Oban
Anyone wanting to get a sense of the beauty of Scottish landscapes should take the short drive up to Oban. The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Glasgow takes you first through the enchanting Ben Lomond, with its windy lakeside roads and its majestic mountain peaks, then through a long, steady country road that feels at times more like faraway areas of North America than Europe. At the end of it all, you will arrive in Oban in awe. This is a fishermen’s town with colorful houses on the waterfront, a view of the island of Kerrera, and a tranquil bay in between. Just a short stroll around this town will relax you. The gentle sea wind will carry away any thoughts of home.
With much of Scotland filled with rough highlands, trade has always concentrated on port towns. Oban’s history stretches back further than there are records, although it was an unassuming village for most of it. Even now, with a population of less than 10,000 people, it remains small and cute. But with the fish arriving straight from the sea, the seafood is as good as the views. So, give your mind a rest and let your senses indulge.
Eat
- Oban is best for seafood, and the best place to eat it is right on the seaside in the Oban Seafood Hut. It is cheap and fresh, and all of it is prepared on the spot.
- Right behind it is the Waterfront Fishhouse Restaurant, specializing in fish-based fine dining but still affordable nonetheless.
- As you might expect, Oban also has plenty of fish and chips options in the few streets around the port area. Oban Fish and Chip Shop and Nories are the best.
Sleep
- With many having discovered the charm of Oban, it has many hotel options. Hotels start at $50.
- Oban even has hostels. Dorm beds start from around $15.
Transport
- Coming by car from Glasgow, leave Glasgow on the west by the M8. Then follow the A739, followed by the A82 north (through Ben Lomond National Park). Keep on following the A82 until you have reached Tyndrum (on the far northern end of the park). From there, turn west on the A85. This will take you straight to Oban.
- For a less windy route (or when coming from Edinburgh), first take the M9 to Stirling. From there, take the A84 northwest, then the A85 northwest. At Crianlarich, follow the A82 to Tyndrum. Then follow the A85 as mentioned above.
- Coming from Glencoe or Fort William further north, follow the A828 along the coast down to Oban.
- Alternatively, it is possible to take the train from Glasgow. This follows much of the same stunning route, although you will miss out on the first part of the National Park. Instead, you follow the sealine.
- Within Oban, everything is walkable.
Sights
- The main sight in Oban is Oban itself. The cute town of the bay provides beautiful views of the sea, the port, and the island of Kerrera. Within Oban, there is a distillery, a few grand buildings, and two small museums.
- Like elsewhere in Scotland, you never have to travel far to get into the wild for a proper hike between mountains and castles (like Dunstaffnage Castle, an hour north, or Dunollie Castle, much closer) or beautiful shorelines (like on the island of Kerrera, a short ferry ride across).