Fort William
Fort William An Gearasdan | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
| |||
County | |||
Inverness-shire | |||
Highway Authority | |||
Highland | |||
Forward Destination on | |||
A82, A830 | |||
Next Primary Destinations | |||
Crianlarich • Inverness • Mallaig • Oban | |||
Other Nearby Primary Destinations | |||
Kyle | |||
Places related to the A82 | |||
Glasgow • Crianlarich • Inverness • Tyndrum • Dumbarton • Clydebank • Spean Bridge • Drumnadrochit • Fort Augustus • Invermoriston • Tarbet | |||
Places related to the A830 | |||
Fort William, commonly known as 'The Fort' is a Primary Destination due to it being the largest settlement on the West Coast of Scotland, with a population of approximately 11,000. Indeed, it is the largest town of any sort in the Highland Council Region, excluding only the city of Inverness. The town lies in the shadow of the highest mountain in the British Isles - Ben Nevis - and grew up around a series of military forts. The development of heavy industry - the Aluminium Smelter and Paper Mill - in the 20th Century reinvigorated the town, but to many it is a grey and depressing place of empty shops and heavy rain. Tourism is nevertheless an important part of the local economy, with Lochaber branded as 'The Outdoor Capital of the UK'.
The only classified road in the actual town is the A82, which runs along the lochside bypass built partially on the old line of the railway. There are other classified roads in the 'suburbs' of Caol and Corpach to the north. The junction with the A82 and the A830, where the latter turns off to Mallaig is actually about 2 miles north of the Town Centre, and on the edge of the urban area. This then leads to the B8006 and B8004 before leaving the town behind. Further north, the A86 heads east from Spean Bridge to Newtonmore and the A87 heads west from Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh. To the south, the A828 to Oban turns off just past the Ballachulish Bridge.
Across the loch from the town, the A861 follows the waters edge from Kinlocheil on the A830 to the Corran Ferry at Ardgour, and then on around the Ardnamurchan area before returning to the A830 at Lochailort towards Mallaig. The only direct link from the route into Fort William is a passenger ferry from Camusnagaul to the town pier.
Routes
Route | To | Notes |
Crianlarich, Glasgow | also leads to the A828 for Oban | |
Inverness | also leads to the A86 for Newtonmore and the A87 for the Isle of Skye | |
Mallaig | This is the tourist route - The Road to the Isles | |
Gairlochy | Access via A830 |
Named Junctions
Several junctions in the Fort William area have names, and are listed below.
Image | Name | Classified Road(s) | Grid Reference | More Info | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
An Aird Roundabout | A82, Unclassified | Potential for greater things if waterfront development and/or Caol Link Road ever happen! | |||
Belford Road Junction | A82, Middle Street | Complex limited access junction at end of D2 | |||
Inverlochy Roundabout | A82, Earl of Inverness Road | Transformed in April 2016 from a signalised junction. Blamed for traffic problems ever since. | |||
Lochy Bridge | A82, A830 | Works better as Mini-roundabout than previous incarnation with Traffic Lights. Most traffic A82(S) - A830. | |||
Nevis Bridge | A82, Glen Nevis | Small roundabout, constricted by proximity of properties and narrow bridge. | |||
West End Roundabout | A82, Lundavra Road, Middle Street |