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First time going to fort William for world cup, can anyone recommend best place to park?
I can see there is a free carpark with a park and ride but don't want to be queuing for hours when the race is finished
Get there early ( very early ) and you may get in the car park just up the road , used to be the auction market but I think it’s got a fancy name now, just checked on Google earth, it’s now the Lochaber Rural Center
£5 for the day I think, but it’s the closest you’ll get
The £5 car park is definitely a good option. Park and Ride from the high school has also worked fine for me in the past. Big queues (make sure you join the right one) at the end of the day but there’s loads of buses so it clears quickly
We've used the free buses from town before just for simplicity. Leave the car at the accommodation and let someone else drive.
Yes there will be almighty queues afterwards but as above, there's loads of buses and I seem to remember people leaving all afternoon in an attempt to beat the rush so you won't be waiting too long.
Once you're on you're stuck in the same traffic jam as everyone else but you can sit back and enjoy the scenery.
To me it's walkable from town up the A82 cycle path then in at Torlundy and up the old ski road (MacKenzies Road).
I've done cattle auction and park-n-ride, either way it's busy getting out after the race. The cattle auction really crams cars in and there is a wait for the buses but the atmosphere is great with 10's of thousands of like minded mountain bikers.
It also helps if Shimano still give away those metal clangy cow bells!
The auction is good if your in an offgrid van and camping for the weekend.
How early are we talking about for the onsite carpark?
Go up the A9 and laggan route. Park and ride at Spean Bridge had parking in the primary school, and about 7 of us in the queue. We've done this twice and compared to the queues into FtWilliam and the bus queues, a much quieter and quicker way in.
Before that we got there early and pedaled in from the North Face car park - but I think that's now ended.
I hired an Enterprise LWB Sprinter for the weekend for 3 adults to slum in and arrived on the Friday thru to Sunday. I have had better ideas in my life.
Go up the A9 and laggan route. Park and ride at Spean Bridge had parking in the primary school, and about 7 of us in the queue. We’ve done this twice and compared to the queues into FtWilliam and the bus queues, a much quieter and quicker way in.
Duly noted, we're coming in from Dalwhinnie so that's a good idea!
We were the last car to get into the Auction House car park one year - #relieved
Do you remember what time that was at?
Just to say - the school do charge, iirc £5, but all funds to the school playground plans 😎
It's then 5 min walk to the bus, just after the co-op.
It gets busier - we just always get there before the masses.
Meh, I'm happy to pay that, IIRC it was similar in FW and at least they directly benefit. We'll be aiming to get there early, if it does fill up then no drama.
If you don’t get in Auction Mart,
DO NOT
Be tempted to park on the grass verge of the main road … cones or no cones
YOU WILL get towed away by the police
The park and ride is fine, just don't feel the need to leave right after the racing ends. Hang about, enjoy the atmosphere, have a drink or two, walk around the pits, find the stall selling off stuff they can't be arsed packing up. Queues will be far quieter then.
We always cycle up. Normally from a campsite or from the P&R car park. It's an easy cycle up and there's tons of cycle parking. At the end of the day, you just walk past the queues and hop on your bike.
Admittedly, it's more fun when it's dry and the forecast is looking a bit soggy for the weekend.
We're coming from that direction so may do that too.