Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist o
ce
3 North Pier (April-June, Sept & Oct
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; July & Aug Mon-
Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Nov-March Mon-Sat
10am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm;
T
01631 563122,
W
oban
.org.uk). There's stacks of info here, and the of
ce can
book accommodation.
1
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS
Bike rental
Bike Fix, George St (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat
10am-4pm;
T
01631 566033,
W
obanbikehire.co.uk),
rents bikes (£20/day) and also does repairs and servicing.
Diving
If you fancy something a little more vigorous,
head to the Pu
n Dive Centre, based a mile south of
Oban at Port Gallanach (
T
01631 566088,
W
pu
n.org
.uk), where you can take the plunge with a fully qualified
instructor (£58/90 minutes).
Wildlife-watching tours
The best of the wildlife-
watching companies hereabouts is Coastal Connection,
based on Oban Pier
T
01631 565833,
W
coastal
-connection.co.uk), who offer two- to five-hour-long trips
(£30-40) spotting bird- and sealife.
ACCOMMODATION
Oban is positively heaving with
hotels
and
B&Bs
, most of them reasonably priced and many within easy walking distance
of the quayside. Unlikely as it is, if you're struggling to find a place, there are stacks more guesthouses in Connel, five miles
north. The town is flush with
hostels
too, and there's a decent campsite in the vicinity.
Dungallan House Hotel
Gallanach Rd
T
01631
563799,
W
dungallanhotel-oban.co.uk.
Tucked away to
the south of town, this solid Victorian villa hotel offers a
dozen classy, but expensive, rooms set in its own woodland
grounds, with great view
s acro
ss the Sound of Kerrera.
No under-12s.
March-Oct.
£145
Hawthornbank Guest House
Dalriach Rd
T
01631
562041,
W
smoothound.co.uk/hotels/hawthorn.
Decent,
traditional guesthouse in the lower backstreets of Oban,
just across the road from the leisure centre. The rooms,
one of which
has
a four-poster bed, are immaculately kept.
March-Oct.
£65
Jeremy Inglis
21 Airds Crescent
T
01631 565065.
A
somewhat eccentrically-run hostel near the train station,
with a maze of shared, double and family rooms (no bunks
throughout), plus kitchen facilities; it'
s the
cheapest bed in
town, with breakfast included. Dorms
£17
Kilchrenan House
Corran Esplanade
T
01631 562663,
W
kilchrenanhouse.co.uk.
A bright and hospitable home
located near the cathedral, with ten rooms, most of which
have antiq
ue f
furnishings to go alongside the tremendous
sea views.
£70
Oban Backpackers
Breadalbane St
T
01631 562107,
W
obanbackpackers.com.
Large, friendly and colourful
hostel with a range of differently sized dorms (largest has
twelve beds) as well as doubles, both here and in two
buildings nearby. The big, open lounge-dining area has
mismatched sof
as, p
ool tabl
e an
d a real fire. Breakfast
included. Dorms
£17
; doubles
£50
Ì
The Old Manse Guest House
Dalraich Rd
T
01631
564886,
W
obanguesthouse.co.uk.
There are few more
welcoming places in town than this spotlessly clean
Victorian villa whose rooms have unobstructed sea views.
There are thoughtful touches all round, including CD
players, complimentary sherry and a
great
selection of
toiletries. The breakfast is top-notch too.
£84
SYHA hostel
Corran Esplanade
T
01631 562025,
W
syha.org.uk.
Occupying a super seafront position in a
converted Victorian house, this hostel might be a bit too
clinical for some, but the two- to-six-bed en-suite rooms
are kept to a very high standard. The only downside is that
it's a fair trek with a
backpac
k from t
he fe
rry terminal.
Breakfast £4.50. Dorms
£19.75
; doubles
£46
CAMPSITE
Oban Caravan & Camping Park
Gallanach Rd
T
01631
562425,
W
obancaravanpark.com.
Two miles southwest
of Oban up a pretty glen, this is a huge, well-equipped site
with lots of camping space and great views across to Kerrera,
with a good chance of a breeze to blow the midges away.
Facilities include a self-catering kitchen, TV/ga
mes
lounge,
BBQs and on-site shop.
Open April to mid-Oct.
£15
/pitch
EATING AND DRINKING
Oban now rates as one of the finest places in Scotland to eat fresh
seafood
, with more than half a dozen highly
commendable restaurants to choose from. If you're on the go, or just need a quick bite while waiting for the ferry, there are
a cluster of excellent seafood stalls down by the harbour.
food like Oban Bay chowder, and spicy crab and avocado
salad (£8.80) to go alongside the stock fish and
chips; good ice cream too. Seating available.
Daily
11.30am-10.30pm.
TAKEAWAYS
Ì
Oban Fish and Chips
116 George St
T
01631
567000.
A cut above your average chippie (and the
best one in Oban), with some surprisingly sophisticated
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