Traincation to Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper

Caledonian Sleeper

I came across an interesting finding recently: “Global Cool, a green lifestyle organisation, reports that over half of all holidaymakers are considering swapping air travel for train travel, with holidaymakers tired of the time wasted waiting and queuing in airports ahead of departure. ATOC, the Association of Train Operating Companies in the UK published a report that saw that in 2010, 27% of people travelling from London to Edinburgh opted to go by train compared with 17% in 2006. “ Lochaber, as with the West Highlands as a whole, is in a bit of a transport black spot mainly due to lack of investment in road infrastructure, but one means of getting here often overlooked as an alternative to driving … Read more

2011 SPEA FIM Fort William World Trials

SPEA FIM World Trial

I was weaned on two stroke oil and so have an affinity with the sickly sweet scent in the air associated with Motorbike trials. Any normal human can’t fail to be impressed with what these guys can do with these amazing looking machines. And if you’re not, everyone likes seeing folk fall over so there’s inevitably some of that too. Luckily, we have two trials events in Lochaber these days; the Scottish Six Days Trials – an ancient and massively popular week long event that sees motorcycle aficionados flock from all over (we are mid-trial as I write!). There is also the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship stage which came here first in 2010 and makes a return this year. … Read more

Things to do when it’s sunny part I – Pubs

Camusdarach beach

Aye, you might laugh and to be fair it doesn’t happy all that often, but weeks of wall to wall sunshine are not unheard of at this time of year (April through June) in Fort William and Lochaber.  Come any later though and after a week you may risk returning home looking like a prune. To celebrate our charming, inconveniently early summers we’ve put together a series of things to do that make the most of the sunshine. Hopefully there’s a little something here for everyone, whatever your ideal fair weather pastimes are. Installment one is… Pubs, Bars and Cafés Crisp up like a rasher of bacon under the sun, gently basting yourself in real ale at a selection of … Read more