Oban - town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

For other places with the same name, see Oban (disambiguation).

Oban (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Òban) is a town in Argyll and Bute on the northwest coast of Scotland. It's a transport hub and most visitors are passing through on the way to the Hebrides, only staying overnight if ferry / train schedules make that necessary; conversely, Hebrideans come here for shopping and other necessities. The main reason to regard Oban as a destination in its own right is for sea sports, including kayaking, scuba-diving, wildlife-watching and fishing. It also has great local sea food.

The main ferries from Oban are to Lismore, Mull, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree and Barra. There are also several little Islands of Loch Linnhe, so close to shore that they're effectively outlying districts of Oban, and that are therefore described on this page. These are Kerrara, Seil, Easdale, Luing and Scarba.

The TIC is Oban iCentre 📍 on North Pier. It's generally open Nov-Mar 10:00-17:00, Apr-Oct 09:00-18:00, Sunday hours shorter.

Get in

By plane

• Glasgow Airport (IATA: GLA) is closest and has a good range of UK & European flights. Hiring a car, turn west onto M8 then cross Erskine Bridge to join A82 north. By public transport you could go into central Glasgow for the bus or train to Oban. But you can save some time by taking a taxi from the airport to Dumbarton Central station, where the Oban trains and buses stop: reckon £20-25. (They don't stop at Dumbarton East station.) Alternatively, one of the Glasgow - Oban buses each day runs direct via Glasgow Airport and is numbered 977 instead of 976 - if the timings suit this can be an easy way to get to the town.
• By car Edinburgh Airport (IATA: EDI) doesn't take much longer and has more destinations. It's west of the city so you turn straight onto M9 north.
• Oban Airport (IATA: OBN), 56.463611°, -5.4°. This has Hebrideanair flights from the islands of Coll, Colonsay, Islay and Tiree. This is basically an airborne school bus service, using BNF Islanders, with a 10-kg total baggage limit. Oban has no flights from the mainland UK network. 2019-06-25

By train

Trains from Glasgow Queen Street run up The West Highland Line to Oban, taking 3 hours 10 min, via Dumbarton Central and Crianlarich. They're every three hours or so M-Sa, with the first running north around 05:20 for 08:30, the last at 18:20 for 21:30. Southbound back to Glasgow the first is around 05:20, the last at 20:30. There's only 3 trains on Sunday.

• Oban railway station, Railway Pier (In town centre next to the ferry terminal.). 2021-09-18

By bus

Scottish Citylink Bus 976 runs from Glasgow Buchanan to Oban via Dumbarton, Arrochar (on Loch Lomond), Inveraray and Connel, taking 3 hours. Three buses run M-Sa, two on Sunday.

Bus 978 runs daily from Edinburgh and takes 4 hours via the airport, Grangemouth, Stirling, Doune, Callander, Crianlarich, Dalmally and Taynuilt.

Bus 918 runs twice M-Sa from Fort William (90 min), where it connects with the bus from Inverness.

The bus stop is at the ferry terminal.

By boat

Oban Ferry Terminal 📍 is the hub for Calmac car ferries to Lismore, Mull, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and Barra. There's also a weekly ferry to Islay, but you're better sailing via Kennacraig. See the island pages for details of these and alternative routes. Oban ferry terminal is next to the railway station.

Booking ahead is always wise, and it's essential for caravans and motorhomes - these are not permitted to join the unbooked stand-by queue. You'd be sent away to make a booking, and if you couldn't sail that day, at least you'd have accommodation. This rule improves space in the queue but is more about capacity to shoehorn cars into odd spaces on the ferry, that couldn't possibly fit a caravan. The policy applies to all Calmac ports (except a few minor "turn up and go" routes) but is especially relevant to the major outbound port of Oban.

Also with a caravan or motorhome, in summer be prepared at check-in to show a pitch reservation at your destination, else you may be turned away. All the Scottish islands have a problem in summer with visitor vehicles camping illegally on the verges and passing places.

