Oban & Lorn
Lorn is not just the name of an area of north Argyll; it is the name of an ancient province of Scotland.
With the Firth of Lorne and the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area this is one of the most beautiful, remote and scarcely populated areas of the UK – just what you need to get back to nature and recharge your batteries.
Historically Lorn covered an area from Glencoe and Rannoch Moor, going inland to Loch Awe and sweeping down to the coast to cover lots of small islands.
Right at the heart is Loch Etive the long, narrow seawater loch which stretches 18 miles inland and meets the sea at the spectacular Falls of Lora.
But do not mistake all this open space for emptiness – there are bustling villages and great hotels, restaurants, shops and places to go and things to do.
Along with Lochs Awe and Etive some of Scotland’s most iconic images are here; Ben Cruachan, Kilchurn Castle, St Conan’s Kirk and the Bridge over the Atlantic.
The area is enjoying a tourism renaissance – many of its old hotels and inns have been renovated and seen massive investment in the last few years and they are ready and waiting to be discovered.
Every village has a tearoom and café or two, with some serious home baking on offer, and there are all kinds of ventures promoting local produce from smokehouses to crofters’ signs at the side of the road, selling eggs. Trust us, if all you ever eat is supermarket eggs, you have to go home with a dozen eggs.
Today’s drive for clean, green electricity started here – make sure you visit the Cruchan power station, the massive hydro electric scheme built into the hollowed out mountain in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Then there is the angling – sea, fresh water lochs and rivers; this is serious fly-fishing territory with boat trips, fishing beats and fly fishing tutors. Land a salmon in the River Awe or Orchy or a massive skate at sea.
It was the spectacular scenery, angling and a fledgling sport called mountaineering that brought the first Victorian tourists here. They would approve of everything else on offer here today, from kayaking and sailing to mountain biking and off roading – you can bet they’d love all the modern kit instead of their hobnailed boots and oilskins.