Plan your trip

GETTING THERE

Plan well in advance and there’s no more civilised way to travel from the south east than on the Caledonian Sleeper train, running for 12h 42m between Euston and Fort William from £165 per person, each way.

Shiel Buses’ N42 service runs between Fort William and the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel between 13th May and 13th October, from where you can get on the Pony Track. www.shielbuses.co.uk/route-n42 It’s a six-hour drive from Leeds, eight from the midlands, nine-anda-bit from London.

WHERE TO STAY

There are over 100 places to stay in Fort William, from the £17-a-night Chase the Wild Goose

Hostel ( www.great-glen-hostel.com) to the £500+-a-night Inverlochy

Castle Hotel ( www.inverlochy castlehotel.com). £26 will get you a dormitory bed in the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel ( www.hostellingscotland.org.uk), £110 a double room at Achintee

Farm, right at the start of the Pony Track ( www.achinteefarm.com). More on all the options at www.visitscotland.com

WHERE TO EAT

They are too numerous to list, but must-visits include the lively walkers’ favourite the Ben Nevis

Inn at the foot of the Pony Track ( www.ben-nevis-inn.co.uk), the Grog & Gruel burger-andquesadilla-type bar in town ( www.grogandgruel.co.uk/), the family-friendly bistro-bar-ina-gear-shop Cobbs at Nevisport ( www.cobbs-at-nevisport.co.uk/) and the loch-side seafood Mecca of Crannog Seafood Restaurant ( www.crannog.net).

MORE INFORMATION Weather: Mountain Weather Information Service www.mwis.org. uk/scottish-forecast/WH/ Local info: visitfortwilliam.co.uk Tourist info: (01397) 701801/ FortWilliamTIC@visitscotland.com