See "Get around" for routes to the nearby islands in Loch Linnhe.

Dunstaffnage Marina 📍 is the port for small private craft, on A85 five miles north of town. Cruises of the Hebrides often depart from here.

Get around

Most sights in town can be reached on foot, but some accommodation is up a fairly steep hill.

West Coast Motors run buses in and around Oban. The only one you're likely to use is the 005 / 405, which runs north hourly M-Sa to Dunbeg (a one-mile walk to Dunstaffnage), Connel bridge, Oban Airport, Benderloch and Barcaldine.

Kerrera: Calmac ferries sail from Gallanach, the jetty 3 miles south of Oban, to Kerrara, taking only 5 min. There are over a dozen ferries daily, year-round; mid-morning and mid-afternoon they're every 30 min. Visitor cars are not carried and you don't need one; bikes are free but space is limited.

Seil Island is 20 miles south of Oban and connected by a bridge. A lane branches off to Ellenabeich (Bus 418 runs here from Oban four times M-Sa), with a ferry to Easdale. From the south tip of Seil a car ferry makes the 220-yard crossing to the island of Luing every 30 min. Boat trips sometimes venture beyond, to Scarba and into the straits, site of the seething whirlpool of Corryvreckan. At the right state of tide, its roar can be heard ten miles away. Just beyond is the north tip of Jura, but there's no transport across the straits from here, you have to get in via Islay.

See

• McCaig’s Tower, Duncraggan Rd PA34 5DP, 56.4157°, -5.4692°. 24 / 7. John Stuart McCaig (1823-1902), a local banker, was aiming for something like the Colosseum in Rome. Only the circular shell, dominating the view for miles around, was completed by the time of his death, so within is simply a public garden and picnic spot where the pipe band sometimes plays. The grand interior and heroic statues of himself and family never happened. Free 2019-08-16
• Dunollie Castle, Dunollie House (a mile north of town off Ganavan Rd), 56.4266°, -5.4844°. Apr-Oct: M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. The castle is just a crumbling stump, but there are pleasant gardens and a small museum. Adult £6 2019-08-16
• Dunstaffnage Castle, Dunbeg (on coast 5 miles north of town, take bus to Dunbeg), 56.45471°, -5.43763°. Apr-Sep: daily 09:30-17:30, Nov-Mar: Sa-W 10:00-16:00. Stout, partly ruined castle dating to 13th century, with nearby chapel of similar date. The 16th-century gatehouse is the residence of the hereditary captain - he's still required to stay here three nights a year. Adult £6 2019-08-17
• War & Peace Museum, Old Oban Times Bldg, Corran Esplanade (by North Pier), 56.41584°, -5.47363°. Mar Apr & Nov: daily 10:00-16:00, May-Oct: M-Th 10:00-18:00, F-Su 10:00-16:00. Museum describing Oban's role in wartime and peacetime. Free, donation 2019-08-16
• St Columba's Cathedral, 200 Corran Esplanade, 56.419444°, -5.478889°. The Roman Catholic Cathedral is prominent on the Esplanade. It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who designed the iconic red telephone box) and built in Neo-Gothic style between 1932 and 1959. It's the more interesting of Oban's two cathedrals; its predecessor was St Moluag's on the Isle of Lismore, nowadays a Church of Scotland parish church. 2019-08-16
• St John's Cathedral (Cathedral Church of St John the Divine, Ard-eaglais Eòin an Diadhair), 129 George St, 56.41670°, -5.47349°. Scottish Episcopal (Anglican) Cathedral hidden among the shops on George Street. Building started in 1863 and continued in several phases but lack of funds resulted in the present odd layout, with steel girders propping up unfinished work. 2019-08-16
• Arduaine Garden, Arduaine (A816 20 miles south of Oban), 56.235°, -5.561°. Mar-Jan: daily 09:30-16:00 (closed for repairs until 31 Aug 2022). Gardens and woodlands in the care of National Trust for Scotland, a riot of rhododendrons in early summer. Adult £8, concession £6, NTS / NT free 2022-08-07
• Castle Stalker (Caisteal an Stalcaire). A privately-owned four-storey tower house or keep. Tours may be available through the website. It is set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. The islet is accessible with difficulty from the shore at low tide. The name "Stalker" comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning "hunter" or "falconer". The island castle is one of the best preserved medieval tower houses to survive in western Scotland and is a Category A listed building. The castle was used as one of the locations for the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail as "Castle Aaarrrrgghh". Your Holy Grail will be to find parking nearby. The Castle Stalker View Cafe on the A828 has a distant view of the castle and a carpark for customers. You could buy a tea and walk down the lane just to the south of the cafe to the shore opposite the castle. About further north on the A828 is a free car park beside a paved footpath that has a pleasant 30-min walk to the shore opposite the castle. 2022-10-08

