This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Had Skye’s Archie Millar obeyed doctor’s orders he wouldn’t have featured in the Artemis Macaulay Cup first round tie at Fort William But fortunately for the islanders he instead came off the bench to give Skye a 2-1 win Jamie Gillies and Dan MacDonald all hit the frame of the goal during a blistering opening 20-minute spell but Fort William led after 81 minutes through Lachie Shaw Ross Gordon levelled with the final hit of the game before Millar’s 95-minute winner inflicted Fort’s first defeat of the season Skye boss Kenny MacLeod said: “Archie wasn’t supposed to play He’s probably three weeks away but Ruaraidh MacLeod was a late-call-off as he’s moving house so we asked Archie to give us some minutes “It was heart-in-the-mouth stuff but when they went ahead so we pushed William MacKinnon up front and he caused chaos helping set up Ross who turned his man to level “This is the identity I want from the boys.” Archie Millar said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be back and to score the winner “The win’s a real boost for us all and we’ve now won two games on the bounce which is massive as we try to put a run together Substitutes Matthew Sloss and Joe Coyle combined with just 11 minutes remaining as Coyle skipped by a defender before sweeping the ball home to give Newtonmore a 1-0 win over Beauly More manager Peter Ross said: “We had all the first half pressure and played good shinty but their keeper Lee Dunbar was exceptional We didn’t have a bad player and Joe Coyle showed he’s that yard ahead of many players “I also thought referee Jamie MacPherson gave possibly one of the best displays I’ve seen over recent years He was very clear; he kept up with play and played advantage and there were no bookings.” Campbell Watt gave Inveraray a 40-minute lead against Glasgow Mid Argyll but a late show from the Glasgow side saw Ross Brown level on 86 minutes before John Sweeney sealed a 2-1 victory in the final minute Scott Harvey’s first half double earned Bute a 2-1 win at Col Glen but Bute held on despite having Rory McDonald red-carded 10 minutes from time The quarter-final parings are: Bute v Oban Camanachd scoring in the opening minute and then the final minute to confirm Kingussie’s 2-0 win at Caberfeidh sending them two points clear at the Mowi Premiership summit Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “Ruaridh Anderson hurt his ankle last week “We thought he’d be fine but it’s still really sore so Liam started at wing forward and played very well “His first goal came within 16 seconds so I was happy to get in 1-0 ahead at half-time “We totally dominated the second half but just couldn’t get that second goal to kill the game They came back into it in last 10 minutes when it could have gone either way so I was so glad to see Liam score right at the end.” Caberfeidh manager Garry Reid added: “I’m proud of how my players reacted after losing such an early goal.” Mowi National Division leaders Lochaber recovered from 4-2 down to beat Kilmallie 5-4 Kilmallie led through Innes Blackhall after two minutes but Findlay MacDonald levelled from the restart but Calum MacDougall’s treble had Kilmallie 4-2 ahead with half-an-hour remaining Ben Delaney’s second and Stuart Callison’s brace made it Lochaber’s day Glenurquhart beat neighbours Strathglass 5-1 Charlie MacLeod grabbed a hat-trick and Daniel MacLean and Finlay Robertson the others Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments A TERRIFIED mum told how she was thrown off a bridge by a mystery thug — days after maniacs firebombed her home as she slept Emma Lauder, 32, was ambushed as she walked to a friend’s house days after she and her ten-year-old daughter had to flee their burning home at 1am Cops probing the sinister attacks are treating the blaze as attempted murder The 32-year-old and schoolgirl Kia, 10, lost their beloved pooch in last Friday’s horror blaze which destroyed their home in Fort William and caused neighbours to be evacuated It came after what Emma claims were weeks of threats from another family including sinister text messages and the words ‘You’re dead’ scrawled on the property The disturbing incidents came just weeks after Emma lost an unborn baby amid ongoing stress The mum told last night of how she managed to escape the inferno with her daughter - despite floorboards collapsing behind her The boxing gym coach said: “The first thing that came into my mind was ‘I can’t breathe, I’m going to die’. “And then I sort of patted myself really quickly “That is when the bannisters and floorboards started coming down “I had just got down to her in time or we wouldn’t have got out together.” Emma and Kia had settled down on her new couch to watch a movie last Saturday night just hours before the fire ordeal Kia went to her bed at around 10pm and mum Emma fell asleep on the sofa before the blaze woke her just before 1am At least two thugs were spotted in the area at the time with cops appealing for help to trace them It’s feared the fire was started at the front door She added: “I could see flames covering the hall “I opened the window so I couldn’t breathe all I could see were the bright flames from the fire “I was absolutely traumatised - someone tried to kill us “My daughter has been crying the past few night’s worrying if they are going to come back “She’s worried about the safety of our family too - she thinks they’re going to die Kia went to a neighbour’s house as Emma screamed at bystanders to get her a ladder so she could try to re-enter the property to save her white collie dog Days later, the distraught gym boss “couldn’t speak properly” due to smoke inhalation and was rushed to hospital White collie Alfie didn’t survive the fire and tragically his remains are still in the burnt-out property Emma added: “I can’t believe my dog is in there dead - somebody has murdered my dog “They couldn’t save it as it was too dangerous to enter the house.” Devastatingly for Emma, she is being targeted just months after her unborn baby died five months into pregnancy And in the early hours of Wednesday - days after the fire - Emma was walking to visit a pal’s home when she was attacked and thrown from a footbridge she said: “I heard someone shouting my name and I thought it was my mate “But next thing they came running and chucked me off a bridge “It wasn’t too high but I sprained my ankle and suffered cuts and bruises “They shone a torch on me to check what condition I was in then ran off “I’ve reported it to police and was checked over by an ambulance “I’m convinced someone is out to get me and is trying to kill me.” Emma hailed the community spirit after locals rallied round and launched a fundraiser on their behalf A Good Samaritan is urging locals to help raise £7,000 for the mother and daughter who have lost everything The GoFundMe page reads: “We can only imagine the pain and suffering they must feel “They did not deserve any of this to happen to them “These events have absolutely traumatised the family Kia has lost her best friend Alfie and this is something they have to live with for the rest of their lives.” Emma last night hailed the town for their kind words and generous donations She said: “I literally don’t have anything “People have been donating stuff to me and my daughter Click HERE to donate She added: “The last few months have been absolutely horrendous “I’ve been told the house will never be lived in again and will be knocked down - everything we had is in there and it’s gone “I’ve tried to enter the house a few times to get him but have been stopped The mum and daughter are currently living with Emma’s dad until temporary accommodation is arranged Detective Inspector Andy Bilton said: “Whoever is responsible showed complete disregard for the safety of the woman and a girl who were within the property "Luckily no-one was injured however the consequences of this dangerous and reckless act could have been much more serious “If there are people in the local area with information that could assist or if you recognise the descriptions of the men given It is imperative to our investigation that anyone who saw anything suspicious or out of the ordinary Another man was wearing a dark coloured jacket Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here Nearby properties were evacuated after the fire broke out in Fort William in the early hours of Friday, April 25. Emergency services were called to the Wallace Place