easy reach by car.