A Which? survey has revealed the worst UK towns for a short break, with one Scottish destination landing at the bottom
A town in the Scottish Highlands has been named the worst destination in Scotland for a short break, according to a research.
While Scotland frequently tops global lists of the most beautiful places to visit, one location has failed to impress – Fort William in the West Highlands. The small town has been ranked among the least favourable holiday spots in the UK, according to a study released by Which in May 2024.
In a survey of 3,967 members, Which? asked respondents to rate cities and towns across the UK that they had visited for leisure and stayed in for at least one night in the past two years. Fort William was ranked last on the list of ‘small UK cities,’ scoring a mere 58 per cent, alongside Torquay in England.
The town received a lowly two out of five for food and drink, accommodation, shopping, and ‘ease of getting around’. Hotels in Fort William also ranked among the priciest, with an average cost of £135 per night.
While the town is home to well-loved restaurants praised on Tripadvisor, other eateries have been criticised as “overpriced” and “abysmal.”
Fort William’s shopping scene revolves around its High Street, which is home to a mix of local and independent stores. While some visitors appreciate its charm, others have been less impressed. particularly by the town’s noisy main road. One travel publication even went as far as calling it “ugly.”
Describing the town centre, Scotland Off the Beaten Track wrote: “Fort William isn’t easy on the eye. An ugly shopping arcade blights the northeast end of the High Street, while a noisy dual carriageway with an irritating lack of crossing points makes access to the underutilised esplanade and Old Fort awkward.”
Despite its low ranking in other areas, the town did receive a more favourable score for ‘lack of crowds,’ earning four out of five stars for its peaceful atmosphere. Known as the gateway to Ben Nevis, Fort William remains a popular base for those looking to explore scenic walking and hiking trails.
Elsewhere in Scotland, Aberdeen also featured among the lowest-rated destinations for a staycation, with an overall satisfaction score of 60 per cent. The city received just two stars for its food and drink, cultural sights, and shopping, making it the worst-ranked major Scottish city on the list.
Dundee also failed to impress Which? members, earning a customer score of just 62 percent. The city received low ratings of two out of five for food and drink, accommodation, parking, and ease of getting around. Meanwhile, Perth also struggled in the rankings, scoring 65 percent overall, with its food and drink and shopping options receiving just two stars.
In contrast, Edinburgh was named one of the top city break destinations in the UK, securing an impressive customer score of 83 percent. Scotland’s capital was awarded five stars for its cultural sights and four stars for its food and drink, shopping, and ease of getting around.
Across the UK, the highest-rated destination for a short break was the English cathedral city of Wells, topping the list with an 86 percent customer score. Liverpool followed in second place with 84 per cent, while Edinburgh and York shared third place with 83 percent each.
Commenting on the results, Which? stated: “Scotland did well in our survey — with Edinburgh near the top of the big cities table with 83 percent and Glasgow not far behind on 76 per cent. St Andrews was joint second in our small cities table on 78 percent, with Stirling on 75 per cent.”
Best small UK cities for a short break
- Wells
- Durham
- St Andrews
- Winchester
- Stratford Upon Avon
- Salisbury
- Stirling
- St Ives
- Ely
- Windsor
- Chichester
- Inverness
- Oban
- Lancaster
- Perth
- Truro
- Fort William
- Torquay