Do

• Oban Distillery, Stafford St PA34 5NH (near TIC), +44 1631 572004, oban.distillery@diageo.com. Daily Dec-Feb: 12:00-16:30, Mar Apr Oct Nov: 09:30-17:00, May-Sep 09:30-19:30. Scotch whisky distillery founded in 1794, now part of Diageo. Frequent tours commended by reviewers. If they're booked out on the website try phoning, they may have availability. Standard tour £12, one hour 2019-08-16
• Boat trips to Mull, Iona and Fingal's Cave are run by West Coast Tours (formerly Bowman's), Caledonian MacBrayne, Turus Mara and Staffa Tours. The West Coast Tours "Three Islands Tour" cost £78 in 2022.
• Boat cruises to St Kilda and other remote Hebridean places sail from Dunstaffnage Marina. These are large live-aboard boats on 7-10 day itineraries. (Day trips use small boats from Skye or Harris, but it's too far for them to venture from the mainland.) Operators include Hebrides Cruises, Majestic Line and St Hilda Sea Adventures. It's best to reserve well in advance.
• Diving: Puffin Dive Centre is at Port Gallanach PA34 4QH, south of town near the ferry pier for Kerrara. You'll want a drysuit, though in summer a chunky wetsuit may suffice.
• Isle of Kerrera 📍 is reached by a short ferry ride from Gallanach south of town. From the landing pier are two hiking trails: south with Gylen Castle and north with Hutcheson's Monument.
• Sea Kayak Oban, 8 Argyll Street PA34 5SG (off main street behind Boots), +44 1631 565310, info@seakayakoban.com. W-M 10:00-16:00. Kayak outfitter leads daily tours and also multi-day trips & courses. You can paddle right out of the harbour or rent a trolley and take your kayak on the ferries. £75 per day 2019-08-16
• Seafari Adventures, Easdale PA34 4TB (20 miles south of Oban, follow B844 onto Seil Island), 56.29423°, -5.65011°. Daily 08:00-20:00. Trips by high-speed RIB around the islands. 2019-08-16
• Oban Games & Argyllshire Gathering are held at Mossfield Park Oban on the fourth Thursday in August, with the next on Th 24 Aug 2023. Lorne Highland Games at the same venue are no longer held.

Eat

• Etive Restaurant, 43 Stevenson St (by main roundabout), 56.411982°, -5.470544°, +44 1631 564899. W-Su 18:00-21:30. Small Scottish restaurant, fine dining. 2022-01-02
• Waterfront Fishouse, No. 1 Railway Pier (next to ferry terminal), 56.412415°, -5.474901°, +44 1631 563110, info@waterfrontfishouse.co.uk. W-Su 12:00-14:00 & 17:30-21:00. Mundane surroundings but this one gets the vote for quality of food and service. Restaurant upstairs, bar food downstairs. 2022-01-02
• Eeusk, North Pier (Red-roofed building on pier), 56.414777°, -5.474774°, +44 1631 565666, reservations@eeusk.com. Daily 12:00-14:30 & 17:30-21:00. Seafood restaurant, decent food but pricey for the quality and portion size, you're paying for the view. Service can be very slow. Mains from £15 2022-01-02
• The Barn is at Cologin 2 miles south, see "Sleep".
• Buy fresh seafood from the kiosks on the Railway Pier and dine al wafto - waving your hands about your head against marauding gulls and midges.