area at around 12.50am on Friday, April 25. The blaze was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service while a number of nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution. A woman and a girl were within the property at the time of the fire, but no one was injured as a result. Investigating officers said they believed the fire was started deliberately in a targeted attack. Detectives are examining CCTV footage from the local area and are working to identify people or vehicles seen around the time of the incident. They are looking to speak to a man wearing two-tone trousers with dark-coloured patches over the knees and a hooded top, and another man who was last seen running in Bruce Place wearing a dark coloured jacket, baseball cap and shorts. Detective inspector Andy Bilton said: “Whoever is responsible showed complete disregard for the safety of the woman and a girl who were within the property. Luckily no-one was injured however the consequences of this dangerous and reckless act could have been much more serious”. “If there are people in the local area with information that could assist or if you recognise the descriptions of the men given, please contact us. It is imperative to our investigation that anyone who saw anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, gets in touch as soon as possible.” Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0140 of Friday, April 25, 2025. STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" A fundraiser has been set up to help a Fort William couple who were the victims of a wilful fire-raising attack in the early hours of Friday morning Emma Lauder and Aiden Donnelly lost everything in the blaze including their much loved family pet Alfie who was trapped by the flames Emma and 10-year-old daughter Kai were in the house at the time but managed to escape Kinlochleven and Fort Augustus spent over five hours fighting the flames at the residential property in Wallace Place with neighbouring properties evacuated as a precaution Family friend Jodie Lesley has now set up a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/f/65p2pm-a-local-family-in-need) to help the family rebuild their lives following this devastating incident "We can only imagine the pain and suffering they must feel," said Jodie "They did not deserve this to happen to them and it has absolutely traumatised the family  As a local community and friends we would love to support this family through this hard time." Police are appealing for any information following the incident Detective Inspector Andy Bilton said: “Fortunately no one was injured but this is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.“We are asking anyone with information that could help with our investigation to get in touch especially if you saw anything suspicious.“Please also check private CCTV and dash-cam if you were driving in the area to see if anything has been captured that could assist officers.”Anyone who can help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties and will only be used  to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen You are not permitted to copy, republish, reproduce any text, photos, graphics, sounds from this website without written permission from the editor@westcoasttoday.co.uk IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines Householders in Fort William were evacuated during the night after a house was deliberately set on fire Neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution as firefighters spent seven hours battling the blaze An investigation has now been launched by police who are treating the incident as wilful SFRS were made aware of the blaze at 12.40am this morning Two hose reel jets and two main jets were in full operation as crews worked to dampen down the flames Personnel also deployed breathing apparatus with crews leaving the scene a short time ago An investigation is now underway as the force works to piece together the events leading up to the fire Officers are appealing to locals to check their dashcam and CCTV footage to assist with their inquiries and urging anyone with information to come forward Detective Inspector Andy Bilton said: “Fortunately but this is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances “We are asking anyone with information that could help with our investigation to get in touch “Please also check private CCTV and dash-cam if you were driving in the area to see if anything has been captured that could assist officers.” Steven Pollok died in an accident at the popular climbing spot at the foot of Ben Nevis. Steven Pollok died in an accident at the popular climbing spot at the foot of Ben Nevis on April 9. The 37-year-old’s death comes after a 22-year-old man died following a fall on Ben Nevis last month. Mr Pollok is survived by his wife, Sarah, and two children, Hamish and Millie. A funeral notice from Manson & Macbeath Funeral Directors on Facebook read: “Tragically, following a mountaineering accident in Glen Nevis, on Wednesday, April 9, Steven William Pollok, aged 37 years, Stirling Place, Fort William (former electrical engineer at Alvance – British Aluminium). “A loving husband to Sarah, a treasured dad to Millie and Hamish, a cherished son to Stuart and the late Christine, a caring brother to Andrew and Yvonne and brother-in-law to Lisa, Dionne and Paul, a much-loved uncle, a dear relative and a very good friend to many. In a statement on Facebook, his former employer said: “Steven served as a senior electrical engineer and, even after moving on to new opportunities, remained a valued friend and trusted voice to many of his former colleagues. “Steven brought not only expert knowledge and professionalism to his work, but also warmth, humour and genuine friendship. He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of working with him. “He wasn’t just a colleague – he was a brilliant friend, and his presence will be profoundly missed. “His loss will be deeply felt across our teams, and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. “So greatly respected. So dearly missed.” Tributes have been paid to a Fort William dad who died in a climbing accident on Glen Nevis has been described as a “respected colleague and friend” following the tragedy on Wednesday April 9 posted on Facebook: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our friend and former colleague who tragically lost his life in a climbing accident in Glen Nevis “Steven served as a senior electrical engineer at Alvance British Aluminium and remained a valued friend and trusted voice to many of his former colleagues “Steven brought not only expert knowledge and professionalism to his work “He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of working with him “He wasn’t just a colleague — he was a brilliant friend and his presence will be profoundly missed “His loss will be deeply felt across our teams and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time Mr Pollok’s funeral will be held in the Ben Nevis Hotel, Fort William People have been invited to wear something colourful A service will later be held at Inverness Crematorium on Monday April 28 at noon Dozens of people also paid their respects in the comments of a funeral notice, which was issued by Manson and MacBeath Funeral Directors on Facebook following a mountaineering accident in Glen Nevis Fort William (former Electrical Engineer at Alvance – British Aluminum) a cherished son to Stuart and the late Christine a caring brother to Andrew and Yvonne and brother-in-law to Lisa a dear relative and a very good friend to many Colleen MacLean said: “Thinking of all the Pollok family – he was such an amazing person Martyn Cameron added: “Steven was a pleasure to work alongside Others described him as a “great guy” and a “lovely man” with many offering condolences to his wife Sign up here for local news straight to your inbox. And if you’d like to join the conversation on West Coast Chat on Facebook Bomb disposal experts have removed an item of ‘unexploded ordnance’ from a river in Fort William Police were called to Claggan Road shortly before 4pm on Friday after reports a suspicious item had been discovered in the water A cordon was placed around the area as EOD experts made the journey north the Royal Navy team gathered on the banks of the River Nevis to assess the object The team entered the water and carefully removed the item which was taken away for further examination The suspected ordnance