Visitors to Fort William will benefit from discounted parking during the Royal National Mòd, which runs from 10–18 October in Lochaber.
Highland Council has confirmed that lower parking charges will be available throughout the week-long celebration, with seven public car parks in the town offering the reduced Local Parking Season Ticket rate of £11.
The Royal National Mòd is Scotland’s largest annual festival of Gaelic language, music and culture, drawing thousands of people from across the Highlands and beyond.
The event brings together choirs, pipers, poets, dancers and musicians of all ages for a packed programme of competitions, concerts and community gatherings.
As Fort William prepares to host this year’s festival, the council said the parking discount is designed to make the town more welcoming and accessible for locals and visitors alike.
Councillor Drew Millar, Chair of Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee, said the move recognises the scale of the Mòd’s impact.
“The Royal National Mòd will generate a buzz and bring a significant economic boost for the area,” he said.
“This is a time when Fort William will be full of life, with families, performers, and visitors from all over.
“I am sure Mòd-goers will welcome and take advantage of the discounted parking that will be on offer at these car parks.”
The reduced rate, which is normally used for monthly local permits, will apply for the full eight days.
Motorists must purchase the Local Parking Season Ticket via the RingGo website, selecting their vehicle and one of the participating car parks before choosing the one-month option.
The discount has been warmly received by organisers of the Mòd, who praised the collaborative approach to preparations.
James Graham, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, which organises the event, said:
“This is good news for all who will be attending the Mòd, and we are very grateful to the council and staff for their work to organise this arrangement.”
Highland Council has also issued a warning to drivers about fake QR codes that have appeared on parking machines.
These codes, which mimic the official RingGo branding, lead to fraudulent websites.
The council stressed that the only way to access the discounted rate is by visiting www.myringgo.co.uk directly.
Motorists who see suspicious QR codes on machines are urged not to scan them and to report the incident to parking@highland.gov.uk.
Here is a map of the seven eligible car parks in Fort William, there is signage in town to help drivers identify the correct locations.
The Royal National Mòd returns to Lochaber for the first time in several years, with events taking place across Fort William and the wider area.
