Fort William Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Fort William

The High Street is the heart of Fort William. Pedestrianized in the 1990s, this is a prime shopping venue of the town featuring a good number of boutiques and specialty shops, including the ones selling outdoors gear much needed in this area. Tourists looking for local gifts should check out The House of Scotland, The Granite House, or The Whisky Shop.

The West Highland Museum, in the centre of Fort William, tells the story of the mountainous West Highlands of Scotland and its people. It has seven rooms on three floors, with an extensive collection of exhibits relating to the Jacobites, including the eighteenth century "secret portrait" of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Later royalty is represented by a collection of Victoriana, including the Highland regalia gifted by Queen Victoria to her favourite servant, John Brown.

The museum aims to cover every aspect of West Highland history, with other exhibits for archaeology, wildlife, Highland life, and military history including the history of Fort William itself. The Rough Guide describes the museum as "splendidly idiosyncratic". The museum was founded in 1922 by Victor Hodgson and has always been independent. It is a member of Museums Galleries Scotland.

Located near Parade Road, St Andrew's Church is another prominent building. The original church was founded on this site by the Countess of Rosse in 1817 and it was known as Rosse Chapel. In the nineteenth century the building was replaced by George Baynton Davey. St Andrew's Church has an Abriachan granite façade and a roof of Cumberland slate. Its consecration took place on 9 Sept 1880. Famous as the "Queen of Highland Churches," the building is a Category A listed building.

Duncansburgh Church is situated in the heart of the town, near the Alexandra Hotel. This religious building, which dates to 1881, is another prominent landmark of Fort William. The church houses an impressive tower, large window, and stained glass from the 1880s.

Beside Duncansburgh Church and the Alexandra Hotel you will find the town’s War Memorial. The memorial is a single statue of a soldier that stands on a paved area surrounded by linked chains. It commemorates all the men of Fort William and the surrounding area who sacrificed their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

Just across the path from the Fort William War Memorial you will see a bronze statue on a stone. It was created by W. Birnie Rhind in 1909 and depicts Donald Cameron of Lochiel, the nineteenth chief of Clan Cameron, who played a central role in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745.

Fort William Library is located in the center of Fort William on High Street. Here you can find a wealth of interesting and useful information about Fort William, its past and its intriguing environs. The library is closed on Sundays.

Old Fort William is located near the roundabout and is, of course, one of the most prominent attractions. The fort was founded to control the inhabitants after Oliver Cromwell's invasion during the English Civil War. It was named in honor of William of Orange.