The Nevis Centre

The Nevis Centre sits right at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, and it's basically your one-stop shop for getting up Ben Nevis without doing all the legwork yourself. You can hire gear, book a guide, grab information about the various routes, and pick up supplies before heading off into the hills. There's also a café if you need caffeine before the slog.

It's genuinely useful rather than thrilling - you're not coming here for the building itself. What matters is that it cuts out the faffing about when you arrive in Fort William wanting to tackle the mountain. They sort you out with proper equipment and advice on conditions, which matters when you're dealing with Scotland's weather.

For families, it's handy but not a destination in itself. Kids who want to climb Ben Nevis need to use this as a jumping-off point, not spend hours inside. Serious walkers and climbers will appreciate the guided options and rental kit. Allow an hour or so to sort yourself out before hitting the trail.

Staying at Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park or Ben Nevis Holiday Park puts you within a mile or so, which is ideal if you're planning multiple days on the mountain. Linnhe Lochside Holidays is slightly further but still reasonable. The centre's really only worth your time if you're actually climbing Ben Nevis - otherwise you're just passing through Fort William anyway.