Journal of our trip to Oban via Glasgow, by train from London. What we saw, where we went, what we ate, and what to do.
by lulureduk on February 28, 2004
Walking from Oban via beaches and small tracks to get to a nearby beach with the ideal haunted castle on the hill. Being picked up by a royal in their car and given a lift because it was raining. Great time!${QuickSuggestions} If you like whisky, do the tour of the distillery. If you want to take a cruise around the islands, don't bother with the romantic candelit advertised one. The food is below par and none of the islands are visible in the evening, so you are just eating on a boat unable to see anything. Waste of money. Though okay during the day.${BestWay} Walking is the best way to get around, as you can find lovely little footpaths into the hills with great views over the harbour and the islands. Wildflowers, wildlife and beaches, etc., etc. Public transport is okay, if a little scary - windy roads around lochs, etc. Hire a car to see local sights.
Got to Oban on our first night and had decided to just get a bite to eat and sit and watch the sun go down, but it was cold and we were tired after the 9-hour journey, so we looked for somewhere to eat. Found the Indian right behind our hotel. Wasn't overly packed in there, but the food was excellent and the atmosphere okay. Price was good, good value for money. Polite, friendly staff, good food, nice surroundings, easy on the wallet - what more can you ask for?
I HATE fish. My boyfriend loves it. We stay somewhere where you can buy fresh fish and shellfish from the docks in the morning, and of course he wants to try out this restaurant. IT IS THE BEST!, I can say now - even though I hate fish. They do have a limited other menu which has the likes of chicken piri piri on it, which was great, incidentally, but the seafood and fish were amazing. I was impressed. If you don't book, you simply WON'T get in. It is that popular. It has a great atmosphere - romantic, subtly lit, and the prices of meals vary, of course, depending on what you eat. The likes of lobster will set you back a bit, but my boyfriend had a large seafood platter for a reasonable price and we had pudding and wine and it was still under £40 for two of us. If you are in Oban, and want to eat seafood, then try this restaurant - you won't be disappointed.
If you don't book, you simply WON'T get in. It is that popular. It has a great atmosphere - romantic, subtly lit, and the prices of meals vary, of course, depending on what you eat. The likes of lobster will set you back a bit, but my boyfriend had a large seafood platter for a reasonable price and we had pudding and wine and it was still under £40 for two of us. If you are in Oban, and want to eat seafood, then try this restaurant - you won't be disappointed.
Well, on first appearances, you might be a bit disappointed, because you expect a big farm park and from the outside it appears to be just a few fields; but it spreads over a distance. There are winding little paths going around different animals, and wallabies actually just bounce freely - no fencing them in! There is the normal stuff - horses, pigs, bunny rabbits, etc. - and kids can handle them. There are many, many pens with geese and all sorts of birds in them - all of which you can feed. At the very end of the park, they have a section with goats, etc. Don't just turn around because goats are boring. In the far corner, they have a field of reindeer! Yeah, just like Father Christmas has! And to make it more special, they have an albino one. You may buy bags of food, and whilst walking around, offer food to animals, making them come towards you and eat out of your hand. I have a picture of me feeding the reindeer and stroking his antlers (which were furry), and that was priceless. Worth every penny.
At the very end of the park, they have a section with goats, etc. Don't just turn around because goats are boring. In the far corner, they have a field of reindeer! Yeah, just like Father Christmas has! And to make it more special, they have an albino one. You may buy bags of food, and whilst walking around, offer food to animals, making them come towards you and eat out of your hand. I have a picture of me feeding the reindeer and stroking his antlers (which were furry), and that was priceless. Worth every penny.
Well, while you are in Oban, which is known as the "gateway to the isles," it is more than worth going on all of the trips you can pack in, because it is just so beautiful up there! If you are staying in Oban, which I recommend, then it’s a short stroll to the docks, where you can find out about trips around the isles. Just a 10-minute boat trip from the pier, you can see the seal colony - which for children is magical (and adults alike). Further afield, you find the isle of Kerrera, where you can walk to your heart’s content and the scenery really is amazing (keep an eye out for the otters). If you are interested in seeing the isles surrounding Oban, then pick up leaflets from the tourism office on the dock or the ferry terminal. They can help you as much as you need in there - great place. The boats are well kitted out and fine for travelling these short distances. If, however, you do what we did and plan to spend a few romantic nights in Oban, then think again. Not that you can't have romantic nights - because YOU CAN! But not on the boats! We took a romantic sunset cruise (as advertised) with dinner aboard one of the boats in the luxury restaurant. Sounds great, doesn't it?! Well, the sun sets about two minutes after you get out of the harbour, and most islands have only one or two houses on them, so you will see no lights. Outside of the window, you will see BLACK. And nothing else. There is no view after dark. The restaurants on the boats are all okay - nicely set out, BUT the food is a bit bland. You are offered a range of meals from a menu and you tick which one you want and send the form back. Sure, you get the meal that you wanted and it is what they said, but it’s very "out of a carton" tasting. On top of that, the boat seems to pick up a lot of swell even on calm nights, and so a lot of people were in and out of the toilet all night. For us, the peak of the evening was when the so-called entertainment came on and it was three men in silly costumes with bells and hurdy-gurdies singing in an inebriated fashion to some locals who were using the ferry to get back from one of the islands. Most people hid in the room downstairs and counted the minutes till we got back to port. AVOID THIS!
