The charming lesser-known seaside town home to some of the best fish and chips in the UK is surrounded by stunning scenery and serves as a key ferry port for those looking to explore the islands. Oban in Argyll and Bute is a holiday destination whose population triples during peak season, as visitors from across the country and beyond arrive for a wide variety of reasons.
Reach's Milo Boyd found himself in Oban while travelling through the Hebrides, initially to explore the breathtaking island of Lismore - among the few remaining places in the UK home to ancient rainforest and celebrated for the remarkable diversity of its plant life - and subsequently to the Isle of Coll, which hosted 2023's Detour Disco. While on Coll, a couple who operate Tartan Tours guided him around the island and, between highlighting the distinctive features of the terrain, revealed how the bulk of their work involved escorting American retirees around Oban and its environs.
A Gateway to the Highlands and Hebrides
The seaside town serves as a focal point for those keen to trace their Scottish ancestry, given its closeness to historic strongholds Tefour Broch and Castle Coeffin. The rural landscape encircling the town was formerly the territory of Clan MacDougall, who dominated much of the Hebrides. Oban's standing is perfectly encapsulated by its well-known moniker, 'the gateway to the Highlands', a reputation borne out by the number of American tourists Milo spotted strolling its streets and browsing tins of tartan biscuits in the many gift shops.
Unlike other popular and frequently visited spots along the tourist trail, such as stops on the North Coast 500 and destinations like Pitlochry, the concentration of Highland Coo fridge magnets and kilt shops remains at a bearable level in Oban. Put simply, it possesses the vibrant energy of a well-visited destination while retaining the authentic feel of a bustling, working town during the quieter months.
Seafood Capital of Scotland
During Milo's stay, he dined at the Olive Garden restaurant, a charming Italian eatery perched on the dockside, as well as the Taj Mahal curry house, which served extraordinarily generous portions following a lengthy, heavily delayed train journey from London. Should you find yourself in Oban, failing to visit one of the local chippies would be a terrible mistake. The outstanding quality of its fish and chip establishments and the exceptional freshness of their seafood have secured Oban a coveted place on Tripadvisor's list of the top eight fish and chip shops in the UK.
There is also great seafood to be had in Oban. "In most British coastal settlements, you're never more than a spud's throw from a fish and chip shop, but Oban - which takes its name from the Gaelic word for 'little bay' - is so blessed by the spoils of the surrounding waters that it earned the nickname 'the seafood capital of Scotland'," the travel review website writes. "The area's bracingly chilly inlets teem with langoustines, lobsters, oysters, scallops, and mussels, which can be enjoyed in restaurants like the Michelin-recommended Etive and the tartan-carpeted dining room at The Manor House Hotel Oban, which occupies the 1780 Georgian estate of the 5th Duke of Argyll."
Attractions and Distillery
Also dating back to the 18th century: The Oban Distillery, one of the smallest in Scotland, celebrated for its Highland-style single-malt whiskey. The town itself boasts a wealth of attractions - not least a pint at the 234-year-old Oban Inn on the waterfront - yet its greatest appeal lies in the unrivalled access it provides to both the Highlands and the Hebrides. Numerous passenger and car ferries depart from the harbour daily, serving a wide range of islands stretching up the length of the chain.
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