This is a must when visiting Fort William. It's on the high street where the Bronze Ford is, it's…read moremuch bigger than what I expected and wish I had more time because it was fascinating. We received a lovely welcome upon arrival and guided into a great exhibit about military training, there were also bits about the bronze Ford, the old fort and even Queen Victoria and Albert and Bonnie Prince Charlie's death mask. Scottish tartan clothes and dolls and animal taxidermy and it's free to visit but donations are welcome. The gift shop is brilliant too, great books and posters and bits. Would definitely be first on my list when visiting Fort William again!

We spent a day wandering Fort William on our trip to Scotland. We had no plans when we got into…read moretown, so it was great to stumble upon this little gem. The museum is only the size of a large house, but it's jammed full of of things to look at! There's an exhibit dedicated to the old Fort William itself, a large section dedicated to the Jacobite Rebellion, as well as exhibits on military history, Highland life, and changes in the Victorian times, as well as an archaeologic exhibit. There's a fantastic coin collection, interesting displays on weaponry, and the intriguing secret portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie. I learned as much about the West Highland area in my time at this museum as during the rest of our trip in the area. Located in the walking-only part of downtown, It's run entirely by a charity, and while entrance is free, donations are welcomed and I'd highly encourage you to contribute-- they're doing good work here.

In the afternoon of Monday 15 July 2019, I ventured to the Treasures Of The Earth museum. I had…read moregone to visit Glenfinnan Viaduct and found parking to be backed up about a mile, I even measured with my rental car's odometer, and decided I wanted to do something else while I waited for it to quiet down. I was staying in Fort William, so I made my way back towards my lodging and saw signs along the road for Treasures Of The Earth, so I decided to follow them and see if it was still open. The parking lot and building were easy to find. Parking spots were available, so I parked, and made my way to the entrance. It turned out the museum was open, so I paid the fee and explored the museum. As a geologist with a specialization in mineralogy, petrology, and volcanology, I found this museum to be super neat. Different exhibits showcased different physical properties of minerals as well as the environments in which they are found. In one area, there is a fountain that had coins on the bottom when I visited. My plush, Hedgy the Hedgehog, and I made a wish to travel to Ireland at the fountain and threw our coin in. Has not happened yet, but we still have hope. At the end of my museum journey I perused the gift shop. I found a number of items to purchase both for myself and for family members back in the United States of America. Prices for some of the mineral specimens on sale were amazing. All of the workers I interacted with were well-tempered and the workers as well as other patrons while I was there were well-mannered.

If you're a Harry Potter fan, this is a must. You don't sit in closed private compartments but…read moreit's a relaxing ride to Mallaig. There you can find a cute little shop called Haggard Alley for all things Harry Potter. Not only do you go over the famous viaduct but you'll also pass the island where scenes were filmed and Dumbledore's grave. A very relaxing day trip.

Worth it. Totally worth it. Especially true if you're a Harry Potter fan as I am, but even if not,…read morethe scenery alone is majestic. There's plenty of info out there on how to book, routes, etc, so I won't go into that here. Tips I'll share: 1) book early - don't even think about trying to arrange this the night before. 2) don't do first class - while it's more comfy and usually our type of travel, we booked on one of the cars toward the back. That way you can see and video/snap pics of the front of the train as it goes over the viaduct. Makes you think lightening struck your forehead. 3) sit on the left side - if you're in the car facing to the front of the train, make sure your seat is on the left side. A much better view of the train going over the viaduct. 4) drink a beer or wine - even if it's 9:30 in the morning, which it was for us, have a brewskie...you're on vacation. 5) eat fast in Mallaig - don't spend a lot of time choosing restaurants. Pick a place the night before. When you arrive at Mallaig, run your happy bum to the restaurant you chose, order (and don't even try to get starters first then mains) and eat. You can take pics afterwards. Restaurants there are small, get slammed with each Twain's arrival, plus the local tourists who come by car. Hope this helps!

Wonderful experience and a great tour of the area with John MacKellaich, who was able to provide…read morelots of history and answer every question we posed. Booked a day trip for our first full day in Inverness, which was an ideal orientation for the area. John also recommended restaurants, offered great tips on places to go, things to do in the immediate area and other places for the remainder of our itinerary in other parts of Scotland. Tour favorites were Culloden Battlefield, the woolen mill at Elgin, the Elgin Cathedral, the ring cairn at Clava and the distillery tour at Glen Moray. Highly recommend John - we will use his services again on our next trip to Scotland.

From the owner: I provide Professional Tour Guiding services (Driver/Guiding) in Scotland and the Highlands of…read moreScotland. Being born in the Highlands and with a lifetime of experience of Scotland its people culture and history I am able to deliver a once I a lifetime experience for tourists and people searching for their roots.