Written by Graham Smith, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Karen Price
28/08/2025
Clément Proust, Pexels
Fort William serves as a key transport hub in the West Highlands of Scotland, featuring a central railway station and a bus terminus. The town's bus station is currently located on MacFarlane Way, adjacent to the railway station, although there are ongoing plans to potentially relocate it to Nevis Terrace to enhance access and infrastructure.
By Train:
From Glasgow: Direct ScotRail services connect Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William, with journeys typically lasting between 3 hours 43 minutes and 3 hours 52 minutes. Fares can start from approximately £22 (around $28 USD) when booked in advance.
From London: The Caledonian Sleeper offers an overnight train service from London Euston directly to Fort William, operating six mornings a week. This journey takes about 12 hours 40 minutes from London or just over four hours from Glasgow. Advance booking (up to 12 weeks ahead) can secure single tickets from approximately £19 (around $24 USD).
From Edinburgh: There are no direct trains. Travelers typically connect through Glasgow Queen Street. The overall journey takes approximately 5 hours 11 minutes, with tickets starting from around £35.40 (around $45 USD) when booked in advance.
From Mallaig: ScotRail provides services to Fort William in about 1 hour 22 minutes.
By Bus:
From Glasgow: Scottish Citylink operates direct services from Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station to Fort William, taking approximately 3 hours to 3 hours 11 minutes. Fares range from £16-£23 (around $20-$29 USD).
From Edinburgh: Citylink offers services to Fort William, including routes like the 913 or 978 (with a potential connection via Oban).
From Inverness: Regular Citylink services run to Fort William, with a return ticket costing around £16.20 (around $20 USD) for a journey of about 1 hour 45 minutes.
From Glasgow Airport: Direct coach services are available, especially during the summer, typically twice a day.
It is highly recommended to book bus tickets in advance, particularly during peak travel times, as services can become fully booked.
By Car:
From the South: The primary route is the A82, offering a scenic drive through the Highlands. The journey from Glasgow, covering 108-167 miles (174-269 km), takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours without stops.
From the North: Taking the A82 south from Inverness typically takes about 2.5 hours.
From the East: From Perth, one can take the A9, then the A86 at Dalwhinnie, joining the A82 at Spean Bridge.
Car rental services are available.
By Air:
Fort William does not have its own airport. The nearest airports are Inverness (INV), Glasgow (GLA), and Edinburgh (EDI).
Inverness Airport (INV) is about 78 miles (126 km) away. Bus transfers can take approximately 3 hours 19 minutes, costing £16-£22 (around $20-$28 USD).
Glasgow Airport (GLA) is about 98 miles (158 km) away. Bus connections take roughly 2 hours 40 minutes, with fares ranging from £16-£23 (around $20-$29 USD).
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is approximately 150 miles (241 km) away and is a common recommendation for its broader flight availability.
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