POPULAR seaside town Oban has been crowned Scotland’s town of the year at an awards ceremony and there’s plenty to see and do in the area.
It scooped the gong at the Scotland Loves Local Awards after having recently hosted the Royal National Mod festival, welcoming 10,000 visitors.
With the town picking up the award, we’ve put together a guide on some of the best things to do in the town.
Oban distillery
Any whisky lovers out there will find themselves right at home in Oban with the Oban Distillery sitting in the heart of the town overlooking the bay.
It is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland as well as one of the smallest with just two pot stills having opened in 1794.
Visitors can take a guided tour and sample the unique tastes of the whisky which is made there. The Little Bay Single Malt is a particularly good one.
There’s also plenty of whisky bars and specialist shops in the town, including the Oban Whisky and Fine Wines Shop for anyone looking to take home a gift from a day-trip.
The ‘seafood capital’
The Visit Oban website describes the town as the “seafood capital of Scotland”, and it does offer a range of top-quality food.
“The secret is the cold, pristine waters that offer up a huge variety of top-quality fish and shellfish, including oysters, mussels, langoustines, prawns, scallops, crab, mackerel, haddock, herring and squat lobster,” the website says.
For some of the best oysters, look out for those grown in Loch Creran, north of the town.
According to TripAdvisor, some of the highlights include the Oban Seafood Hut, the Coast Restaurant and the Waterfront Fishouse Restaurant.
McCaig's Folly
For stunning views out over Mull and other Scottish isles, look no further than the middle of Oban town. A walk up to McCaig's Folly is a must.
The site has been a Grade B Listed historic monument since 1971.
Dunollie Castle
Dunollie Castle is open six days a week and lets visitors travel back in time to explore the history of clan MacDougall.
You can discover the 1745 Laird’s House as well as take in the stunning views across Oban Bay.
It’s also perfect for anyone looking to get out and about with its woodland spaces and Faerie Garden.
It is around a 20-minute walk or a seven-minute cycle from the centre of Oban.
Exploring the outdoors
There’s plenty of ways to get outdoors in Oban through either walking or cycling with Visit Oban recommending a walking tour with a tour guide to take in the town’s history.
It adds that Ardchattan Priory Gardens is also recommended “for a relaxed country amble”.
There’s also Ben Lora, located just a few miles north of Oban and overlooking Ardmucknish Bay.
For anyone keen on taking on a few Munros, there’s more than 20 of them located within a 45-minute drive of Oban.
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There’s also plenty of cycling routes, including the 120-mile Caledonia Way from Campbeltown to Oban.
For those looking for something a little less intense, there is the 48-mile Oban to Fort William route.
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