Oban – seafood capital of Scotland
One of the town’s original seafood restaurants used to proudly proclaim ‘from the pier to the pan as fast as we can’ which perfectly summed up the advantage of operating within sight and smell of the sea. Oban’s not unusual on the west coast for having wonderful seafood, but the concentration of award winning restaurants and the success of the thriving shellfish industry around Oban is unique. If it’s top quality food and drink you’re after #VisitOban.
The town is built around its famous distillery and with steep cliffs hedging the perfect horseshoe bay, Oban retains its original Victorian layout. Perched high on Battery Hill, McCaig’s Tower (a Coliseum replica commissioned by philanthropic banker John Stuart McCaig) provides a wonderful view out over the distillery and harbour to the islands of Kerrera, Lismore and Mull. Go at sunset and enjoy stunning scenery as a reward for the steep climb.
If you venture inland, you’ll still find fabulous seafood and fresh shellfish: Argyll’s rich sea lochs stretch like fingers into the glens and produce that unique mix of salinity and peat that produces plump rope grown mussels. Oysters are plentiful too and along with Langoustine are in great demand from continental buyers.
The sea continues to play a huge role in the ebb and flow of life in Oban. Naturally there are plenty of marine tourism activities to experience: go sea-fishing for giant hake, take a whale and dolphin safari or swim with basking sharks. Learn to kayak or perfect your skills at one of several kayak schools. Paddle board or sail or just admire the many yachts and ferries – the town is the west coast terminal for Caledonian MacBrayne and you can take a day-trip to an Inner Hebridean island.
The town welcomes a growing number of visitors afloat who can simply tie up and step ashore from North Pier Pontoons. Oban Marina is across the bay on the Isle of Kerrera, but the water taxis from North Pier provide easy access. Kerrera is a great day trip itself – take your hiking boots and head to the southern tip and Gylen Castle. One of Clan MacDougal’s ruined castles protecting the southern approach to Oban Bay in the same way that Dunollie stands sentinel over the northern approach.
Oban is a beautiful, vibrant and friendly coastal town and it’s the perfect destination for a flavoursome visit – so give the seafood capital a taste and enjoy a morsel or two of west coast living.