Oban anyone?

We are looking forward to spending a week in Oban soon.  Has anyone been?  Any suggestions on what to see/do?

Yep, i've been.
Couldnt tell you what to see or do, apart from the Folly, cos we spent most of our time in pubs.

Last time I was in Oban 'bout 20 years ago. Probably still the same. Very, very beautiful neck of the woods. I recall a really drunken night in a pub with a couple of Irishmen doing some really good songs. First time I ever bought an album at a 'gig'. The band - Sally's Friends. Don't know if they still exist.

I remember, hazily, doing a lot of hiking. I do recall a ferry trip somewhere too. Mull?

Anyway I do believe you can get a ferry across to Mull and go and visit Balamory!

I think there's a ferry to Islay in the summer as well.... but very infrequent service.

Oban is a really nice place, but i think a week is too long to spend there, unless you just use it as a base and go on daytrips to other places.

Oban is a really nice place, but i think a week is too long to spend there, unless you just use it as a base and go on daytrips to other places.

Agreed. We spent 2 or 3 days there before continuing up to Skye, and that was plenty. It's a very lovely town, but not a whole lot to do if I remember correctly. We mostly used it as a base and went off during the day to tour nearby castles, and drive around the lochs. If we had stayed in Oban longer, we would have looked into doing the ferry trip to Mull.

I think there's a ferry to Islay in the summer as well.... but very infrequent service.

I took the ferry to Islay in April one year.  There's nothing on the island other than a couple houses and a tea room.  It's a nice walk though.  The rest of the trip was spent...umm, a bit unsober.  Couldn't even tell you how the pubs were.

I've been to Oban twice. It's a lovely city during the day but some of the pubs really have a lot of chavs/schemies in them at night time. Even my Scottish husband did't want to step foot in some of the pubs. We went to a great Irish pub. It's on the main road leading into/out of town. They had live music and it was really fun. Also, the seafood restaurant on the main pier (next to a few other restaurants, etc) was amazing! I had a seafood platter that really did compare to some of the best seafood I've ever eaten. Hopefully, you'll have a car and can explore some of the areas around Oban because a week might be rather long as it's not an overly large town. Two last things - the distillery is good and at the top of the town there's this structure that looks like a some Roman ruin - however a local wealthy man had builders build it there for no reason except for giving people jobs. The ironic thing is that  he ran out of money (or went bankrupt?) and so the structure was only half way completed.  It has lovely views of the surrounding bay from it as well. We had fun 

Take the ferry across Mull to Iona.  It is lovely, altough only a day trip I think.  That is where the Scottish kings were traditionally buried. 

at the top of the town there's this structure that looks like a some Roman ruin - however a local wealthy man had builders build it there for no reason except for giving people jobs. The ironic thing is that  he ran out of money (or went bankrupt?) and so the structure was only half way completed. 

the folly. 

Suppose I should have come on and asked about Oban before we booked it.   
Sounds like a good place for a few days, but maybe not so great for a week as a family.
Oh well, we will have a car and be able to do day trips.  We are also planning on going to Balamory. 
It is our first time going on holiday for a week-we usually go to the Isle of Wight for a few days. 
Thanks everyone for your comments/suggestions.   

If the the little seafood hut near the Cal Mac ferry ticket office on the Oban pier is still there they have wonderful prawn sandwiches.

You can add on a trip to Staffa as well.  Although the puffins will be gone by this time of year the caves are still amazing.   

Hi folks, new here but just had to correct a few points.

The "irregular" ferry to Islay mainly runs from Kennacraig and just occassionally from Oban. See newcomer link: http://www.calmac.co.uk/summer-islay-timetable2.html [nonactive]
And yes, I agree, not much to do there. There are however numerous cruises from Oban ranging from Calmacs inner islands services to lots of small independents with trips to Seal Island, Duart Castle etc. Just take a stroll along
the esplanade and you'll find them.

The building on the top of the hill is not the Folly (Locals will be real upset if they hear you call it that!). It's known locally as MacCaigs Tower built by local philanthropist John Stuart MacCaig at the turn of the century. Full details are here newcomer link: http://www.obanargyll.com/mccaigs-tower.html [nonactive]

I would agree that Oban is an ideal base to explore the Highlands and Islands but would take issue that a week is too long - it's probably just about right, perhaps add a couple of days.

Eating out is a pleasure with local seafood and produce high on the agenda - although I reckon it can be a bit pricey.

The Isles of Mull and Iona is well worth a visit but Balamory will be a disappointment.

Enjoy your trip.
John

     

Hi folks, new here but just had to correct a few points.

The "irregular" ferry to Islay mainly runs from Kennacraig and just occassionally from Oban. See http://www.calmac.co.uk/summer-islay-timetable2.html

Youre not correcting this point, matey!   

The REGULAR ferry to Islay runs from Kennacraig, and the IRREGULAR (okay, if you want to call it 'occasional' that's fine!  ) runs from Oban.

But i take your point on the folly one! 

I was in Oban for 2 days in June.  It was just long enough!  It's a lovely town but really, there's not much to do that would last an entire week. 

IF you go to Mull or Iona, make sure you buy your tickets for the island tours BEFORE you leave Oban.  You won't be able to buy them from the TI at Mull.  We made that mistake and ended up at a pub for a few hours instead of seeing the sites.

As far as Oban goes, it's quiet, packed with tourists, a great place to use as a base for day trips.