The Victorian port of Oban is known as the Gateway to the Isles with ferries to Mull, Iona, Coll, Colonsay and the Outer Hebrides.
The town boasts a pink cathedral, many churches and even more pubs and restaurants and is well know for its excellent seafood and shellfish. Local game and Oban Malt whisky are also popular and a new seaplane service from Glasgow to Oban has made it a great lunch location with a difference.
The coastline is spectacular and the sailing in this area is world class. Oban's McCaig's Tower is a replica of the Coliseum and the iconic folly is a great place to see the famous west coast sunsets. Oban is also the end of the West Coast Line – one of the most scenic train journeys in Scotland. And the town even has its own airport.
The road journey skirts Loch Lomond and passes through some wonderful rugged Scottish scenery. It’s also closer than you think – under 3 hours from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth and less than 2 hours from Stirling.
Argyll is a historic county steeped in ancient Scottish history and home to the MacLean clan – amongst others. Their ancestral seat is Duart Castle on Mull. On the mainland in nearby Inveraray the Campbell Clan has Inveraray Castle – well worth a visit as is Inveraray Jail –a good family attraction as part of a day trip.
There are many other day itineraries from Oban – at least one visit to an island is a must. Fort William with Ben Nevis and the Caledonian Canal and ski centres are less than an hour’s drive and there’s good craft shopping to be found in many of the smaller towns and villages in Argyll. You can also stock up on top quality local food, including west coast mussels and oysters, venison, ales, cheese and whisky liqueurs. Oban has its own kilt makers who supply the local pipe band.
The town is also host to the Argyllshire Gathering – a Highland Games combined with a Piping Competition and unique to West Coast of Scotland. The town hosts many other events and festivals and full details of these can be found on the local tourism association website at www.oban.org.uk
Argyll-the-Isles-Loch-Lomond-Stirling-Trossachs, Scotland Beds 4,
Bath 3, Sleeps 8 - 8
£600-£860 P/W
Edinburgh-and-the-Lothians, Scotland Beds 2,
Bath 1, Sleeps 1 - 4
£630-£1,250 P/W
St-Andrews, Kingdom-of-Fife Beds 4,
Bath 2, Sleeps 8 - 8
£700-£1,025 P/W
Carmarthenshire, Wales Beds 3,
Bath 3, Sleeps 6 - 6
£1-£1 P/W
Polperro, Cornwall Beds 1,
Bath 1, Sleeps 2 - 4
£220-£445 P/W
Polperro, Cornwall Beds 3,
Bath 4, Sleeps 6 - 6
£350-£825 P/W