If you are interested in seeing the isles surrounding Oban, then pick up leaflets from the tourism office on the dock or the ferry terminal. They can help you as much as you need in there - great place.
The boats are well kitted out and fine for travelling these short distances. If, however, you do what we did and plan to spend a few romantic nights in Oban, then think again. Not that you can't have romantic nights - because YOU CAN! But not on the boats! We took a romantic sunset cruise (as advertised) with dinner aboard one of the boats in the luxury restaurant. Sounds great, doesn't it?! Well, the sun sets about two minutes after you get out of the harbour, and most islands have only one or two houses on them, so you will see no lights. Outside of the window, you will see BLACK. And nothing else. There is no view after dark. The restaurants on the boats are all okay - nicely set out, BUT the food is a bit bland. You are offered a range of meals from a menu and you tick which one you want and send the form back. Sure, you get the meal that you wanted and it is what they said, but it’s very "out of a carton" tasting.
On top of that, the boat seems to pick up a lot of swell even on calm nights, and so a lot of people were in and out of the toilet all night. For us, the peak of the evening was when the so-called entertainment came on and it was three men in silly costumes with bells and hurdy-gurdies singing in an inebriated fashion to some locals who were using the ferry to get back from one of the islands. Most people hid in the room downstairs and counted the minutes till we got back to port. AVOID THIS!
Well, if you decide to wander the beaten track from Oban, you can get a bus or hire a car and get to Inveraray. It's a pretty little town on the edge of the estuary which has not only a few little things such as the farm park, the tower, and some nice walks, BUT also a castle. When you get off of the coach or park your car, you will see the castle from wherever you stand. It’s quite a spectacular one. If travelling by foot, go to the front where you see the statue overlooking the water, and where the hotel is, and you will see the signpost for the main drive to the castle. If walking, it’s a 10-minute walk up the main drive to where you buy your tickets to go in. You'll find an armoury and turrets - everything you need to have in the essential castle. But the surroundings are just superb. It costs £5.30 per adult, and £3.30 for children. Well worth it, though. There are several ATMs in the town, so if you need money, then find one beforehand, because not everywhere takes all cards.
When you get off of the coach or park your car, you will see the castle from wherever you stand. It’s quite a spectacular one. If travelling by foot, go to the front where you see the statue overlooking the water, and where the hotel is, and you will see the signpost for the main drive to the castle. If walking, it’s a 10-minute walk up the main drive to where you buy your tickets to go in. You'll find an armoury and turrets - everything you need to have in the essential castle. But the surroundings are just superb. It costs £5.30 per adult, and £3.30 for children. Well worth it, though.
There are several ATMs in the town, so if you need money, then find one beforehand, because not everywhere takes all cards.
If you want to get the most out of your trip, then your first stop should be the tourism office, which is on the front pier next to the ferry terminals in Oban. Pick up brochures and take them back to where you are staying, and make a concerted effort to find out what you want to do and see when it is open. There are things well worth visiting outside of Oban, and short ferry rides can get you there. I can't put my finger right now on the castle we went to, but we got the ferry to the island, took a short miniature train trip to the first castle, and then walked to the next castle before it started raining. Locals told us the castle was a 15-minute walk - but an hour later, we were still walking. Their joke, do you think? Anyway, we got picked up by a Lord of the castle and he gave us a lift right into the castle in his car! All around the castle there were pictures of him with the Queen, etc. It made for a very amusing visit. The castle was amazing, the people great, and there was a cafe that served nice food. So look around - a little off the beaten track, but if you've got walking boots or a car, then make the effort, because this area is just filled with amazing things.
Locals told us the castle was a 15-minute walk - but an hour later, we were still walking. Their joke, do you think? Anyway, we got picked up by a Lord of the castle and he gave us a lift right into the castle in his car! All around the castle there were pictures of him with the Queen, etc. It made for a very amusing visit. The castle was amazing, the people great, and there was a cafe that served nice food. So look around - a little off the beaten track, but if you've got walking boots or a car, then make the effort, because this area is just filled with amazing things.
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