was discovered by Liam Stanbridge during a visit to his mother’s house The 40-year-old labourer from Glasgow had been enjoying a leisurely swim in the river with his niece when he came across the object Speaking to The Press and Journal, he said: “I was in the river at the back of my mums and I found what looked to be a bomb “I had bought a wet suit from the charity shop so I was just testing it out having a swim and messing about in the water – and that’s when I saw it so I didn’t want to tell her and scare her Liam says he found the capsule-shaped object which he believes could be an ‘unexploded bomb,’ lodged between two rocks He described it as a long cylinder with a silver top and copper wrapped around the tail end Liam admits he ‘rubbed it’ to get a better look at the object before contacting police In a statement, a Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed the area had been cleared They said: “At about 3.50pm on Friday we were called to a report of possible unexploded ordnance in the River Nevis “EOD was contacted and a cordon was put in place “The item was removed by EOD on Saturday are due to start drainage improvements on the A82 at Achintore Road The drainage improvements will involve culvert repairs as well as ditch clearing to improve drainage and make the trunk road more resilient against inclement weather as well as providing a safer road for road users Work starts on Monday 10 February and is expected to be completed by the morning of Monday 3 March No works will take place on Saturday or Sunday nights Works will be carried out between the hours of 8pm and 7am each night under two-way temporary traffic lights with a 10pmh convoy in place to guide traffic safely through the work site Outwith these hours traffic management will be removed said “These essential drainage works will address existing drainage issues in this area greatly improving the safety and quality of the road for motorists “We thank road users for their patience ahead of these improvements.” Real-time journey planning information can be obtained by visiting www.traffic.gov.scot or X @trafficscotland Updated 9 January 2025: Due to the impact of recent cold weather on the programme resurfacing on the A830 Fort William is now planned to start on Tuesday 14 January is undertaking improvement works to the shared use cycleway along the A830 connecting the A82/A830 Road to the Isles Roundabout Fort William to Banavie Swing Bridge from Monday 4 November The project forms part of a series of proposed improvements along the A830 in Fort William and Corpach cycling and wheeling facilities in the area fulfilling the Scottish Government’s aims of making these the most popular choice for everyday journeys The first phase of works will see upgrades at the junction between the A830 and B8006 Works will be carried out between 7am and 5pm each working day These improvements involve widening the existing shared use cycleways upgrading dropped crossing points and improving accessibility The existing traffic signals will also be upgraded with changes made to improve journey times through Fort William Improvements to the road surface and the road markings will also be carried out To ensure the safety of roadworkers and road users 24-hour lane closures with temporary traffic lights will be in place for the duration of the work and safe pedestrian routes and crossing facilities will be maintained throughout it is planned to carry out the road resurfacing part of the works under convoy from 7pm until 6am each night access to the A830 from the B8006 opposite Lochaber High School will be restricted from 8.30pm road users will be diverted along Kilmallie Road to access the A830 east of Banavie Swing Bridge It is anticipated ll works will be completed by Sunday 16 February subject to weather and any other unforeseen delays Consultations have been carried out with relevant stakeholders to share information about the project in advance BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: ““These works are part of an ongoing commitment to improve safety the changes to the traffic signals should also improve journey times for road users “The traffic management is essential to keep roadworkers and road users safe during this project however we will do all we can to complete the project as quickly and as safely as possible “We encourage road users to plan their journey in advance by checking the Traffic Scotland website for up-to-date traffic information and allow some extra time to reach their destination We thank locals and road users for their patience ahead of these road improvements.” Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.traffic.gov.scot, or on X at @trafficscotland. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. has been instructed to market The Grog & Gruel a popular alehouse in the centre of Fort William Built around You.Your expert business property advisers The Grog & Gruel comprises a traditional ground floor bar and a restaurant on the first floor along with a fully fitted commercial kitchen and a beer garden to the rear The property is located on the main high street in the town of Fort William the highest mountain in the British Isles which attracts tourists The pub is being sold on behalf of Guy and Edward Daynes due to other business commitments Regional Director at Christie & Co who is managing the sale said: “The sale of The Grog & Gruel offers a discerning purchaser a first-class opportunity to acquire an established business which has the ability to grow turnover and profit.” The Grog & Gruel freehold is on the market with an asking price of £625,000 For more information, visit: https://www.christie.com/6863611/ Visit our Business Search page to find out more about current listings. Keep up-to-date with our latest listings and more… © Christie & Co 2024 | A member of Christie Group A new bus service is set to connect Dunblane and Lochearnhead in Stirlingshire with Fort William and Edinburgh Electric bus operator Ember will launch the new route on April 16 with four daily return services The buses will travel between Edinburgh and Fort William The operator says more stops will be added to the service over the summer A single adult ticket covering the full journey from Edinburgh to Fort William will cost £23.10 when booked online Tickets from Dunblane to Fort William will be £18.50 or £13.50 from Lochearnhead A journey from Edinburgh from Dunblane will be £5.90 and £10.90 between Lochearnhead and the capital Ember announced earlier this month that its fares had increased by 8.5% due to inflation and other factors Meanwhile, Stagecoach bus fares in Dundee, Perth, Angus and Fife are set to rise by as much as 11% on April 27 Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Fort William have hit back over a report naming it as the worst destination for a short break in a “small city” in the UK – arguing it is one of the best The Lochaber capital plummeted to the bottom of the rankings in a Which customer satisfaction survey—but not everyone agrees despite being known as Scotland’s outdoor capital and receiving praise for its lack of crowds sports and stunning scenery to major attractions Supporters point to visitors who get the trip of a lifetime when they make their way up Ben Nevis “The Fort” boasts outstanding natural beauty and important historical sites—such as the original fort – and there is the regular presence of the Jacobite Steam Train It is a popular spot for winter sports enthusiasts and boasts museums excellent cycle routes and a geopark in the surrounding area It is also the finishing point of the West Highland Way And yet it wasn’t highly rated for its attractions A customer satisfaction survey of 3,967 Which? members asked people to rate UK cities and towns they had visited for leisure Those surveyed had stayed at least one night in the past two years Fort William landed at the bottom of the “small UK cities” category with a score of just 58% Wells and Durham in England claimed first and second place Hotels and accommodation came in for criticism found the average cost of a one-night stay in Fort William to be £135 A search on Booking.com for a two-night stay on July 1 While Fort William is home to a number of highly rated cafés and restaurants some of the visitors who took part in the survey described the food offering harshly as both”overpriced” and “abysmal.” Tourists did praise Fort William’s lack of crowds and many described Ben Nevis as “outstanding” In 2022, Which? ranked the Fort William to Mallaig railway line as the 10th most scenic in Europe—beaten by the Ffestiniog Railway He said: “I am pleased to say the number of visitors we get returning year on year would suggest the Fort and surrounding area is a lovely place to visit and also to live in.” findings and said: “Fort William High Street is an extremely attractive cobbled pedestrian precinct lined with local cafes and shops “Ben Nevis towers over this seaside town and whether snow-capped hills or bathed in sunlight of course the bypass is a huge disadvantage and visitors just shoot past without seeing the delights within.” “The council have produced a masterplan for improvements The Which? analysis took place in May 2024, and was shared with Glasgow Live on Sunday Booking.com prices were checked on March 3 New Fort William restaurant The Pizzeria has pledged to bring a slice of authentic Italian cuisine to the town has been delivered by the team that runs Black Sheep Hotels And they are hoping its menu and central location on the High Street – will make it a hit with the local community A spokesperson for The Pizzeria said: “Our goal is to bring the real taste of Naples to Fort William “We are passionate about making pizza the authentic way – using high-quality ingredients “We can’t wait for the people of Fort William to experience it.” The restaurant opened its doors on March 18 and the team are promising classics such as margherita and pepperoni as well as speciality pizzas inspired by traditional Italian flavours The new pizzeria aims to be more than just a place to grab a meal – they also want it to be a gathering spot for food lovers The restaurant will be open daily from 11.30am to 8.30pm offering both dine-in and takeaway options Customers can explore the full menu online before visiting with updates available on The Pizzeria’s social media pages Lewis Morrison’s goal three minutes into injury time preserved Fort William’s unbeaten start to the season as they drew 1-1 with Oban Camanachd Victory for either side would have seen them top the Mowi Premiership but the share of the points means both trail reigning champions Kingussie on goal difference Scott MacMillan slipped a ball from the right by onrushing keeper Paul MacKay to put Oban Camanachd ahead on 20 minutes the Fort dominated the second half but didn’t get their reward until stoppage time when Lewis Morrison turned home a rebound after fellow substitute Ewen Campbell’s shot was blocked dominating much of the possession without taking our chances “Oban keeper Cammy Sutherland made good saves and I think they only had one shot the whole game but punished slack defending on our part “Neil Robertson and I were very pleased with the impact substitutes Ewen Campbell and Lewis Morrison made “We see it as a point lost but showed great character fighting until the very end and showing our fitness and mentality is right.” Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “I think their goal was pretty much the last hit of the ball but to be fair they had us pinned for the whole second half so it’s a great point considering the squad we had available.” Skye secured their first points of the season Jamie Gillies and Dan MacDonald scored in the first half before Ruaraidh MacLeod and Jamie Gillies added goal-of-the season contenders MacLeod’s brilliant strike from wide on the left flew over keeper Lee Dunbar before Gillies crashed his second high into the net from almost 30-yards Ruaraidh MacLeod said: “It was good to get back on our own pitch and there was pressure on us to get the win Boss Kenny MacLeod added: “I thought our midfield of John Gillies flanked by Ross MacKinnon and Martin Pringle had a real grip of the game Kingussie opened their Artemis Macaulay Cup defence with a crushing 7-2 first round win at Kinlochshiel Keith MacRae gave Shiel an early lead but Savio Genini Roddy Young’s brace and Dylan Borthwick’s had the Kings out of sight before Donald Nixon countered late on Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “We took a while to get going and their keeper Josh Grant prevented us scoring more.” Lovat will host Kingussie in the quarter-finals after beating Caberfeidh 2-1 Graeme Macmillan and Marc MacLachlan scored in each half before Craig Morrison replied Lovat manager Iain Nicolson said: “It’s always tough against Cabers but we deserved the win sticking together and winning a lot of our individual battles which I was pleased with “Our forwards created lots of chances so I am pleased to see them getting a bit of rhythm together allowing few opportunities and playing on the front foot and my only complaint is that we didn’t score more.” Four-goal Calum MacDougall and Lewis Birrell helped Kilmallie defeat Strathglass 5-0 in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup first round Col Glen’s Scott MacVicar cancelled Charlie MacLeod’s early opener before Daniel Maclean’s winner Iain MacLeod was terrific in Glenurquhart’s goal Calum McLay and Logan Adam hit doubles as Glasgow Mid Argyll beat Aberdour 6-0 Calum Morrison and Arran Byrne also scored Jack Perry netted twice as Inverness won 5-2 at Ardnamurchan Arran MacMaster and Finlay Calder followed with Herbie Patterson and Duncan MacAulay replying before the hour Welcome to Oban and Fort William Planning Ahead – The Press and Journal’s weekly planning round-up It looks at applications submitted to Argyll and Bute Council and Highland Council And it joins our popular north-east and Inverness series which offer readers a selection of the most interesting local planning applications we feature a plan for the Virgin Bank in Fort William and proposals for an Onich first-floor restaurant to become staff accommodation there are plans for offices and a workshop at Mill Park there is a plan for Torosay House to become an educational hub with guest accommodation Zakariya Holdings Ltd has made an application to Highland Council to convert the former Virgin Money/Clydesdale Bank on Fort William’s High Street into a restaurant Plans show they want to seat 50 diners in the new restaurant The plans were lodged on February 5 and validated last week Architects Kearney Donald Partnership say there will be minor alterations required to the exterior to allow easy access from Fort William High Street a fully working professional kitchen will be installed it states the front of the building “will be reclad clean appearance to dated and worn existing façade enhancing Fort William townscape” The designs also include a “pedestrian door and side screen” illuminated signs and a canopy for outdoor seating A “gated protective barrier is to be installed to secure the external area from the public pavement” The papers continue: “The restaurant will be open to the public between the hours of 8am and 11pm “All scheduled deliveries will occur prior to 11am daily to ensure a quality product.” Recycling and waste collections are proposed to take place twice a week The plans note that the development “is in accordance where the re-use of a vacant building within a town centre” A supporting statement adds that the change of use adds to viability and vitality of the area” and will “improve economic and social resiliency” Torosay Hills Estate on Mull changed hands in 2016 the estate embarked on a rewilding journey to become a “model of sustainability and a beacon for biodiversity” This week the estate is moving to the next stage of its development by lodging an application with Argyll and Bute Council for the erection of an educational hub and four guest cabins The plans were lodged on February 4 and validated the following day The estate has planted 750,000 native trees installed a network of internal tracks to enhance access and provided deer fencing to control grazing within three native woodland zones created on the expansive 8,000-acre landholding The estate now wants to share experiences and inspire the public with land management practices that “are critical to realising its objectives” The aim is to achieve a self-sufficient estate – and one that provides local year-round employment and “champions biodiversity within a sustainable model capable of replication across the country” In papers lodged with the planning application it states: “The estate works to a 150-year long vision critical next steps are the formation of an educational hub and workshop space for practical sessions accommodation units for group retreats and events focussed on biodiversity