[Closed] Recomend a hotel/things to do in Oban?

Ferry someplace for the day?

[url= http://www.kerrera-ferry.co.uk/ ]Kerrera[/url]

Nice for a walk or a ride.

Stayed here once http://www.manorhouseoban.com/ - it was good in a sort of everyonelesehereisalotolderwithbettercarsthanus type of way.

Brekkie was nice.

Failing that, this is nice too http://www.eriska-hotel.co.uk/ stayed in a cottage which was excellent. We were working there on the Isle at the time so the accomodation was free.

Dunstaffnage castle is about 4 miles north of Oban, and there should be a sea-life centre near Oban (I vaguely recall).

Otherwise, as an 80 mile round trip, go south to Cairnbaan and the Crinan canal (v. picturesque) with various places to stop on the way back including some national trust gardens ('Arduaine') or return via Loch Awe.

Best of luck.

Boat trip around the various islands and stuff? Google throws up a good few wildlife spotting trips

My Parents live in Oban, The car is pretty necessary to get about around there, but if its just for the day there is plenty to be getting on with in and around the town.

Distillery http://www.oban.org.uk/listing/Oban-Distillery

Kerrera is a good shout and there is a restaurant over there now who pick you up from the bay and take you over and bring you back.

Seal tours

Taxi to Ganavan for the beach would be cheap.

just a thought...

http://www.obanbedandbreakfast.org/ fantastic ride out the back of here over to kilchrenan

😉

Andy

Ferry across to Mull for the day ?

Mull as said already - even Iona by ferry/bus if that is thier thing, but long (slow) travel.
Also try the smokehouse at Inverawe as a wee trip.
Bridge over the Atlantic and Isle of Seil is ace, lunch at Croabh Haven?

I always used to like watching all the water disappear out of the harbour as the Mull(?) ferry came in, then raced back in swamping anyone who wasn't paying attention.

Inverrary is nice for a stroll, and has a castle and a jail for visiting. Might be too far from Oban for you, but perhaps on the way up?

IIRC there is a fantastic river walk on the way to Oban. The schist bedrock has been sculpted out into a series of bowls and cauldrons. Glen Orchy (?). Doubtless someone will correct if necessary!

Goto the Seafood Temple for dinner. It's still one of the best places we have ever eaten. It's unpretentious with very fine food and is a converted Victorian toilet block to boot. Try it, it really is excellent.

Rkk01, +1 for River Orchy, +1 For Inverary

Try the Coast resturnt for a nice meal, Castle Stalker cafe on the way to Fort Bill after doing Sea Life Center

Robins Nest in Taynuilt best home made cakes, think the ferry up glen Etive still goes from Taynuilt, seals, Eagles etc

My Parents live in Kilchrenan nice little village on Loch Awe, nice round trip on SINGLETRACK road from Oban!!!! (passing places and timber lorries)

Kilmartin/Lochgilphead/Crian Canal ok to visit

Some nice sea kayaking in the area.

My Parents live in Kilchrenan nice little village on Loch Awe, nice round trip on SINGLETRACK road from Oban!!!! (passing places and timber lorries)

I suggested this from the other way round! as my parents live on the other end of that exact road which comes out just south of Oban in Kilmore on Musdale road.

[quote> http://www.obanbedandbreakfast.org/ fantastic ride out the back of here over to kilchrenan

Cheers all. Any other hotel recommendations? We'll need to stay in the town itself, as I will be disappearing with the car for the day and they'll be transport-less.

Some nice sea kayaking in the area.

Given the weather last weekend, it might be a Shackleton style adventure 🙂

A few of us of heading up there in June, so I will be checking out some of the above too 🙂

[i]Inverrary is nice for a stroll, and has a castle and a jail for visiting[/i]

Seconded. That was a good day out when we stayed in Oban. We also found out Emma Thompson lives there when we bumped into her.

I spent all my childhood holidays in Oban during the "Glasgow Fair", the caravan site at Ganavan sands is now a load of posh houses.

Take a drive up to McCaigs tower (pretty steep walk), nice view of the town.

