Mayfield B&B - the area

Torlundy enjoys a truly enviable position within the Scottish Highlands. Sitting at the foot of Ben Nevis, it enjoys spectacular mountain views in all directions. We're just a few miles from the town of Fort William, giving you access to all the shops and services you'd expect in a major town. Mayfield is also very well located to give you easy access, within a day trip, to a large part of the Highlands. Below are a few ideas of things to do during your holiday.

About a mile to the NE of Torlundy, just off the A82, is the Aonach Mor Gondola Station. From here you can travel effortlessly up the slopes of Aonach Mor to enjoy some of Scotland's best skiing in the winter, or the walking and spectacular scenery in the summer.

The start of the North Face path up Britain's highest peak, at over 4000ft, is just 1/2 a mile from Mayfield. The guide books recommend that you leave 7 hours to climb and descend the mountain.

Completed in 1822 by Thomas Telford, this canal system links the various lochs of Glen Mor (the Great Glen) to form a route (which is still navigable today) from West Coast to East Coast, starting in Fort William and ending in Inverness. Watch the boats navigate the Locks at Gairlochy and Neptune's Staircase, or enjoy a leisurely walk along a section of the tow path.

About 7 miles from Torlundy, just to the NE of Spean Bridge travelling on the A82, you will find the Commando Memorial. Sculpted in bronze, the three Second World War soldiers, whose story is told in the nearby museum, survey their training area to the West. The views from the memorial are breathtaking.

A short distance to the SW of Torlundy is the Town of Fort William. Once a garrison town built to subdue the rebellious Highlanders (parts of the old Fort wall remain), it is now a busy service town for the Western Highlands. As well as the usual shops and services you would expect, the town is well serviced by outdoor shops, woollen and craft shops and restaurants. The West Highland Museum offers a fascinating insight into the history of the area, and the Crannog Restaurant on the the old town pier is worth visiting if you enjoy seafood.

A short distance to the South of Mayfield you will find this beautiful Glen. A well marked track takes you through ancient Caledonian woodland to a spectacular waterfall and magnificent lush glen. The scene of much of the filming of the movie "Braveheart", this glen is well worth a visit.

Glen Nevis

Turn off the A82 at the Commando Memorial just outside Spean Bridge and head towards Gairlochy. Turn left here for a scenic back- road to Fort William, or right to Loch Arkaig where you will find the Cia-aig Waterfall. There are also several well-marked forest walks from here. Close by is the Clan Cameron Museum in the grounds of Achnacarry Castle, home of the Clan Chief.

Head north from Torlundy until you reach the village of Spean Bridge, then leave the village to the East on the A86 and travel up Glen Spean towards Roy Bridge. From here you can follow the narrow road to the Glen Roy Nature Reserve which reaches a spectacular viewpoint from where the "Parallel Roads" of the Glen can be seen. These roads run in perfectly parallel lines along opposing sides of the mountains. Legend has it that they were built by the mythical giant Fingal, the truth is that they represent the changing levels of the glacier that filled the Great Glen during the last Ice Age.

The West Highland Line is a single track railway that runs from Glasgow to Fort William and then on up to Mallaig. The train journey takes you through some of the most isolated and stunning scenery in the Highlands, and in the summertime there is a steam train running between Fort William and Mallaig. The line is ideal for day trips and hiking, and there is a convenient sleeper service that runs between London Euston and Fort William.

At the foot of the Cairngorm Mountains, this is the activity capital of the Highlands: skiing on Cairngorm, climbing, canoeing, white-water rafting, fishing, sailing, horse riding, mountain biking and many more activities can all be arranged from this centre.

The Highland capital, this picturesque city lies on the River Ness and is reached by a scenic drive along Loch Ness. The main road on the NW side of the loch will take you past the famous Urquhart Castle, and on the SE side of the loch there is a smaller road passing through some beautiful countryside. Well worth a day trip.

Mallaig is a busy fishing port reached by a magnificent drive along the Road to the Isles, and passing the Glenfinnan Monument and the brilliant white Sands of Morar.

The Glenfinnan Monument, built on the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie is thought to have landed.

A busy ferry town about 1 1/2 hours south of Torlundy. Well worth a visit.

A visit to the famous "misty isle" is a must if you're in the highlands. It can be reached by car ferry from Mallaig or Glenelg or by bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh.