Things to do in Oban
-
Seafood Temple
Locally sourced seafood is the god that’s worshipped at this tiny temple – a former park pavilion with glorious views over the bay. Owned by a former fisherman who smokes his own salmon, what must be Oban’s smallest restaurant serves up whole lobster cooked to order, scallops in garlic butter, plump langoustines, and the ‘platter magnifique’ (£60 for two persons), which offers a taste of everything. Booking essential.
reviewed
-
A
Waterfront Restaurant
Housed on the top floor of a converted seamen’s mission, the Waterfront’s stylish, unfussy decor – dusky pink and carmine with pine tables and local art on the walls – does little to distract from the superb seafood freshly landed at the quay just a few metres away.
The menu ranges from crispy-battered haddock and chips to pan-fried scallops with lime, chilli and coriander pickle. There’s an early evening menu (5.30pm to 6.45pm) offering two courses for £11.50, or soup followed by fish and chips for £9.75. Best to book for dinner.
reviewed
-
B
Shellfish Bar
If you want to savour superb Scottish seafood without the expense of an upmarket restaurant, head for Oban’s famous seafood stall – it’s the green shack on the quayside near the ferry terminal. Here you can buy fresh and cooked seafood to take away – excellent prawn sandwiches (£2.75), dressed crab (£4.75), and fresh oysters for only 65p each.
reviewed
-
C
Bowman’s Tours (Stafford St)
From April to October, Bowman’s Tours offers a Three Isles day-trip (adult/child £49/24.50, 10 hours, daily) from Oban that visits Mull, Iona and Staffa. Note that the crossing to Staffa is weather dependent.
Bowman’s also runs a wildlife tour (adult/child £49/24.50) departing from Oban at 9.50am Sunday to Friday from May to July, and returning to Oban at 8pm. The trip takes in a ferry crossing to Craignure on Mull, travel by coach to Fionnphort, and a cruise around Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, plus two hours ashore on Lunga to visit a puffin colony.
reviewed
-
D
Bowman’s Tours
From April to October, Bowman’s offers a Three Isles day-trip (adult/child £49/24.50, 10 hours, daily) from Oban that visits Mull, Iona and Staffa. Note that the crossing to Staffa is weather dependent. Bowman’s also runs a wildlife tour (adult/child £49/24.50) departing from Oban at 9.50am Sunday to Friday from May to July, and returning to Oban at 8pm.
The trip takes in a ferry crossing to Craignure on Mull, travel by coach to Fionnphort, and a cruise around Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, plus two hours ashore on Lunga to visit a puffin colony. There's also a branch in Satfford St.
reviewed
-
E
McCaig’s Tower
Crowning the hill above the town centre is the Victorian folly known as McCaig’s Tower. Its construction was commissioned in 1890 by local worthy John Stuart McCaig, an art critic, philosophical essayist and banker, with the philanthropic intention of providing work for unemployed stonemasons.
To reach it on foot, make the steep climb up Jacob’s Ladder (a flight of stairs) from Argyll St and then follow the signs. The views over the bay are worth the effort.
reviewed
-
F
Ee’usk
Bright and modern Ee’usk (it’s how you pronounce iasg, the Gaelic word for fish) occupies Oban’s prime location on the North Pier. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow diners on two levels to enjoy views over the harbour to Kerrera and Mull, while sampling a seafood menu ranging from fragrant Thai fish cakes to langoustines with chilli and ginger.
A little pricey, perhaps, but both food and location are first class.
reviewed
-
G
Oban Inn
The lively Oban Inn, overlooking the harbour by North Pier, is the best pub in town. It’s a traditional bar with wood panelling, brass rails and stained glass, and has real ales, a wide range of single malt whiskies and good bar food (£7) – the moules frites (mussels and chips) are a local favourite. Food is served from noon to 8.30pm.
reviewed
-
Oban Rare Breeds Farm Park
The Oban Rare Breeds Farm Park is a favourite with children, who get to meet all kinds of animals at close quarters, including rabbits, goats, cows, deer and even llamas. The farm maintains rare breeds of domesticated animals, including Tamworth pigs, Shetland and Soay sheep and longhorn cattle; it is 2 miles east of the town centre.