enhancement and rewilding and provision of sufficient residential units to accommodate local workers to fulfil the jobs that are being created.” Oban Joinery Services have made an application to Argyll and Bute Council for planning permission for offices and a workshop at Mill Lane in Oban The application for the site is on land that was home to a former builders merchant’s store and yard Plans drawn up by Beaton and McMurchy Architects show there will be one large building with a division internally to provide offices and a large workshop area The plans are for 5 Millpark Lane on Millpark Road The site is approximately 0.38 hectares or almost 5,000 sq ft The applicants have not had a pre-planning application discussion with Argyll and Bute Council and say they “don’t know” if there is a flood risk at the site A further application for the conversion of the existing first-floor restaurant at The Corran at Onich to create four letting or staff bedrooms has been lodged with Highland Council The application was lodged on January 25 and validated on February 4 John Man has asked permission from planners to renew an application to undertake the conversion permission that he first received in November 2020 The restaurant is currently used as a storage area with a staff room There is already a 20-space car park on the land associated with the application An application for a mews-type development behind Mountain Warehouse on George Street has been withdrawn Colryn on Corran Esplanade in Oban has been permitted to change the use of owners’ accommodation to form a dwellinghouse Glenfinnan House Hotel has had a retrospective planning application approved for the erection of a shed BBQ hut and outdoor seating area for the sale of hot food Have you signed up for our Oban and Hebrides newsletter Every week our Oban-based reporter Louise Glen curates the best news in the area Sign up here for local news straight to your inbox Follow our Oban and Hebrides Facebook page for news as it happens A Fort William man has been convicted of sexual assaults against three young victims as well as charges of indecent communication Robert Lawrie had denied any wrongdoing during a trial at Inverness Sheriff court a jury took under two hours to convict him on six charges One of his victims told the court that Lawrie’s behaviour made her feel “vulnerable” and “uncomfortable” targeted a teenager by striking her on the buttocks commenting on her body and asking her intimate questions He also communicated indecently by making a comment of a sexual nature toward the same victim when she was over 18 A second teenage victim was touched on the thigh and slapped on the buttocks as well as being touched over and under her clothes by Lawrie who also intentionally exposed his genitals to her Lawrie also asked this teenager sexual and intimate questions and observed her naked and doing a private act A third teenage girl was slapped on the buttocks by Lawrie The crimes took place between 2013 and 2023 in Lochaber In evidence led by fiscal depute Pauline Gair one of Lawrie’s victims told the court that his actions left her feeling “uncomfortable” and “vulnerable” She said she thought: “How do I get out of this?” adding: “I wanted to say something but I knew I couldn’t.” She rejected suggestions from Lawrie’s defence agent Clare Russell that his behaviour had been “playful” or “normal” and not sexual But a jury took under two hours to reject this position – finding Lawrie guilty of five charges unanimously and one by majority Ms Russell offered the court a reference from baker Lawrie’s employer of 23 years and said he was a “valued employee” She asked the court to continue her client’s bail while pre-sentencing reports were prepared Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald told Lawrie: “You have been found guilty of all six charges before deciding on sentence I’m going to defer for a criminal justice social work and a Moving Forward 2 Change report – Moving Forward 2 Change is a programme for people who have been convicted of sexual offences “I have to warn you – these offences are obviously serious I will be considering all sentencing options.” on the sex offenders register with immediate effect the eventual length of registration to be determined at sentencing In these times of financial hardship for many forking out £8.50 for a loaf of bread might seem beyond reach But we wanted to try the special potato sourdough from Farine on Fort William’s High Street to see if it was worth the hype this is more than just an £8.50 loaf; this is artisan bread—this is a way of life I think it is fair to say that Farine follows in the great tradition of Fort William shops that bring a cosmopolitan touch to the High Street When the shop first opened in early March, I caught up with the owners. Baker Coalin Finn and his business partner have brought to Fort William their experience of fine dining from across the UK and beyond The pair worked at Inverlochy Castle and Claridge’s in London Stepping inside is like entering a boulangerie in Paris You can sit in and enjoy great coffee and tea The first thing to note is that Farine only uses high-quality ingredients many of which are locally sourced and organic It wasn’t fragile or light—this was a substantial slice there’s the complex science of sourdough—which I kinda wish I had bought the baguette too—it looked superb Public transport users in Fort William have described the town’s bus service as “abysmal.” Large areas of the Lochaber town are not served by public transport leaving people “stuck” if they do not have a car Frustration has grown after Highland Council purchased a bus company to service Inverness Lochaber residents now want to know when they will see investment in their own area Highland Council provides school transport public bus services and dial-a-bus transport in the town The issue has been discussed by Fort William and Torlundy Community Council for “years” without “much action.” Locals say the situation has been made even worse by Highland Council’s purchase of a bus company for Inverness with calls growing for a similar investment in Lochaber to improve services Community council member Mark Linfield says he cannot understand why Highland Council is prioritising Inverness travellers over those in Fort William Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council have had numerous discussions at our meetings regarding the local bus service “We are very concerned that the new homes off Neil Clark Way have been stranded without a bus service We are working with our ward councillors to pursue a solution “It is also very concerning that the Annat–Upper Achintore services have been cut, particularly the impact this has had on Plantation residents “We have contacted Highland Council staff regarding this asking for a better service to be provided.” He continued: “We have discussed the abysmal Sunday services as well “The fact that both the Upper Achintore and Blar Mhor new housing developments were handed over to residents before they were on a bus route is ludicrous “Seeing what happens up the road is so annoying but I do understand the thinking behind Highland Council’s purchase of D&E as I know our councillors are pushing for something to be done.” Councillor Andrew Baxter is determined that Lochaber will not be left behind when it comes to public transport He said: “Lochaber residents are scratching their heads at all the congratulatory back-slapping at Highland Council HQ in Inverness “This follows their acquisition of D&E Coaches which has become part of the council’s in-house bus service “That’s excellent news for Inverness travellers but it does nothing to improve our bus services in and around Fort William.” He continued: “We’ve seen the loss of bus services “Some people have been unable to travel to work as a result we’ve seen the cutting back of services in the town “If Highland Council is serious about improving public transport “Whilst I don’t want the council to take over the excellent services provided by our local company the council needs to provide financial support to restore services and create new routes across Lochaber “That’s what I will be looking for in their forthcoming budget and Highland Council will have failed Lochaber passengers.” A Highland Council spokesman said: “In terms of bus services at Corpach punctuality over the winter months has reached 90% (excluding the effect of current roadworks on A830) “There is now