Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
up-tarted iron columns and lots of steel stanchions. All a bit cramped and crammed in,
with a bustling town around it and a cliff behind, but interesting. Busy, at you might ex-
pect, given that it's in the centre of one of the West's prime tourist spots and the whisky
itself is well promoted as part of the UDV/Diageo Classic Malts range.
As a dram, Oban is an interesting amalgam, with hints of Island - even Islay - and
Highland characteristics. The standard expression is a 14-year-old with only a thimble of
peat and wee breeze of sea about it. It has lots of caramelly, smoky sweetness, a sort of
luscious thickness in the mouth and a reprise of seaweed towards the end. A little pot of
gold at the end of a fabulous railway line.
The wait for the journey back isn't too much fun, though the reason for the final delay
is not one you could blame on Scotrail. The 1320 train had almost every seat reserved
and so we stay in Oban - strolling, shopping and sitting in the bar - until the 1810 is due
to leave. There is, however, a problem. There's been a bad road accident just out of town
which has created a huge tailback (and caused the wee roads I've referred to as the Oban
bypass to jam up for hours). Our train driver is on the wrong side of the jam. For a while
there's talk of the train being cancelled. Oh well, I tell Ann, we'll just stay another night,
what the hell. We already know the Caledonian is fully booked for tonight, but I just walk
round to the Tourist Information Centre, attractively housed in an old church … only to
discover that Oban is having one of its Full nights, with no hotel rooms or B&Bs left.
There might be some people left who didn't normally do B&B who would put stranded
tourists up, but even they might all be full …
Redman's Blues
.
Les and Aileen did this once years ago, when somebody from the Fort William tourist
office got their number and - in some desperation - rang up about ten o'clock in the even-
ing to say, look, they had all these people and nowhere to put them up for the night (Fort
Bill Full); could they help out?
So the McFarlanes played host to a very nice young Japanese couple for a night. Les
and Aileen are educated as well as educating types, but their Japanese is limited. To Hai,
Sayonara and various brand names, basically. Their guests' English was, if anything, even
more sparse. Still, a bed was made up, breakfast was provided the next morning and the
nice Japanese couple insisted on paying even though the McFarlanes were embarrassed
and reluctant.
However.
I should mention that our pal Ray had been staying that night too, there for the
weekend. Ray, being himself, could not resist singing what he claimed was an old au-
thentic Gaelic folk song for the nice young Japanese couple, in a spirited performance,
with actions, which they duly recorded on their camcorder. So, somewhere in Tokyo,
