Fort William

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The Nevis Range

Seven miles northeast of Fort William by the A82, on the slopes of Aonach Mhòr, one of the high mountains abutting Ben Nevis, the Nevis Range (tel 01397/705825, www.nevis-range.co.uk) is, in winter, Scotland's highest ski area. All year round, however, Highland County bus #41 runs from Fort William four times a day (June-Oct) to the base station of the country's only gondola system (July & Aug daily 9.30am-6pm, Thurs & Fri until 8.30pm; Sept to mid-Nov & mid-Dec to June daily 10am-5pm; £6.90 return). The one-and-a-half mile gondola trip (15min), rising 2000ft, gives an easy approach to some high-level walking as well as spectacular views from the terrace of the self-service restaurant at the top station. Active Highs (tel 01397/712188, www.active-highs.co.uk) offer dual paragliding flights off the mountain, while Britain's only championship-grade downhill mountain-bike course, a hair-raising 3-km route, starts at the gondola top station. There's also 25 miles of waymarked off-road bike routes on the mountainside and in the Leanachan Forest, ranging from gentle paths to cross-country scrambles. Off Beat Bikes (tel 01397/704008, www.offbeatbikes.co.uk) rent general mountain bikes as well as full-suspension bikes for the downhill course from their shops in Fort William and at the gondola base station (June-Sept).