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About Oban/Out and about

Oban (n Scottish Gaelic means ‘Little Bay’) is a picturesque fishing town on the West Coast of Scotland. Built around a natural bay, it is hard to escape the sight of the sea. Oban is also surrounded by islands, the nearest, Kerrera being only accessible 5 minutes ferry trip away. Caledonian MacBrayne run ferries from Oban to Mull, Coll and Tiree, Lismore, Barra and South Uist and Colonsay, and due to this, Oban has come to be known as the Gateway to the Isles.

Oban itself has a great many places to eat and drink, from small cafes and takeaways to top class restaurants. The Seafood Capital of Scotland, has no shortage of places to enjoy the locally caught delights. The Waterfront Restaurant is situated on the South Pier and is renowned for serving “Fine Dining” whilst being comfortable, welcoming and child friendly. For fine views across Oban Bay visit Ee-usk where you can enjoy all the local fish catches of the day.

It also has a wide range of shops and supermarkets. There is a pleasant sandy beach about 2 miles from TANGLIN with parking facilities. Atlantis Leisure 2 minutes walk away comprises of a large swimming pool with flume as well as tennis, badminton and squash courts along with fitness classes and a gym. There is also our community cinema, Oban Phoenix at the bottom of our street and many of the local pubs have a variety of live entertainment on offer. If you want to learn a new skill, diving, sailing and kayaking is available locally around Oban bay.

From Tanglin you can walk along to Dunollie woods with its paths and walks. Here there are many birds from our native blackbird to our more speedy summer visitors the swift and the swallow. Occasionally that rare but most interesting of sights can be seen; the red squirrel. You can take the woodland walk along to Dunollie Castle, the ancestral home of Clan MacDougall. Its also possible is to continue walking to Dunstaffinage castle.

For those visitors who are interested in the abundance of birds and wildlife in the surrounding area, there are boat trips to local islands where puffins, kittiwakes, fulmars and much, much more can be seen. There are several tours available, including trips to the Treshnish Isles and the Isle of Staffa where Fingals cave can be visited. You can visit the infamous Corryvreckan Whirlpool which is closer to Oban, Seafari Adventures (Oban) provides the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, sharks and porpoises while enjoying the ride on one of the RIBs. On the mainland is the Oban Seal Sanctuary where visitors can watch the rescued seals and seal pups being fed as well as the otters and various types of fish in their pools and tanks.

So many tourists these days look upon Oban as simply a stopping off place en route to their next destination. Though the town itself offers the discerning visitor a wealth of things to do and see, its real advantage lies in its central position to so much of interest in Argyll and the Western Isles. Below are some suggestions for a week’s touring using Oban as a base.

DAY 1
Circular tour visiting atmospheric Glencoe, notorious for the massacre that took place there in 1692; Cruachan Hydro-Electric Power Station deep within the mountain; the wild and beautiful Glen Orchy; the stunning bulk of Buchaille Etive Mor; the wildness of Rannoch Moor; pretty Port Appin and Castle Stalker set in its breathtakingly beautiful location. The Oban Sea Sanctuary at Benderloch is another possible stop especially for family groups.
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DAY 2
No stay in Oban is complete without a trip to Iona. Most of our guests include a trip to the world heritage sites of Iona and Staffa by way of the beautiful island of Mull. Iona, the Holy Island, is the cradle of Christianity in this land and has a peace and tranquillity, whether in the Abbey or on its famed silver sands, that is appreciated by pilgrim and tourist alike. Staffa, with its basalt columns and Fingal’s Cave, has inspired visitors throughout centuries including Dr Johnson, Queen Victoria and Felix Mendelssohn who wrote his famous overture after visiting the island.
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DAY 3

Easdale, Seil Island and Luing. South of Oban is the Island of Easdale, where slate was quarried for many years. There is a regular ferry to the island where you can visit the museum and walk around to see the sea-filled slate quarries devastated by the great storm of November 1881. Easdale is the base for Sea.fari Adventures offering high adventure in rigid inflatables and the thrill of close encounters with Scotland’s magnificent bird and sea life.

En route, you will cross the Bridge over the Atlantic which separates the mainland from the Island of Seil. The nearby pub ‘Tigh an Truish’ – the House of Trousers is where the Highlanders would discard the hated trousers they were forced to wear after the ’45 Rebellion and put on their plaid kilts once again. Another ferry leaves Cuan for the beautiful island of Luing where cycles may be hired by the energetic.

