Oban Accommodation

Oban's instantly recognisable Victorian town centre

Oban's grand seafront show its origins as a Victorian seaside resort

Excellent fresh seafood on Oban's waterfront

Oban's Tourist Information Centre

Oban Distillery in the town centre - open for whisky tours

Oban is a pleasant place to wander around with plenty of shops

Contemporary dockside seafood restaurants in Oban

Oban's War and Peace Museum for the history of Oban's town and people

Oban Scotland Bed and Breakfast Hotels Tourist Information

Oban flourished as a Victorian seaside resort and many of the buildings still have that feel as you walk around the town. It's small stature belies its visitor numbers that throng the town throughout the summer on their to and from the islands off the west coast of Scotland.

It is an important town for ferry links to Hebridean Islands and is the largest port in the north west of Scotland. There is also a good range of boat trips that depart from Oban for wildlife trips or for exploring the smaller islands as morning or day trips. It has good rail links and makes a good base for exploring this part of the country.

Oban Tourist Information

Oban is a bustling town that has its origins in the Victorian surge of seaside holiday resort. It's the largest port in the north west Scotland and has a modern ferry terminal with ferries serving the Hebrides. It's a good base for exploring the Argyll and Kintyre areas of Scotland as well as a stepping off point for exploring the Hebridean Islands.

It's main centre has a good choice of shops, restaurants, take aways, hotels and B&B accommodation. Some of the accommodation is centred up the hill from the town centre which is a steep climb or a hairy drive along single track streets and may pose mobility problems for some. There are some spectacular views from this hillside accommodation though over Oban and to the Isle of Kerrera in the bay. Seafood is a local speciality and you can eat it in all forms from traditional fish and chips on the seafront with the seagulls, or from fresh fish sellers on the pier or from smarter contemporary restaurants that are springing up over town.

Oban has a large and comprehensive Tourist Information Office in a former church in the south of the town on Argyll Square, Oban, Argyll, PA34 4AN. Tel: 01631 563122. It is open all year round but times vary out of the summer season.

The town has a main line railway station about a five minute walk from the ferry terminal at South Pier. One of the most distinguishable features of Oban is the amphitheatre that towers over the town, McCaig's Tower. This was something of a folly built at a time when much of the Oban population was out of work out of season. Local businessman McCaig attempted to emulate the Rome Colosseum and make it into a museum, art gallery and chapel. Unfortunately he died before it was completed and only the outer walls have stood since this time. It's a focal point for uphill walks from the town although it is a stiff climb up the hill. There are benches and a garden area and the views are fantastic.

Cheap Car Hire Oban Scotland

Oban has several companies who offer bike and car rental which is particularly useful if you're travelling on the ferries as a foot passenger.

Hazelbank Motors offer car hire. Hazelbank Motors, Lynn Road, Oban, Argyll PA34 4PL. Tel: 01631 566476. Fax: 01631 566783. Email: enquiries@obancarhire.co.uk

Flit Self-Drive also offer car hire as well as minibus, van and mountain bike hire. Flit Self-Drive, Glencruitten Road, Oban, Argyll PA34 4DN. Tel: 01631 566553. Email: flit@btconnect.com

Oban Cycles rent out a range of different bikes including mountain bikes and tandems. Oban Cycles, Unit 9, Mill Lane, Oban PA34 2AH. Tel: 01631 566996. Luing Bike Hire offer bike rental on this small island three minutes crossing from Oban. Luing Bike Hire, Sunnybrae Caravan Park, Isle of Luing, Near Oban, Argyll PA34 4TU. Tel: 01852 314274.

Oban Single Malt Whisky Distillery

Oban is home to its own distillery conveniently placed right in the middle of the town centre. It was first established in 1794 well before the town took shape. It now only has two pot stills which also makes it one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. It is an attractive traditional style building and is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland producing single malt whisky.

You can take tours of the distillery from their Visitor Centre. Tours run Mar-Dec Mon-Fri: 9.30am-4.30pm. Jun-Oct Mon-Sat: 9.30am-4.30pm. Jul-Aug Mon-Sun: 12.30pm-4.30pm. You'll be treated to a wee dram of the produce to taste and the entrance fee is redeemable against the purchase of a bottle. Oban Whisky is a lightly peaty, smooth malt.

Oban Distillery, Stafford Street, Oban, Argyllshire. Tel: 01631 572004. Fax: 01631 572011.

Oban War & Peace Museum

Down near North Pier housed in the former Oban Times building next to the Art Deco Regent Hotel on the Esplanade is Oban's War and Peace Museum. It's jam packed with memorabilia, photographs and artefacts that tell the story of life in Oban and Lorn throughout the years. In particular exhibits illustrate the strategic role Oban had in the Second World War when Oban Bay was home to Flying Boats.

Admission is free and it is open Marc-Apr 10am-4pm daily including Sundays. May-Sept 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, Sundays 10am-4pm.

Oban War & Peace Museum, Old Oban Times Building, Corran Esplanade, Oban, Argyll PA34 5PX. Tel: 01631 570007. Email: info@obanmuseum.org.uk

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