Oban Hotels

Did you know that Oban is a mecca for wildlife? Ask any local and they will show you where to take a boat trip safari from the harbour to spot seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks, seabirds, eagles and more.

You can also observe animals onshore with a visit to the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary, located in nearby Barcaldine, about a 20-minute drive up the coast. This wildlife conservation centre makes a perfect outing for families, whatever the weather. In addition to its seal rescue and rehabilitation programme, the sanctuary also has an aquarium housing exotic species ranging from seahorses to sharks. There are cheap accommodation options nearby, as well as more expensive luxury hotels.

If you prefer using your own paddle power, Oban’s National Kayak School runs sea kayaking trips around the nearby lochs and offshore islands. And if you’re up for more extreme, white-knuckle adventures, local tour operators run white-water kayaking, coasteering and canoeing activities.

There is evidence of human settlement in Oban dating back to the Mesolithic days, when cave-dwelling locals lived off the bounty of the sea. And they still do so today, though perhaps with a little more culinary flair. Matching its hotels for abundance and quality, Oban has a rich pick of restaurants, offering something to suit all tastes and budgets.

Unsurprisingly, fish and seafood dominate the menus with wonderfully fresh local catches flopping almost straight from the boat to the kitchen to your plate. There are upmarket gourmet restaurants near the two piers, modern bistros in town and, of course, many excellent fish and chip shops. You can even pick up some smoked fishy treats to take home, including world-famous Scottish smoked salmon from the Inverawe Smokehouse and Fishery, which is about 26km (16 miles) inland from Oban.