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DAY 4
Inveraray – The Castle, home of the Duke of Argyll; Inveraray Jail, Scotland’s living 19th century courtroom and prison; Inveraray Maritime Museum aboard the Arctic Penguin, a 1911 3-masted schooner; the Bell Tower of All Saints’ Episcopal Church containing Scotland’s finest bells and the 2nd heaviest ring of 10 in the world. There is much more to see and do in this charming town. The most direct route to Inveraray is via Lochawe (visit St Conan’s Kirk on the loch side or even take a steam launch to the much photographed and stunning Kilchurn Castle) and returning by Auchindrain Township, Crarae Gardens and Lochgilphead.
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DAY 5
Kilmartin Glen is where Argyll’s ancient past comes alive. Over 5000 years of human history are traced across the Kilmartin valley and at least 150 prehistoric sites lie within 6 miles of this quiet village; burial cairns, rock-carvings, standing stones and the 1st century fort of Dunadd where you can place your feet in the ‘King’s Shoes’, strange footprints in the rock into which the new king would stand for his inauguration. The museum is a must and the café there offers good homebaking. On the way to Kilmartin, visit the National Trust for Scotland Arduaine Garden, the picturesque Ardfern and Craignish Peninsulas, home to a number of artists and craftworkers. A visit to the Crinan Canal is also a possibility and the tiny sheltered inlet of Tayvallich.
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DAY 6
Kerrera, the island nestling in Oban Bay and giving much shelter to the town, has much to offer the independent-minded visitor who appreciates wildlife, history and scenery. Duncan the Ferryman will carry you across to this unique island where locals and wildlife live in harmony in a beautiful and unspoilt landscape. Kerrera is ideal for a day’s walk, exploring and looking out for sea and golden eagles, hen harriers, peregrines and gannets. Sea otters and seals abound and you may spot dolphins, porpoise and even the odd whale. The Tea Garden is open during the season for homemade soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones.
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DAY 7

Finally, the very beautiful island of Mull, often overlooked by tourists, needs at least another day to fully appreciate all that it offers. Duart Castle, seat of the Clan McLean, stands sentinel on the approaches; the glorious gardens of Torosay Castle reached by Mull’s own little railway; the pretty town of Tobermory with its colourwashed houses, distillery and much more.

The most common theme running through in our Visitors’ Book is ‘We will see you again’. This part of Argyll offers so much more than we can describe here and visitors return again and again to savour more of its beauty and majesty. We hope you will want to come and spend a few days with us at Tanglin Guest House and see Oban and the West Highlands for yourselves. You will not be disappointed.

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CALEDONIA MACBRAYNE
cruise Tours
The ferry terminal, OBAN
Tel: 01631 566688
Brochure line: 01475 650350
email: enquiries@calmac.co.uk
www.calmac.co.uk
BOWMANS COACHES MULL LTD
Waterfront, Railway Pier, OBAN
Tel: 01631 563221
email: info@bowmanstours.co.uk
www.travelscotland.com
www.westcoasttours.co.uk
TURUS MARA Seabird & wildlife
Freephone : 0800 85 8786
www.turusmara.com
MULL WILDLIFE TOURS

Contact Peter T Hall
Tel : 01680 812440
www.mullwildlifetours.co.uk

SEA.FARI ADVENTURES
Tel: 01852 300003
www.seafari.co.uk
OBAN ADVENTURE DAYS
Tel: 01631 566080
www.stramash.org.uk
SCOTTISH CITYLINK COACHES
Tel : 0871 266 3333
www.citylink.co.uk
SCOTRAIL
Tel : 0845 748 4950
www.scotrail.co.uk
SCOTTISH SEA LIFE SANCTUARY
Tel : 0871 423 211
www.visitsealife.com
CRUACHAN POWER STATION
( The hollow mountain)
Tel : 01866 822618
email: visit.cruachan@scottishpower.co.uk
www.visitschuchan.co.uk
OBAN DISTILLERY
Stafford St, OBAN.
email: oban.distillery@diageo.com
Tel: 01631 572004
www.discovering-distilleries.com
DISCOVER GLENCOE
www.discoverglencoe.com
INVERARAY CASTLE
Tel : 01499 302203
www.inveraray-castle.com
INVERARAY OLD JAIL
Tel: 01499 302381
www.inverarayjail.co.uk
OBAN ADVENTURE DAYS
www.stramash.org.uk
Tel: 01631 566080
SKIPINNISH CEILIDH HOUSE
www.skipinnish.com
Tel: 01631 569599
email: info@skipinnish.com
SEA KAYAKING COURSES
www.seakayakoban.com
Tel: 0845 436 036
email: info@nationalkayakschool.com