Scottish Family Adventure (Part Three) - Oban

The journey from the Isle of Skye to our final destination, the seaside town of Oban took approximately 4 hours. We arrived at our accommodation, a two-bedroom lodge on the outskirts, around mid-afternoon. We headed into town for supplies and to take a stroll along the promenade. Oban has lots to offer by way of activities and attractions for tourists ranging from a tour of the distillery to a visit to the ruined Dunollie Castle. There are plenty of small galleries and independent shops and a small museum. Lunch at The Seafood Hut with its distinctive green roof on Calmac pier is a must. This informal shack serves the most amazing fresh seafood platters.

If you want to venture further afield you can get the passenger ferry over to the Island of Mull, well-known for the coloured houses of Tobermory. The ferry gets booked up very quickly so I would recommend booking at least a week in advance. You can also drive 30 minutes out of Oban to Cruachan Power Station hollowed out of a mountain on the banks of Loch Awe. Just be aware that it is closed on weekends (as we found out the hard way). You can also take a drive to Easdale Island, 15 miles south of Oban. This is the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. I recommend a visit to Easdale Island Folk Museum which is run by volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge about the history of the island which was once the centre of the Scottish slate mining industry.

On our last day in Oban we went on a wildlife tour with Coastal Connection. The sun was shining as we set sail past Lismore Lighthouse, which is now a privately-owned holiday home, to a working fish farm. We saw a plethora of wildlife including Guillemots, Gannets, Terns and a colony of seals and were also lucky enough to spot a Sea Eagle in its nest. Binoculars were provided and the trip was guided by the very knowledgeable skipper Cameron.

We had an amazing time in Scotland and would thoroughly recommend seeing for yourselves what it has to offer.