Oban is a relatively small resort town with a beautiful location on Lorne Bay.The bay here has a shape that exactly resembles a horseshoe, and is protected by the islands of Carrera and Mull from wind and waves.Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the temperature here rarely drops below freezing, even in winter.Local places attract tourists with amazing natural beauty: Queen Victoria herself called Oban "one of the most beautiful towns we have seen".Oban is also known as the 'Gateway to the Isles' due to its busy ferry port, from where ships depart to Mullen and the Western Isles, Lismore, Colonsay, Coll and many other destinations.Well, after all, local whiskey is considered one of the best in Scotland.
A LITTLE HISTORY
People have lived here since the Mesolithic era, and there are many caves around the city, where at one time objects were found to confirm this. Dunolly Castle stands near the main entrance to the bay on the site of fortifications dating back to the Bronze Age. Until the 19th century, however, it was difficult to call a city a city; its inhabitants were engaged in fishing, a little - in trade, built boats. Rare travelers, lovers of wild and harsh nature, stopped by here, but at that time it was still far from the real flowering of tourism.
The growth of modern Oban was spurred by the construction of a distillery in the town in 1794. In 1814 Walter Scott visited these places, and the following year his poem "Lord of the Islands" was published.Interest in the poem caused a surge of interest in the city, to which tourists flowed, at first only in a thin trickle.Surprisingly, after 100 years, tourists came here in droves, and by the middle of the last century, tourism became the main source of the city's economic prosperity.
HOW TO GET
You can only get to Oban by charter flight from Glasgow or Edinburgh.There are daily trains to Oban from Glasgow from Queen Street Station.In addition, the A85 ends in Oban and is served by regular Scottish Citylink buses.The more hardy can reach the city via the National Cycle Network Route 78 from Fort William or Campbelltown.Finally, Oban is still a very busy and busy ferry port.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
Obansky Castle is located in the northern part of the city and looks quite wild and picturesque, although not so much has been preserved from it. The remaining ruins date back to the 15th century, although the first castle on this site was built in the 7th century. The castle belonged to the local MacDougall clan, but in the middle of the 18th century they moved to the estate of the same name, and the fortress was abandoned. Today on the territory you can take a nice walk along the forest paths and the garden, enjoying the views from above of Kerrer and other islands. The Danolli forest path passes right here, along which you can reach the mysterious secret garden of Yves. And in the McDougall collection, located in the castle, there are interesting testimonies about the life of workers and their domestic life in Scotland. These are more than 5,000 objects collected by the last members of the clan, including photos and records.
On the way to the castle, at the end of the town's pretty esplanade and opposite the Barrymore Hotel, is the Oban War Memorial near the lighthouse. The main church of the Roman Catholic community of Argyll and the Islands is St. Columba's Cathedral, which is at the northern end of the esplanade. The cathedral in its current form was built between 1932 and 1959. according to the project of the architect J. R. Scott - the same author of the Waterloo Bridge and the iconic red British telephone booth. Also of interest is the building of St. John's Episcopal Church on George Street.
One of the most characteristic sights of Oban is the structure on the hill above the city, created in the image and likeness of the Roman Coliseum: Mackaig's Tower.The creation of this granite structure cost 5,000 GBP, which at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was an exceptional sum.The construction of the tower was financed by a local benefactor, banker and philanthropist John McCaiga.His goal was, firstly, to perpetuate his name, and secondly, to provide work for local masons in the winter time.
McCaiga had planned to make the tower a museum and much more, but his death put an end to all plans for its further use.
In the Museum of War and Peace, you can familiarize yourself with collections and exhibits made up of objects of historical and cultural interest found in the region both in peacetime and during the war.The museum also operates on the territory of the city distillery (right next to the embankment).Here you can learn more about the history of whiskey production in the city, starting with the very first batch of 1794, and taste the original 80 ° fortress whiskey.
The outskirts of Oban
The places around Oban are simply a paradise for those who like to be in nature in the literal sense of the word: with tents, on bicycles, in a kayak, climbing the hills and diving with a mask and fins.
16 km from the city, on the shores of Creran Lake, there is a reserve of marine fauna.Here you can see seals, otters and many other aquatic inhabitants.The reserve has a beautiful aquarium, and daily programs include feeding its residents, including sharks.The reserve has a forest area with an adventure park for children.There are also good hiking trails, along which you can get to know not only aquatic animals.
The most popular attraction 60 km from Oban is the 19th century Inverery Gaol, which is now a museum.Characters in costumes lead guests around the museum, where you can talk to prisoners, go down into the dungeons, see torture and an exhibition of prison items.In addition, the museum hosts ghost hunting nights for paranormal enthusiasts.
Island of Mull
Mull is easily accessible by ferry from Oban and is a must-see for all visitors to the city. This "wettest" of all the islands of Scotland is at the same time very warm; it is still inhabited by many deer of external species, which gives reason to consider the island lucky (for the Celts, the deer was a village of good luck for animals).
First of all, you should visit Duart Castle - a fortress of the 13th century, which was carefully restored about a century ago by the efforts of Sir Fitzroy Maclean. Today the castle belongs to his grandson and leader of the violent and unruly Clan MacLean, Sir Lachlan. This is a significant fortress, whose location on the cliff is perfect for photographing it from the outside, from the water, and for shooting the surroundings from the castle itself. In the castle, you can explore the dungeons and exhibitions, as well as walk along the Millennium forest path and see wonderful views of the sea.
Another ancient and important attraction of the island is the ancient monastery founded by Saint Columba, highly respected in Scotland, in the middle of the 6th century. In the following centuries (and millennia), this monastery became one of the most important shrines of the country. The wooden abbey of Aion was completely burned down in the 12th century, but already in 1200 a new, stone one was built in its place. And its structures have been perfectly preserved: they are worth seeing if only because Scottish monarchs were buried in the monastery long ago. In total, the remains of 60 kings rest here: 48 rulers of Scotland, 4 - of Ireland and 8 Norwegian monarchs. The monastery houses a museum and here you can see the amazingly beautiful traditional Celtic crosses carved by hand from the stone.
Other charms of Malla are, for example, the so-called silver beach in the west.Calgary Beach appears silver due to the sand being almost pure white;it is surrounded by lush greenery, and the sea here is also very beautiful.There is a distillery on the island, where they produce their own whiskey and even two varieties.The pretty and main town of Mull, Tobermory, with colorful houses on the waterfront and boats moored nearby.