reviewed
-
Bike Rides
A tourist-office leaflet lists local bike rides, which include a 7-mile Gallanach circular tour, a 16-mile route to the Isle of Seil and routes to Connel, Glenlonan and Kilmore. You can hire mountain bikes from Evo Bikes (566996; 29 Lochside St; ;09:00-17:30 Mon-Sat), opposite Tesco supermarket, for around £15 per day.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Cuan Mor
This always-busy bar and bistro sports a no-nonsense menu of old favourites – from haddock and chips to sausage and mash with onion gravy – spiced with a few more-sophisticated dishes such as scallops with black pudding, and a decent range of vegetarian dishes. And the sticky toffee pudding is not to be missed!
reviewed
-
I
Dunollie Castle
A pleasant 1-mile stroll north along the coast road beyond Corran Esplanade leads to Dunollie Castle, built by the MacDougalls of Lorn in the 13th century and unsuccessfully besieged for a year during the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. It’s always open but very much a ruin.
reviewed
-
J
Oban Chocolate Company
This shop that specialises in hand-crafted chocolates (you can watch them being made) also has a cafe serving excellent coffee and hot chocolate (try the chilli chocolate for a kick in the tastebuds), with big leather sofas in a window with a view of the bay.
reviewed
-
K
Aulay’s Bar
An authentic Scottish pub, Aulay’s is cosy and low-ceilinged, its walls covered with old photographs of Oban ferries and other ships. It pulls in a mixed crowd of locals and visitors with its warm atmosphere and wide range of malt whiskies.
reviewed
-
L
Lorne Bar
A traditional pub with a lovely old island bar, the Lorne serves Deuchars IPA and local Oban Brewery real ales, as well as above-average pub grub. Food is served from noon to 9pm, and there’s a trad music session every Wednesday from 10pm.
reviewed
-
M
Oban Distillery
This distillery has been producing Oban single-malt whisky since 1794. There are guided tours available (last tour begins one hour before closing time), but even without a tour, it’s still worth a look at the small exhibition in the foyer.
reviewed
-
N
Sea-kayaking
Based at North Connel, sea-kayaking coach Rowland Woollven (710417; www.rwoollven.co.uk) offers instruction for beginners and guided tours (around £100 for a full day) for more experienced paddlers in the waters around Oban.
reviewed
-
Rowland Woollven
Based at North Connel, sea-kayaking coach Rowland Woollven offers instruction for beginners and guided tours (£100 for a full day for one person, £60 per person for two or three people), for more experienced paddlers, in the waters around Oban.
reviewed
-
Boat Trips
Various operators offer boat trips to spot seals and other marine wildlife, departing from the North Pier slipway (adult/child around £7/around £5); ask for details at the tourist office.
reviewed
-
O
War & Peace Museum
Military buffs will enjoy the little War & Peace Museum, which chronicles Oban’s role in WWII as a base for Catalina seaplanes and as a marshalling area for Atlantic convoys.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
P
McTavish’s Kitchens
The nightly ‘Scottish show’ here caters to the kilts-and-tartan tourist market, with Scottish country dancing, live bands, piping, fiddle music and Gaelic songs.
reviewed
-
Q
Puffin Adventures
If you fancy exploring the underwater world, Puffin Adventures offers a 1½-hour Try-a-Dive package (£87) for complete beginners.
reviewed
-
R
Kitchen Garden
Deli packed with delicious picnic food. Also has a great little cafe above the shop – good coffee, scones, cakes, homemade soups and sandwiches.
reviewed
-
S
Pulpit Hill
An excellent viewpoint to the south of Oban Bay; the footpath to the summit starts to the right of Maridon House B&B on Dunuaran Rd.
reviewed
-
T
O’Donnells Irish Pub
This Irish bar, opposite Oban Backpackers, has live entertainment – usually Celtic music – most nights.
reviewed