a suitable road layout at the new Blar Mhor housing to enable a bus to operate “The only means of restoring the previous timetable while maintaining or improving punctuality “There is clearly a cost associated with this which will be considered by the council as part of the budget setting process for 25/26.” Which bus services in the Highlands should be upgraded Stay up to date with the latest news from Oban and the Hebrides We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services A man who died in Fort William on Thursday Officers were called to a property on Grange Road around 9.55pm A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death He is due to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court on Monday Detective Inspector Calum Reid said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who died at this difficult time and our officers will continue to support them as the investigation continues “I'm aware this incident will be of concern to the local community but I would like to reassure the public that additional patrols are in the area as part of the ongoing investigation and there is no wider threat to the community." Police Scotland support those who wish to become police officers special constables or police staff by hosting various online and in-person recruitment events throughout the year supported victims and a thriving workforce Read about our 2030 vision and three-year plan Worried that your partner or the partner of someone you know might have an abusive past we'd appreciate your feedback on the service we provided Police Scotland has been working to make its websites more accessible - read our accessibility statement If you are craving a slice of Parisian heaven you might not expect to find it on Fort William High Street or freshly baked bread with a chunk of cheese in the former Rains shop opposite the cinema will bring a touch of luxury to the West Highland town The new business will not only serve customers delicious food and drinks – but everything will be made freshly on the premises Sourdough bread will made be with organic flour croissants and cinnamon buns will be proved in the kitchen and there will be tarts salads and red velvet tarts will also be on the menu Baker Coalin Finn and his business partner Kristina Paritskaya are bringing with them their experiences of fine dining from across the UK and beyond Coalin said: “My background is in pastry and bakery I trained in Dubai in five-star hotels before moving to London.” and the two have been on many baking adventures since He came to the UK to work for Gordon Ramsay for three years before moving on to other Michelin-starred restaurants he and Kristina came to Inverlochy Castle in Fort William before heading back to London to work at Claridge’s Then, in January 2024, he was drawn back to Fort William while he and Kristina—who had established café culture for Claridge’s in its renowned ArtSpace Café—hatched a plan for their own place Coalin continued: “I want people to think of refined and rustic I want them to think of Parisian pâtisserie a bit of luxury and opulence—but in a humble way.” While Coalin will be baking in the basement of the shop Kristina will be creating something special in the café She said: *”I am going to be making bespoke sandwiches with great ingredients along with toasties and all the things people love to eat “We have excellent local suppliers for many of the things we will be serving and the sweet smell will fill the air.” Kristina added: “We want Farine to become part of the community in Fort William This is a café for both locals and tourists “If the warm welcome we have had so far is anything to go by “We want to thank everyone who has wished us well.”* Coalin and Kristina say there will be 10 seats inside the café The pair want people to sit if they choose but they also encourage customers to take their food outdoors and enjoy it They are already recruiting for a staff member, but both Coalin and Kristina want the focus to be on the quality of their product first Coalin said: “We want to make sure the product is right and we know there will be challenges at the start “So we will be taking on staff in due course but we want them to come into a peaceful environment not while we are all still learning what works best for Fort William.”* Farine will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm Subscribe for full access to West Coast Today or Register for 1 free article per week Subscribing gives you access all areas of the website unlimited articles and access to the digital editions of The Oban Times Argyllshire Advertiser and Lochaber Times including 18 years of archive editions You will also be helping to support local independent journalism and local jobs Subscribe Register   Login Lovers of the great outdoors can look forward to another packed line-up of events and adventure activities at the 2025 Fort William Mountain Festival The 2025 festival programme is bursting with inspirational speakers Pulled together by a dedicated team of volunteers it is said to be the most diverse programme since the inaugural festival in 2004 Markus Stitz will be giving bike trail route inspiration and you can explore the best mountain running in the UK with the launch of Northern Horizons Headline Events fill the evenings with more in-depth explorations through discussion Anna Danby – Fort William Mountain Festival Coordinator Lineup highlights include record-breaking mountaineer Anna Wells bike adventurer Lee Craigie from The Adventure Syndicate a brand new musical collaboration between The Storylands Sessions and Scottish Mountaineering Press and the hugely popular BANFF mountain film festival world tour Adventurer Rebecca Coles will be discussing her Project Alpine Spirit In 2019 a small team of women set out to climb the 4,000m peaks in the Alps something that is yet to be done by an all-women’s team To date Rebecca Coles has climbed 72 of the 82 summits with female climbing partners Through this talk Rebecca will tell their journey and the stories of those women who have inspired them along the way ‘2025 will be my third time coordinating this brilliant community-minded festival and it’s always a joy to see how it grows and develops year on year,’ Anna Danby ‘The programme for 2025 has a fantastic array of events across all areas of mountain culture ‘There will be plenty of opportunities for people across different interests and abilities to get involved exploring the landscapes of Lochaber and to be inspired through talks and films.’ The Fort William Mountain Festival 2025 runs from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 February 2025. Discover the full programme here: Explore Events – Fort William Mountain Festival. Read more News stories here Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns There's no World Cup Downhill at Fort William this year but British Cycling's just released the Downhill calendar for 2025 and it includes Fort Bill and a few other fan favourites Fort William will host the National Downhill Championships in July 2025, with Revolution Bike Park back in the fold too after missing last year through tree felling. Revs reopened in the summer after larch felling to combat disease forced its closure back in 2023. British Cycling’s downhll calendar has five rounds down for year and will visit the former World Cup track at Fort William twice – once for the UCI C1 round in May and again for the national championships in July Cwmcarn is set to kick the season off in April A trip back over to Wales in June for Rhyd-y-Felin and then to Langollen before finishing at Revs at the end of September The 2025 series will also see British Cycling aiming to introduce a series standing for BC affiliated clubs and teams This will result in a winner being crowned at the end of the season from those with the best scoring riders Details surrounding this and priority entry will be made available within the technical guides and event information when it is released Entries will open in January and there will be a priority window for riders who accumulated 150 national ranking points in 2024 British Cycling’s Head of Sport commented on the announcement: “The 2025 series is shaping up to be one of our most competitive yet We’re proud to showcase the UK’s world-class downhill venues and provide a platform for our talented riders to shine on the national and international stage this is a calendar not to be missed.” More information