Oban

 Your travel source with a personal touch!

Oban is justifiably known as the Gateway to the Isles. The town's south pier is the embarkation point for car ferries to Mull, Coll, Tiree, Barra, South Uist, Colonsay, Lismore and Islay. From these islands you can travel further afield to Iona, Staffa and to many of the smaller less well known isles. Argyll is from the old Gaelic word 'Earraghail' which means 'coastline of the Gaels'. Then, the waters around Oban and Lorn were marine motorways transporting people and animals from islands to mainland. Now these same seas are a mecca for water sports enthusiasts with unrivalled sailing, sub-aqua diving, canoeing and sea angling. Walking is popular with most visitors to Argyll and there are plenty of 'Munro's' (Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet) for hill walkers to conquer.

One of these is mighty Ben Cruachan which you can go "up and under". From the visitor centre at Cruachan hydro station you can take a one mile trip into the heart of the mountain to see the water driven generating station fed by the waters of Loch Awe above. If your taste is for something more gentle, a visit to Ardchattan Priory Gardens is recommended. The Priory is Scotland's second oldest inhabited house and it was here that the last Gaelic speaking Scottish Parliament was held in 1308. Gaelic is still spoken in the Oban area and bi-lingual signs are in evidence to show the importance of preserving the cultural heritage.

Traveling to Oban, on the west coast of Scotland, is a joy. Around three hours by car, coach or train from Glasgow or Edinburgh, less than 2 hours from Stirling, the scenic journey is a memorable part of a visit to this bustling sea side town.