Making the most of Oban Scotland
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Oban is a tender port, with the tender landing in the centre of town.
Take a printable map with you ashore.
Oban has always been known as the traveller's rest. This small town of 8,500 residents is the unofficial capital of the West Highlands, and its population often grows sharply with visitors touring Scotland's Highlands. Oban is celebrated for magnificent gardens and views, an ocean promenade, surrounding islands, old monuments and castles, and outdoor pursuits including diving, hiking, fishing, bird-watching and even whale spotting. Spend a day touring, island-hop or investigate the local sights.
Oban's attractions include the Waterfront Centre, Cathedral of St Columba, Oban Distillery, Dunollie Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle and McCaig's Tower, which commands the skyline. The town also makes an excellent base for seeing Kilmartin Glen.
Getting around
Several excursion boats and ferries operate from Oban. Walk around the bay, follow the signs and select a boat.
Nearby places
Kilmartin Glen lies in Argyll near Kintyre and contains one of Scotland's most important groups of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains. It extends between Oban and Lochgilphead around the village of Kilmartin.
Within a six mile radius of the village are more than 350 ancient monuments, including 150 prehistoric examples. Standing stones, a henge, numerous cists and a “linear cemetery” of five burial cairns are among them. Cup and ring marks decorate several monuments and many natural rocks.
South of the glen, at the edge of the Moine Mhòr or Great Moss, stand the remains of the Scots' fortress at Dunadd, a royal centre of Dal Riata. Kilmartin House Museum of Ancient Culture is in the village and interprets the glen's rich past.
Food and shopping
George Street, the principal shopping area, follows the bay with attractive views towards the Island of Kerrera and beyond. It leads to Argyll Square, whose floral display is framed by more cafés and shops. Small lanes off George Street conceal many additional independent shops worth discovering.
Money
The UK uses the pound (£), sometimes called a quid. Scottish banknotes can be frowned upon elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before departing Scotland.
Cash machines, or ATM, are very widely available and usually issue £10 and £20 notes. They are informally known as ‘holes in the wall’.
Most restaurants and shops accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is used throughout the country, though sometimes with strong accents.
Most cafés and restaurants provide free WiFi.
The local emergency telephone number is 999, although the EU-wide 112 also works.
Opening Hours and
General Shopping hours are:
Small shops trade 6 or 7 days a week from 10am - 6pm. Larger stores generally remain open until 9PM, while Hyper marts are often open 24/7.