can be found on the British Cycling website britishcycling.org A woman was taken to hospital by helicopter after a one-vehicle crash on the A830 Fort William to Mallaig road The male driver of the car was also taken to hospital in Fort William The incident happened at around 1.30pm on Wednesday The conditions of the man and woman are unknown Police are appealing for witnesses following the crash A police spokesman said: “Around 1.30pm a grey-coloured Toyota Rav4 Excel vehicle was travelling on the A830 from Fort William towards Mallaig when it left the carriageway and landed in a ditch near Locheilside train station “The 39-year-old male driver was taken by ambulance to Belford Hospital in Fort William and a 34-year-old female passenger was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow by air ambulance.” The road was closed for investigation but reopened at 3.45pm Constable Gabriel Cameron at Fort William Road Policing Unit would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage Anyone with information should contact police via 101 quoting incident number 1761 of 9 April 2025 It joins our north-east and Inverness series, which offer readers a selection of the most interesting local planning applications we feature a refused application for a holiday pod in Fort William – plus an approved holiday let in the same town we look at two applications to renew planning permission in principle for two new houses in Glenlonan and a plan for two Polycrubs An application for a holiday pod at 22 Ardgour Road in Caol has been refused despite no objections from neighbours Documents state: “The proposed pod would be situated within the rear garden “The area to the rear of the curtilage is bound by a communal parking area (which consists of undefined spaces) and open green space “There are a number of houses whose back gardens are also bounded by this space The handling notice said: “Considering the close relationship of adjoining garden boundaries to the rear of the terraced row of houses on Ardgour Road the amenity enjoyed by neighbouring occupiers would be significantly adversely affected by the introduction of a holiday letting unit and it would result in the loss of residential character from these private amenity spaces.” in close proximity to nearby properties and loss of garden space would reduce the enjoyment expected of private amenity spaces due to the increased visitor activity associated with the proposed pod disturbance and overlooking from the upstairs windows of neighbouring properties vehicular access to the rear of the site is taken via a no-through road between the residential homes on Ardgour Road and Telford Road which leads to the communal car parking area and public open green space area which is primarily for the use of the surrounding neighbouring residences “The introduction of a holiday let in this location would result in an increased use of the access which would add to the loss of amenity to neighbouring residences.” Area planning manager David Mudie wrote in a letter: “The proposed holiday accommodation unit would adversely impact upon neighbouring amenity would result in an overdevelopment of the site and contribute to the loss of privacy and increased disturbance to neighbouring properties.” Plans to change a domestic double garage into a short-term letting unit have been approved for a house at 6 Riverside Grove in Lochyside Plans submitted to Highland Council show that the garage area will be adapted to form one double bedroom area planning manager David Mudie wrote: “The proposals accord with the provisions of the Development Plan and there are no material considerations which would warrant refusal of the application.” An application for two house plots at Ballygowan in Glenlonan was lodged on February 28 by Fair Planning and Design on behalf of Lupi Moll The application is to renew planning permission Papers state: “Lupi Moll is a long-term resident at Strontoiller which he owns together with Ballygowan Farm “Lupi is promoting tourism development at Ballygowan Farm and west Loch Nell through the Local Development Plan process and has the support of the economic development manager and the development plans team “To generate capital to fund design work and initial outlays necessary to realise his aspirations for Ballygowan he seeks planning permission in principle for two house plots approximately 270m and 400m north of Ballygowan Farm “The existing Ballygowan access will be upgraded at its junction with the Glenlonan public road to provide a perpendicular bellmouth “Both proposed houses would sit on very gently sloping clear ground contained by existing escarpments and The application is due to be determined by May 6 A crofter on Glenshellach Road has applied to build two Polycrubs – a Polytunnel/greenhouse hybrid designed to cope with high winds and harsh weather The application was lodged with Argyll and Bute Council on February 18 Plans have been approved for a foresty road at Roy Bridge Plans for two houses at North Laggan have been withdrawn Plans for six static caravans at Glencoe Hotel, Glencoe have been withdrawn The formation of a forest track plan in Tobermory has been approved Staying in Tobermory, a change of use of dwellinghouse to form dwellinghouse with bed and breakfast accommodation has been approved Renewal of planning permission in principle for a house at Ledaig has been approved A smash-hit theatre and arena show paying tribute to one of pop’s biggest superstars is coming to Fort William Taylor Fever is visiting the Nevis Centre for a single date as part of its sell out UK tour Friday March 14 Taylor Fever has already performed to over 100,000 fans across the UK and Republic of Ireland with a show that pays homage to one of the biggest music icons of our generation Organisers say that the demand for tickets to the tour is unlike anything they have witnessed before - but there is still a chance to catch it in Fort William A spokesperson said: "The team behind Taylor Entertainment Limited have been presenting superb events for over 16 years and since we launched Taylor Fever in September 2024 We have announced shows in large theatres and within 20 minutes tickets have been sold out – there really is an appetite audiences will be whisked through the eras as the main act is complimented by four award-winning dancers amongst a backdrop of unforgettable lighting and effects The spokesperson added: "The show is designed for all Swifties of all ages If you didn’t manage to get a ticket to the Eras Tour we want to deliver the Taylor Fever tour not only as an alternative but a spellbinding show in it’s own right "Children are our main demographic and we have carefully created the production so that when they walk into the venue Whilst the Love Story singer is taking a break after her all conquering world tour Taylor Fever is at Nevis Centre for one day only Doors open at 6.45pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are available now by clicking here Building on the success of previous seasons the 2025 series promises intense competition and world-class racing Riders and fans can look forward to adrenaline-filled weekends at some of the UK’s most renowned downhill tracks with one UCI C1 round and the prestigious national championships included in the schedule 2025 Mountain Bike Downhill Calendar:  Round 1: 12-13 April – Cwmcarn  Round 2 (UCI C1): 10-11 May – Fort William  Round 3: 14-15 June – Rhyd-y-Felin  Round 4: 16-17 August – Llangollen  Round 5: 27-28 September – Revolution Bike Park  National Championships: 19-20 July – Fort William  Fort William takes centre stage twice in 2025 hosting the UCI C1 event in May and the national championships in July the venue in Scotland saw Charlie Hatton claim the world title in 2023 and with its challenging terrain and legendary reputation Fort William will be the ultimate test for riders.  and Revolution Bike Park complete the calendar each offering their unique blend of technical features and high-speed sections ensuring variety and excitement throughout the season.  The entries for the series are scheduled to open in January and will once again have a priority window for riders with 150 national ranking points in 2024.  