There are a few very central hotels, the Caledonian (poor parking if i remember rightly) its near the ferry terminal and the Royal Hotel, no idea if they are any good though. There are plenty of B&B's along the sea front. Have a good trip.

My parents BnB is 10 minutes out of Oban, there is a bus service and taxis 😉

Also my dad can show you the road to kilchrenan 😉

Always has a buzz around the pier but that aside I'm not a big fan of Oban town itself. We stayed here the last time we were up:

http://www.oysterinn.co.uk/

Food was good and the Falls of Lora / Otters are a constantly changing attraction just 2 mins from the front door. They have both rooms and bunkhouse accommodation. The bunkhouse rooms are good (en suite / walk in showers etc)

Your folks will probably qualify for cheap train travel - again the train station at Connel takes you quickly to Oban also Taynuilt (Bonawe Furness)and Cruachan (power station)are also worth a visit.

Cheers all. Any other hotel recommendations? We'll need to stay in the town itself, as [b]I will be disappearing with the car for the day and they'll be transport-less[/b].

😯

Day trip to Balamory then would be my recommendation

[img] [/img]

Although don't ask to go to Balamory... its not real. 😉

Although don't ask to go to Balamory... its not real.

😥

it's there, its just called tobermory 😉 not all is lost.

This is maybe a Dad thing, but if there's an interest in Awesome Engineering, [url= http://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/guidedtour/ ]Ben Cruachan[/url] is about 20 miles away. Impressive because of the 440 MW hydro electric power stationbuilt inside the mountain. A bus takes you on a 1km trip into (yup, inside) the mountain. When you see the turbine hall, you expect hear the Bond theme and see guys in beige boiler suits abseiling down the side.
fantastic scenery and an osprey nest in the mobile phone tower on the other side of the loch.

[s]Balamory[/s]Tobermory's nice, and the pub where that pic above was taken used to be pretty good, nice day, sit outside enjoy the nothing really happening vibe.

Ferry to Iona (ferry to Mull then drive to Fionnphort(?) is good. car on ferry tends to be expensive, there might be a bus from craignure to Fionnphort The abbey was a bit of a ddisappointment and I wish i'd taken the option of a horse drawn trip round the island (few years back mind, so maybe not there any more). There were dolphins spotted, so the ferry driver took us all to have a look.

Ben Cruacahan also has an awesome east to west circular route around the peaks take about a day though.

it's there, its just called tobermory not all is lost.

And the copious amounts of overpriced Balamory tat are real.

sea kayaking? OH YEAH! One of the best places in Britain. Speak to http://www.seafreedomkayak.co.uk/

Sticking to the fact that your parents won't have their own transport, and are 70 so probably won't be keen on sea kayaking...

There is a small museum in Oban itself dedicated to how Oban was during WW2. Was quite interesting for 30-45 mins when I was last there. No idea what else could be done to pass the time though!

Day trip to Mull if weather any good. Bus to Iona, leave Oban 10ish rtn 6ish. Lot of traveling but Iona on a good day stunning. Day trip to Tobermory, shorter day possibly. Day trip to Duart Castle. Possible also to do trips to Staffa. Also possible to do non landing cruise to Mull, just under 2 hours for this.
Staying in Oban there is the open top bus tour taking in various sights in the area.

Other hotels to consider include the Caledonian (bang in the middle of town next to the buses, train, ferries and taxis) and the Oban Bay (a bit further out along the Esplanade but with a cracking view over the bay).
Things to do that don't require a car - many of which have been said so sorry if I'm repeating - day trip to Mull (and then either Iona or Tobermory), small boat trips to see the seals, open top bus tour, war and peace museum, for the stately home thing try Dunollie House (short taxi trip probably required), cinema (if it re-opens in time), Scottish show in Skippnish Ceilidh house or there maybe something on in the Corran Halls depending on which weekend you're up here.

I spent a new year there in 1999, I went with fond memories of childhood holidays...It was rather different after dark. Local yoofs were knocking lumps out of each other and then we rather foolishly bought tickets for a dance in one of the hotels right in the centre of town on the 1st. Which appeared to descend into a fight set to music as the drink flowed.