Talk about picking the wrong day for a trip to Fort William! The day I went to this beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands was a severe miscalculation on my part - the strongest winds recorded in Scotland in 130 years no less! No wonder I could hardly stand up! It didn't last too long, only about half the day, and surprisingly little rain to accompany the 90+ mph gusts. It was cloudy however, so if some of the photos I took appear a wee bit grey and dull, never fear. I have resolved to return to Fort William on a better day to show the town in the light it deserves to be seen in. In the meantime, on with the trip!

Fort William is at the south-western end of the Great Glen, that huge glacial groove that cuts the highlands in half. With Inverness at the north-east end, and Loch Ness, Loch Oich and the Caledonian Canal in between, there's a lot to see in this part of Scotland. The most imposing and famous of Scottish mountains looms at the end of the glen and right over Fort William, Ben Nevis - the highest mountain in Scotland and indeed Britain. Popular with skiers and climbers, Ben Nevis is an attraction in itself and a valuable source of income for the town. It has also claimed its fair share of victims, and the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team are forever racing to the aid of injured climbers or walkers.

If you do walk up this majestic mountain, remember - be sensible and take precautions. The local Tourist Information Centre in Fort William should be able to advise you on who to contact for advice before setting off. (Telephone 01397 - 703781)

The fort of Fort William was sadly demolished in the 19th Century to make way for the railway, but it was a very significant place. A regiment of soldiers built the fort in 11 days, and it played an important part in the Massacre of Glencoe, in which the Macdonalds of Glencoe were murdered in their beds after providing two weeks food and shelter to a regiment of Campbell - controlled troops, who turned on them under orders, and broke the ancient clan code. However, a much older fort in the area does survive, Inverlochy Castle, dating from the 13th Century.

Fort William is a busy tourist-orientated town, consisting of a long thin main street with Cameron Square in the centre. The West Highland Museum is well woth a visit too, with its interesting collections from neolithic times through to the Jacobite Rebellion. Many hotels exist in Fort William, and finding a place to stay there should be no problem to the traveller. I have always liked this part of the Highlands, its landscape is very different to the north of Sutherland where I am from. Green grasses and mosses purvey the hillsides in the summer, mixing with the heather to give a lush look to the landscape.

After getting the stuffing blown out of me in Fort William, I decided to head for Glenfinnan, some 14 miles to the west, on the road to the isles. Glenfinnan is where Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) raised his standard at the head of the loch and began the final Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, which was to end in their defeat at the Battle of Culloden in April of the following year. Glenfinnan has become a very significant place in Scottish history because of this, and a monument at the head of this picturesque loch commemorates the event. There is also a good visitor centre, and it is possible to take cruises on the loch. Incidentally, the figure at the top of the monument is that of a highlander, and not of Charles as is often thought.

I also took a quick run further along the road to a spot near Arisaig, where Prince Charles Edward Stuart left Scotland after his failed exploits and returned to France. The spot is marked by The Princes' Cairn, a stone monument, and the small rocky beach he left from is right beside it.

I would highly recommend anyone to visit this part of the highlands. Fort William has a lot to offer and the road to the isles, past Glenfinnan and on to Mallaig is one of the most fulfilling routes in Scotland, taking in a wealth of history and some spectacular scenery. This was a short visit, and by no means does this small essay do Fort William justice, but it serves only to give you a taste of this beautiful part of Scotland.