Oban

OBAN

Amongst Victorian holiday boom’s most enduring legacies, Oban remains one of Scotland’s most beautiful and rewarding seaside resorts. The ‘Gateway to the Western Isles’ the town stands within an area that has inspired generation after generation of artists, writers and musicians. From the awesome highland backdrop to the dramatic coastline, the legendary sunsets to the magnificent lochs, it is an area filled with enchantment. Originally a fishing village, the construction of the railway in 1880 prompted the arrival of tourists, keen to see the place Queen Victoria called "one of the finest spots we have seen".

The lovely sheltered harbour seems constantly filled with fishing and pleasure boats and the marina offers plentiful moorings for the visiting yachts and powerboats that take advantage of the ‘all tides’ access. The town itself is picturesque, friendly and bustling. You can shop down George Street and explore the small lanes leading away from the centre; eat lunch at one of the cafes on Argyll Street and admire its floral display. In the evening you can wonder at the illuminated Tower amphitheatre that overlooks the bay from the hilltop above the town. There are plenty of opportunities for excursions including the ruins of Dunollie Castle, Dunstaffe Castle and the Scottish Sea Life & Marine Sanctuary.

With so much genuine Scottish magic to offer, is it any wonder they call Oban the unofficial capital of the highlands?