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Thinking about heading up to Fort William for a week in early January. Just a bit of mooching around and low level walking.
Driving up from the Midlands in a rear wheel drive car without winter tyres, having never been up in the winter before. Am I asking for trouble?
As long as there isnt heavy snow then they'll allow you to drive through. Theres snow gates at bridge of Orchy, and if its deep snow ahead you can find them shut to all through traffic.
Taht said, they do work hard to keep the A82 open as its the main trunk route
As pointed out, depending on snowfall you should be ok. If there's snow laying its worth reconsideration. It can be a pretty place even at that time of yoear but its a gamble & the hours of daylight are short. Take a good paperback & enough beer tokens to get you through.
Fort William resident here there's unlikely to be enough snow to close the road but it could happen. Even then you can turn left at Tyndrum and come to Fort William via the coast road. Just keep an eye on the local weather forecast. If you get some cold bright days the whole area can be stunning, if it's persisting down with rain...it can be very quiet and relaxing
Thing is, if you're not doing something fort-william-specific- not using the gondola or doing the biking- then why there in particular? It's a wee bit of a shithole otherwise, you pretty much go there because you have a reason. Plus if there's good snow at nevis it'll be busy. Lots of nicer places to stay in the highlands. Though it does have the advantage of sea and mountains.
Snow is a big random factor and tbh will be wherever you go at that time of year, but, on the plus side glencoe/rannoch can be absolutely stunning if the weather gets it right. Some of the best drives I've ever done have been up there in bum-twitching conditions, albeit always with winter tyres on. Like, this is just from the roadside on the way back from a race at kinlochleven, I had to stop about every 2 miles and take more photos
I agree with Northwood. If you're not heading to something specific, I don't find Fort William the most inspiring of towns....
Aviemore will also be full of skiers, but there's plenty of other nice towns & villages further north or south.
You're unlikely to have major issues on the roads, chances are it will be cold, so a bit icy/slippy though so just take it easy.
Plus if there’s good snow at nevis it’ll be busy.
The actual car park for nevis range will be but everywhere else will still be like a ghost town in January.
But I agree with the rest of your post FW is not a destination town!
As pointed out, depending on snowfall you should be ok. If there’s snow laying its worth reconsideration. It can be a pretty place even at that time of yoear but its a gamble & the hours of daylight are short. Take a good paperback & enough beer tokens to get you through.
Fort William resident here there’s unlikely to be enough snow to close the road but it could happen. Even then you can turn left at Tyndrum and come to Fort William via the coast road. Just keep an eye on the local weather forecast. If you get some cold bright days the whole area can be stunning, if it’s persisting down with rain…it can be very quiet and relaxing
Book and chill is pretty much the idea. Good tip on the alternative route, I think I’ve always just gone straight through Glen Coe.
Thing is, if you’re not doing something fort-william-specific- not using the gondola or doing the biking- then why there in particular? It’s a wee bit of a shithole otherwise, you pretty much go there because you have a reason. Plus if there’s good snow at nevis it’ll be busy. Lots of nicer places to stay in the highlands. Though it does have the advantage of sea and mountains.
I have some good accommodation I like, plus there’s convenient reliable rapid charging for the car. Given its position, it’s a good base.
I guess the gist is, book cancelable accommodation 😀
Odd place to go in the winter if not for skiing/ boarding
<br />Maybe head further up the west coast for better / more interesting scenery?
I live 15 miles away. I’ve got a Hyundai i10. You’ll be fine unless the weather is bad everywhere!
Odd place to go in the winter if not for skiing/ boarding
with regard to West Highlands, I've always considered it one of the best places to base yourselves if you're into winter walking, mountaineering, climbing, munro bagging. Lots of stuff to do locally, pretty central for a few other key ranges, if you're coming from the south the road to it is good and reasonably fast. We usually based ourselves in FW, Glencoe or Dornie depending on what we had planned.
It’s a wee bit of a shithole otherwise
Northwind is James Cleverly.
@ bensales If you do end up diverting that way add at least an hour on to your travelling time
Thing is, if you’re not doing something fort-william-specific- not using the gondola or doing the biking- then why there in particular? It’s a wee bit of a shithole otherwise, you pretty much go there because you have a reason.
This 👆