At a glance
Wildlife boat
£12 adults, £6 children, 1 hour
Dunollie Castle
£6 adults, £3 children
Distillery tours
From £12, with a dram
To Mull
45-minute ferry to Craignure
Oban is a small port town in western Scotland, home to nearly 9,000 people — one of my favourite stops on a holiday around Scotland.
After a few days exploring, these are my top five things to do — plus a day trip across the water if you have time.
The five
01
Eat
Oban Chocolate Company
A dream for a chocolate lover: handmade chocolates by the door, a window onto the chocolatiers at the back, and leather sofas looking over the bay. I had strawberries with melted milk chocolate.
02
On the water
A wildlife boat trip
Allan’s Wildlife Boat Trips run an hour around the shoreline and islands — cormorants, seals, and eagles if you’re lucky. I saw a seal pop its head up as we passed.
03
Viewpoint
McCaig’s Tower
Built in 1897 by banker John Stuart McCaig to give local stonemasons work — 94 arches over two tiers on Battery Hill. A steep 15–20 minute climb, then gardens inside and the whole bay below. Go back for sunset.
04
History
Dunollie Castle
A ruin you see every time you sail in or out of the harbour — a 15-minute walk along the seafront. Castle, museum, woodland trails, gardens and a 19th-century weaving cottage.
05
Whisky
Oban Distillery
Founded in 1794, it’s older than the town — and one of Scotland’s smallest. Tours from £12 explain the process and Oban’s distinctive taste, with a complimentary dram.
The second time, I stayed almost two hours watching the boats come and go as the sun went down.
If you have another day
Isle of Mull · About 2 hours
Tobermory
Ferry to Craignure, then a scenic drive to Mull’s capital — the multicoloured harbour from Balamory. Whale and dolphin trips, an aquarium, a distillery and a museum.
Where to stay
Base
Oban
A great base for the islands and the western coastline — and stay for the sunsets.