Drink

Oban is the subject of an ode by the great McGonagall - see Dundee for his career and other poetic gems. That's mentioned here because it will help if you also chug some whisky: before reading him, after, and even better instead of.

• Markie Dans, 1 Victoria Cres, Corran Esplanade, 56.418356°, -5.474805°, +44 01631 564448. 11:00-01:00. 2022-01-02
• Lorne Bar, Stevenson Street, 56.41251°, -5.470454°, +44 01631 570020. M-Th 12:00-01:00, F-Su 12:00-02:00. Dog-friendly, does good food. 2019-01-21
• Aulay's Bar, 8 Airds Crescent, PA34 5SQ, 56.412513°, -5.471706°, +44 01631 562596. Daily 11:00-00:30. Friendly traditional pub, dogs welcome. Bar lunches 12:00-14:30. 2021-09-05

Sleep

Budget

• Oban Caravan & Camping Park, Gallanachmore Farm, Gallanach Rd PA34 4QH (on coast 3 miles south of town), 56.388°, -5.518°, +44 1631 562425. Open April-Sept. Pitches for tourers, static caravan hire, camping pods plus tent sites. Well run with great views. Tent £18 2019-08-16
• Roseview Caravan Park (formerly Oban Divers), Glenshellach Road PA34 5QJ (2 miles south of town), 56.392°, -5.500°, +44 1631 562755. Open Mar-Oct. Plus bunkhouse, bothy and camping pod. No on site cafe or bar. Caravan £24, tent £20 2019-08-16
• Oban Backpackers, Breadalbane St PA34 5NZ, 56.41770°, -5.47270°, +44 1631 562107. Hostel open Mar-Oct with 6, 8, 10 & 12 bedded dorms. No private rooms, so families with children must block-book a dorm. Clean, friendly and cosy. Around £20 ppn 2019-08-16
• Backpackers Plus, Old Church, Breadalbane St PA34 5PH (in church next to Oban Backpackers), +44 1631 567189, info@backpackersplus.com. Hostel open all year, with dorms and private rooms. Large communal area with kitchen, dining area, and lots of seats and beanbags. Clean and friendly. Dorm £22 ppn, rooms £27 ppn 2019-08-16
• Oban Youth Hostel, Corran Esplanade PA34 5AF (next to Oban Bay Hotel), +44 1631 562025. Hostel open all year, dog-friendly. 4-, 6- and 8-bed dorms plus private rooms in a large Victorian building on the Esplanade. Dorm £21 ppn, room £75 2019-08-14
• Corran House, Victoria Crescent, Corran Esplanade, PA34 5PN, 56.41813°, -5.47490°, +44 1631 566040. Open all year, has private guest rooms (but no singles) plus dorms in main building, more private rooms in Ayres Guest House alongside. With Markie Dan's Bar. Dorm £20 ppn, rooms from £80 2019-08-16
• Dana Villa, Dunollie Rd PA34 5PJ, +44 1631 564063, +44 7749 717 976 (mobile), edna.payne@btopenworld.com. Friendly well-run guest house with rooms en suite. B&B double £90 2019-08-16
• Kerrera Tea Garden and Bunkhouse, Island of Kerrara (50 min walk from ferry), 56.385°, -5.555°, +44 1631 566367, info@kerrarabunkhouse.co.uk. April-Sept. Open Apr-Sep, small bunkhouse (sleeps 7) on the island of Kerrara that shelters Oban harbour; also bell tent. Take ferry from Gallanach 1.5 miles south of Oban (foot passengers only, last ferry at 18:00), this brings you midway along Kerrara then it's a 50-min hike to the bunkhouse near the south tip. They can pick you up from the landing pier. Tent £45 / night 2019-08-16
• Woodcroft Shepherd's Hut (Woodcroft), Woodcroft, Connel, Argyll, PA37 1RN, 56.4366°, -5.3904°, info@woodcrfot.scot. A Shepherd's hut on a croft 15 minutes drive (7 miles) from the centre of Oban. Sleeps 2. from £80 2022-05-05

