Oban

📌 Town in Argyll & Bute
★★★★

Oban is the most bewitchingly beautiful settlement in the West Highlands by a country mile. Set round a crescent bay backed by low hills, the smell of fish is in the air, and usually in the minds of tourists visiting for lunch; make sure you sample the fine local seafood while you’re here – highlights include the Green Shack on the town pier, and Coast on the main street. This is a wonderful place to stroll along the esplanade, with breathtaking sunsets in good weather. Ferries bound for islands up and down the western seaboard call at all times of day, which along with the railway terminus gives the town a importantly bustling feel. As a key transport hub, too many visitors use Oban solely as a stepping stone en route to destinations across the water. Don’t make the same mistake – the attractions in the town centre alone (listed below) are enough to fill a day, with plenty else to do in the local area.

🌍 Location

📌 Argyll & Bute

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NM 858302

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.414874,-5.473523

🚶 All the local sights are within walking distance of the compact centre, with short but steep hikes up to the best viewpoints for Oban Bay. Dunollie requires a slightly longer walk.

✈️🚢🚆🚌 Oban is a major port, with ferries to many Hebridean islands including Mull, Coll, Tiree and Barra. The town sits at the end of a scenic railway line from Glasgow, and there are buses to Glasgow and nearby West Highland towns. Oban Airport – several miles to the north – has flights to several Hebridean islands, though a ferry would be the more usual option.

🚗 Central car parks charge a fee, with free street parking further away (generally uphill) if you don’t mind the extra exercise.

<1 mi away

>> McCaig’s Tower ★★★

>> Oban Distillery ★★★

>> Oban War and Peace Museum ★★

>> Pulpit Hill (Oban) ★★★

>> St Columba’s Cathedral (Oban) ★★

>> St John’s Cathedral (Oban) ★★

<3 mi away

>> Dunollie ★★★ (1 mi ↑)

>> Ganavan Sands ★★★ (2 mi ↑)

>> Walk: Ganavan gallivanting – Dunbeg past & present ★★★ (2 mi ↑)

>> Walk: Kerrera – jewel in the Firth of Lorne ★★★ (2 mi ←)

>> Dunstaffnage Castle (3 mi ↑) (not yet featured)