we are also looking to introduce series standings for British Cycling affiliated clubs and teams This will take the points from clubs/teams best point scoring riders across the series with a winner being crowned at the end of the series Further details around priority entry and team/club series standing will be available in the technical guides and on the event information “The 2025 series is shaping up to be one of our most competitive yet We’re proud to showcase the UK’s world-class downhill venues and provide a platform for our talented riders to shine on the national and international stage this is a calendar not to be missed.”  The detailed routes for the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women that will see the world’s top pro cyclists racing through and uniting communities across North Yorkshire the Scottish Borders and Glasgow this June along with a free to take part in Lloyds Tour of Britain Family Cycling Festival for the final stage British Cycling has today started its latest search for future talent as applications for the Great Britian Cycling Team Olympic Development Squads and Podium Potential Squads are now open Rounding up all the National Series action on the weekend of 26-27 April 2025 Get the help you need in case of an incident enter your username and we will send a password reset to your registered email address enter the email address with which your account is registered and we will send you a reminder We have found a match between your Facebook account and British Cycling To link accounts please enter your British Cycling password Join us Find out more Tel 0161 274 2000 © 2025 British CyclingAll Rights Reserved A dog who was found in the Fort William area in the early hours of this morning has been taken to the vet after he was unclaimed by his owners The pooch was found in Kilmallie Road in Caol at 3am this morning but after spending the day in the care of Police Scotland Fort William police described the dog as becoming part of its team – but wanted to reunite him with his “pawrents” and after a “full shift” with officers they decided to hand over the dog into the care of the local vet In a post online, officers said: “This very good boy was found in the area of Kilmallie Road, Caol, Fort William about 0300 hours this morning December 26 “As much he has become a part of the team we’d love to reunite him with his pawrents ASAP “Please call 101 and quote incident 0400 of today if you have any information on this good boy.” Later officers added: “After a shift at Fort William Police Station he has been left in the care of a local vet.” In the comments section on Police Scotland’s Facebook page many people said they would love to take the dog if he goes unclaimed Dozens of people have been tagged in a bid to find the dog’s owners Others said they hoped the dog had not been dumped in Fort William Home   Sport   Article Newtonmore manager Peter Ross remained upbeat following Newtonmore’s 5-3 Mowi Premiership defeat to Fort William at the Eilan on Saturday Ross reflected on an afternoon when his side dominated large periods of the game but found Fort William keeper Paul MacKay in inspired form Rory Kennedy failed to make the starting line-up after suffering a sickening head injury in the opening game of the season He required nearly 30 stitches in an accidental clash which left his ear nearly hanging off and the Blue and Whites’ missed his huge presence at the back Ross said: “I’m disappointed we didn’t win the game but I certainly couldn’t fault the players’ efforts “There were a lot of plusses and Struan Ross Matthew Sloss and Ritchie Irvine all played very well as did Iain Robinson who showed that he’s a proper shinty player with another two goals mistakes cost us goals and we missed Rory Kennedy but who wouldn’t “It’s a long season in what is already shaping up to be a tight league.” Fort William led three times through Lachie Shaw but they were pegged back each time through Iain Robinson from open play and then from the penalty spot before substitute Matthew Sloss made it 3-3 with his first goal for the club Fort William’s Victor Smith found the net with a deflected effort before completing his hat-trick to seal an unexpected 5-3 win Ross added: “I wasn’t happy with some of the refereeing decisions but if we had continued to play shinty instead of getting involved with some of the other stuff that was going on - and I know that’s hard to do at times - we’d have won the game.” The Newtonmore seconds lost 4-2 against the Fort William seconds in Mowi North Division 1 at An Aird Fraser Mackintosh and Glen Mackintosh’s penalty counted for ‘More the Newtonmore first team visit Kinlochshiel in the league fit and strong side but so are we so it should be a good game.” The ‘More colts play the Kinlochshiel colts in the league at The Eilan Become a member here We use cookies to improve your browsing experience The Scotsman reflects on two decades of organising one of the biggest cycling events in the country it's for the whole team around Rare Management because the two of us really got things going,” Jardine explained a few moments before receiving his accolade “There are hundreds of volunteers over the last 20 years who've worked their butts off to make Fort William what it is and a total of about 133 international-level competitions over that 20-year period It is nice to get that acknowledgement for a discipline that isn't really prioritised within the British Cycling sector Jardine notes that the work of him and his colleagues has been crucial to ensuring that downhill stays alive in the UK Since the discipline is not yet recognised as an Olympic sport there is often a struggle to receive funding and create programmes to ensure that new younger riders are trying out downhill racing “There's always been a really strong level of British competitors at the highest level and that was one of the successes with Fort William we had great British guys and girls capable of winning Rachel [Atherton] G [Atherton] Steve [Peat] Danny [MacAskill] and they all did such a good job of pushing the sport forward,” Jardine says it felt that they were a bit of a second cousin means it is inevitable it's not going to get as much support as road or track or even cross-country We've done a lot of cross-country World Cups as well The problem is there's not as much money out there as there should be for the sport to get younger athletes into it.” Despite recognising the challenges the downhill scene is currently facing Jardine notes that the recognition from British Cycling is a positive step for downhill racing He is also optimistic that with hard work and the passionate fan base the sport has “There's no doubt it would help because as soon as you become an Olympic sport and it was very much the case there as well Olympic sports always have an advantage over non-Olympic sports but the thing that downhill has got going for it is that it's got a really passionate fan base and it's just finding a mechanism where it all comes together and it delivers top riders,” Jardine states When reflecting on the work he has done in the downhill scene Jardine says that 2005 was a special year of event organising for himself and his team: “That was the year that Steve Peat won and I'm pretty sure Tracy was also the women's winner there I think the whole British downhill mountain biking scene sort of erupted and it was such an amazing experience to be there to feel it The crowds at Fort William were always magnificent There's so many memories over that period that just make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.” the Scotsman is keen to stress the importance of the whole team behind Fort William being crucial to the success of the venue The successes of the World Cup event in Scotland has helped to raise the profile of UK downhill mountain biking on the international calendar establishing the Scottish round as an essential stop on the fixture list It’s about what our group of two to 300 people achieved in showing that a car park in the middle of The Highlands could host one of the best cycling events in the country for 20 years,” Jardine smiles introducing lots of young people to the sport and creating that legacy that everyone is looking for.” fearsome mountain passes and a Balkan Grande Partenza Rouleur takes a look at the contenders to win the Maglia Rosa in Italy this month Alexander Vinokourov's team are making the impossible rather quite possible All the essential information about the first Grand Tour of the year While the former Olympic and World champion is relishing new ventures in retirement she is keen to ensure more support is in place for those.. 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