Mid-range

• Glenroy Guest House, Rockfield Road PA34 5DQ, +44 1631 562585, mail@glenroyguesthouse.co.uk. Clean, friendly guesthouse with five doubles & one twin room. No children under 11 or dogs. Up a steep hill, take a taxi if you're heavily laden. B&B double £80 2019-08-16
• Oban Bay Hotel, Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AE, 56.41966°, -5.47965°, +44 1631 564395. Undergoing refurbishment, rooms at front are nicely done up, it's a mess at the back. B&B double from £135 2019-08-14
• Queens Hotel, Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AG (a mile north of centre), 56.42082°, -5.48124°, +44 1631 562505. Now a Best Western, clean and well-run. B&B double from £100 2019-08-14
• Columba Hotel, Esplanade, Oban PA34 5QD (next to TIC), +44 1631 562183, columba@sgehotelgroup.com. As it is on the North Pier, rooms on three sides have sea views, some rooms at the back can be noisy from the pubs below. B&B double from £110 2019-08-14

Splurge

• Cologin Country Chalets and Lodges, Cologin, Lerags Glen PA34 4SE (off A816 three miles south of Oban), 56.378°, -5.477°, +44 1631 564501. Self-catering in 15 two bedroom lodges and 4 one bedroom chalets (let Saturday-Saturday), plus Cruachan Cottage and Cologin Farmhouse (let Friday-Friday). Shorter lets available off season. Dogs welcome in some rooms. With on site restaurant and bar. Chalet £400 / week 2019-08-16
• Manor House Hotel, Gallanach Road, PA34 4LS (half a mile west of railway station), 56.4112°, -5.4828°, +44 1631 562087. Old-style 4-star hotel, good restaurant. B&B double from £200 2019-08-16
• Pierhouse, Port Appin PA38 4DE, 56.553°, -5.414°, +44 1631 730302. Excellent little hotel next to ferry pier for Lismore, great restaurant. B&B double from £250 2020-05-20
• Airds Hotel quarter of a mile from the Pierhouse also gets rave reviews for comfort and food.
• Loch Melfort Hotel, Arduaine PA34 4XG (next to Arduaine Garden, 20 miles south of Oban), +44 1852 200233. Friendly, comfy hotel with great sea views, fronting onto Arduaine Garden. Dogs welcome. B&B double from £200 2020-05-23
• Perle Oban Hotel & Spa, Station Sq, 56.4130°, -5.4722°, +44 1631 700301. Upscale hotel with views of the sea. 2022-09-21

Connect

As of July 2021, Oban town centre has 4G from EE and Vodafone, but a poor signal from Three or O2, and there's little coverage further out. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Sail west on a ferry. A day trip is enough to see Lismore; Mull and Iona can be done as a day trip but deserve longer. Further away are Coll, Tiree, Colonsay, Barra and Lochboisedale on South Uist.
• Go north to Fort William for Ben Nevis, and routes to Loch Ness and Skye.
• Go south to Tarbert (for ferries to Islay) and Kintyre. On the way see Arduane Garden, the extensive prehistoric area of Kilmartin and the island of Gigha.
• Go southeast towards Glasgow, seeing Inveraray, the Cowal peninsula and Loch Lomond.