Fort William

Fort William needs 2 days: climbing Ben Nevis, Great Britain's highest peak, on one, and riding the Jacobite steam train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct -the same one featured as the «Hogwarts Express» in Harry Potter- on the other. May-September is best, with more daylight hours for the Ben Nevis hike. It's mid-priced by British standards. It's the self-proclaimed «Outdoor Capital» of the UK, a classic starting point for Highlands hiking and mountaineering, and home to one of the most photographed railway routes in the world.