You do not need a car in Glasgow or Edinburgh but the rest of the time a car would be a positve advatage,you could hire a car when you leave glagow and return it to Edinburgh,or you could return it to glasgow,both cities are only 45 minutes apart by train.

this link will give you lts of help and has a special section on maps and route planning.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g186485-c20598/Scotla…

The Lime Tree Guest House and Restaurant in Fort William has had an excellent review in the national press and looks great:

www.limetreefortwilliam.co.uk/index.htm

You could also check out the reviews on Tripadvisor to help narrow down your search for accommodation. The advice about not having a car in either Edinburgh or Glasgow is very sound, but a car is the best way to go when exploring the highlands, so you could pick one up for that part of the journey. If you do not wish to drive a car with manual gears, then you should be able to specify an automatic shift if you book in good time.

Have fun!

You can do it by train but I would also advise a car. Not only for convenience but also as some of the nicest scenery is only accessible by driving there

We have rented a car--will post our success with that on our return. Thanks for the advice.

A good day trip from Fort William is the Road to the Isles, to Mallaig. Buy OS 1:50000 map sheet and explore the side roads, and lovely beaches en route around Morar. If you get to Mallaig by 10.00 a day trip across the bay (foot passengers only) to Knoydart would be great. Check www.knoydart-ferry.co.uk.

I know another person mentioned the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig, but there is another Road to the Isles which is less well known, but beautiful, Drive up from Fort William to Invergarry (around 30 miles) and turn off for the Kyle of Lochalsh, this is the Town across from Skye and where the Syke Road Bridge is, the Scenery is out of this world, there are mountains, waterfalls, lochs and many stopping points along the way, to admire the views, also, around half way there is Eilean Donan Castle out on the loch, this was the castle in the Highlander films and to see it at sunset is magical, a really beautiful journey, and of course you can also go across the Bridge onto Skye and drive through, we set off from Invergarry at around 10 am and drove all the way to Dunvegan Castle on Skye and back again in around 10 hours! so would take around 10 half hours including lunch breaks from Fort William.

Much recommended for the scenery.