What is the largest town in the Highlands of Scotland?

Fort William is the second largest settlement in the Highlands of Scotland with around 10,000 inhabitants and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.

Fort William is a major tourist centre, with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the east and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles. It is a centre for hillwalking and climbing due to its proximity to Ben Nevis and many other Munro mountains. It is also known for its nearby downhill mountain bike track. It is the start/end of both the West Highland Way (Milngavie–Fort William) and the Great Glen Way (a walk/cycle way Fort William–Inverness).

Historically, this area of Lochaber was strongly Clan Cameron country, and there were a number of mainly Cameron settlements in the area (such as Blarmacfoldach). Before the building of the fort, Inverlochy was the main settlement in the area and was also where two battles took place, the first Battle of Inverlochy in 1431 and the second Battle of Inverlochy in 1645.

The town grew in size as a settlement when the fort was constructed to control the population after Oliver Cromwell's invasion during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and then to suppress the Jacobite uprisings of the 18th century.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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72 Comments

Ian Smith

the question was town not city

Peter Middlehurst

Chrissie, Nairn had a population of 10,020 in 2016. Fort William's population was 10,459 in 2011. Very close.

Peter Middlehurst

Iancompat, the Highlands stretch right up to the north coast of Scotland. Wick is on the East Coast, a few miles south of John O'Groats.

Chrissie

I think Nairn might actually be the largest town in Highland, but it wasn't on the answer list.

Chrissie

Iancompat, Wick is on the north coast of Scotland, and is within the Highland Council area. Question should really have stated Council area, rather than "the Highlands".

Iancompat

It matters not between town and city. For starters, Wick is NOT in the Highlands of Scotland, it's on the East Coast nowhere near the Highlands! Similar to Inverness which wasn't an option but some people mentioned it. Nor is Aviemore in the Highlands, it's in the Cairngorms which are not a part of the Highlands. The Highlands are strictly in the Northwest corner of Scotland, nowhere else!

Iancompat

Steve Kemp, But it's not in the Highlands!

Iancompat

Ted E. Schutzbank, and all. Well lets face it, Inverness doesn't even come into it as a town or a city, IT'S NOT in the Highlands of Scotland! Like Wick it's on the East Coast which doesnit class as being in the Highlands. Neither is Aviemore, that's in the Cairngorms! If you're going to ask questions on Scotland, get your geography facts right first!