Oban

Overview

The coastal town of Oban ("little bay" in Gaelic - Scotland's ancient Celtic language) is a popular and vibrant destination and is regarded as the Seafood Capital of Scotland.

Oban and the surrounding area is rich with things to do for visitors, from exploring the dramatic coastal scenery and mountains and discovering the fascinating histories of the local castles, museums, shops and restaurants right through to marvelling at the imposing architecture and superb views from McCaig’s Tower.

The North Pier pontoons offer easy embarkation and disembarkation directly in to the town centre with easy access for mobility impaired visitors and those arriving by tender. The Oban Distillery sits at the heart of the town and offers excellent opportunities to get up close to whisky production and perhaps sample a single malt. There are excellent pubs many offering live music, local banter, a range of craft beers (including local brews) craft gins, and good wines. The town has a couple of specialist whisky shops to explore and many independent retailers.

Get a feel for life in Oban across the centuries at Oban War and Peace Museum, where the role the town played in two World Wars is brought to life through local memorabilia and stories, and at Dunollie Castle, which offers insight in to the history of Clan MacDougall. You’ll also find plenty of friendly and welcoming locals (and Oban’s team of Ambassadors) so don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

There are a great variety of places to eat, to suit every palate, with exceptional seafood available at various cafes, bistros and food service outlets throughout the town. Take your pick from a fresh crab sandwich on the pier to an extravagant Shellfish Platter at one of the town’s award- winning restaurants. And don’t worry if you just want to stop off and stock up on your own provisions, the town’s major supermarkets are just a short stroll from the pontoons and there are plenty of taxis too. There is also a wide choice of local independent shops, offering excellent gift ideas including high quality crafts, food and drink products, knitwear and kilts and befitting a port town, there’s local chandleries and hardware stores too.

If you hanker after more active pursuits, you can get up-close to the rich and diverse local wildlife, thanks to boat trips which operate frequently from the town. If you want to enjoy traditional Scottish culture, there are lots of great events, including local Highland Games and music festivals, and the Welcome Boards around town display the calendar of What’s On. You can also connect for free to the web via the town’s wi-fi network to book tours and tickets and plan your itinerary.

Oban is well connected to the central belt of Scotland. It is only two and a half hours’ drive from Glasgow, through stunning countryside, and there is a direct train connection from Glasgow on the West Highland line and frequent coach services too. Accommodation in town is good quality and ranges from backpacking hostels to luxury hotels with almost everything in between. The pontoons allow short stays of up to 3 nights and there are two nearby marinas for longer visits.

Contact

Vicki McKenzie, Harbour Master/Port Manager Oban North Pier Oban Argyll PA34 5NH

T: +44 (0) 1631 562892 F: +44 (0) 1631 563550
E: vicki.mckenzie@argyll-bute.gov.uk
W: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/ports-and-harbours