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The town
of Oban Argyll is not only a sizeable town with many facilities,
it is also a beautiful west coast port serving many of
the inner Hebridean islands, such as Lismore, Mull, Coll,
Tiree, Iona, and Colonsay, as well as Barra on the outer
hebrides. Many tourists make Oban a base for a week or two while
touring the area.
This
beautiful town is west facing and the sheltered harbour exists
through the fortuitous position of the Island of
Kerrera, which acts as
a weather guard for Oban Bay. During the second world war,
seaplanes were based here as there was shelter and good supply
routes.
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The town
nestles in an amphitheatre with the monument of McCaig's tower
the crowning glory.
The good citizens of Oban have been the subject of
fierce religious competition over the years and has a number of
churches as well as two cathedrals. This town is also the major
gateway to many of the islands with Caledonian MacBrayne Car
ferries coming and going throughout every day. |
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Oban has
good facilities, including many restaurants, hotels, guest
houses, bed and breakfast establishments, shops, cafes, garages,
supermarkets and a cinema. It is the largest town in the area
but still manages to give a feeling of being quaint. There is
also an excellent Malt Whisky Visitor centre at Oban
Distillery which should not be missed.
There are
excellent facilities for boats and divers within the town and
also a few miles away at Dunstaffnage as well as at Oban Marina
on Kerrera. There are also
launch slipways which can be used freely. The local sailing club
is very small in comparison to similar clubs from smaller towns,
but long term mooring can usually be arranged locally for
visiting yachts.
Oban is
often described as the gateway to the isles which would appear
to be the case when considering the ferry services from Oban bay
to:, Kerrera,
Mull, Barra,
Coll,
Tiree,
Lismore and
Colonsay. There are 2
ferries to Kerrera, one from the North Pier to Oban Marina and
the other which serves the mid and south of the island from a
slipway about 2 miles south of the town.
Oban Marina
The marina is based at Ardentrive bay on Kerrera overlooking
Oban bay. Although there is temporary or occasional mooring
along the seafront at Oban the Marina offers a better
alternative for most. They offer pontoon berthings as well as
swinging moorings and the facilities now include the Waypoint
Bar and Grill, modern shower facilities a laundry room and
complimentary shuttle service to the town from early morning
until late evening. The marina have ambitious expansion plans to
continue to add quality berthing and services.
Oban
Seaplane
There is now a regular daily seaplane service from the
centre of Glasgow (Science Museum docks) to Oban Marina. This a
short 25 minute hop in a new 9 seat Cessna.
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