Oban Travel Guide – Visit Oban – Budget Travel In Scotland

Known as both the ‘gateway to the isles’ and the ‘seafood capital of Scotland’, visit Oban to experience a charming resort town filled with pubs, fish and chip shops and the imposing McCaig Tower.

After leaving Fort William, I took the citylink bus to Oban: a 90 minute journey for less than £10 that drove through the stunning Glencoe area.

Arriving In Oban

The bus dropped me at the bus station located in the heart of the town. I had a bit of time to kill before check in and I had yet to have my daily coffee. A minute walk from the bus station, I found ‘Cafe Shore’ (map) which fulfilled my coffee requirements and was a relaxing place to escape the rain, which was becoming quite heavy.

After finishing my coffee, there was a break in the rain so I decided to head towards my accommodation.

Where To Stay In Oban

These are some of the best budget hostels in Oban, according to user reviews. These are affiliate links to the Agoda web site. I receive a small amount for any bookings made through these links at no extra cost to you.

• Corran House Hostel
• Oban Backpackers
• Oban Youth Hostel

Corran House Hotel

I had booked a stay at Corran House Hostel (map) as it was in a good location and reasonably priced. It’s more of a hotel than a hostel; I think there was only one dorm room and all the other rooms were private.

Check-in was a little confusing. I had to go down to the bar first to let them know I’d arrived before returning back to the reception. They asked for money even though I’d already paid. They were unsure if they’d take another payment and asked me to keep an eye on my bank statement.

I eventually made it to my dorm. I had been given the top bunk despite requesting the bottom, which was empty, so I had to return to reception and they made the change. The room was clean and the beds comfortable with charging points shared. The window looked straight out over the bay of Oban. I checked the WiFi and it was very good meaning I could upload my vlogs!

The bathroom was cleaned every day and everything worked well. It even had a bath but I didn’t take advantage.

The kitchen area was excellent: two cookers, two microwaves, two big fridges, three toasters and every utensil you could ever need.

Underneath the hotel is ‘Markie Dans’, a lively pub with a good selection of whisky and live music.

I had a great stay at this hotel. It felt like it should have been more expensive than it was. It is in a great location and the facilities are excellent. It’s a great base to explore Oban.

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I paid £26 for a two night stay in a 4-bed dorm with shared bathroom.

Click here to stay at Corran House Hotel

Things To Do In Oban

As Oban is referred to as the ‘gateway to the isles’, the most obvious activity would be to get a boat to one or more of the many isles that are accessible from the town. There are also public boats that leave regularly to the Isle of Mull so check those out first as they will be much cheaper than the tour boats. Unfortunately, due to the weather and a lack of time and funds, I only spent my time in the town itself.

Brew & Co

On entrance, Brew & Co looks a little upmarket and I was concerned how much a coffee would cost me! Thankfully, the coffee was more than reasonably priced and was enjoyable too. The staff were friendly and I enjoyed the table by the window, watching out towards the docks. Modern, clean but well priced. Map.

Dog Stone

Located near the Dunollie Castle is this interesting stone formation. The local legend is that Fingal, the ancient heroic warrior of Celtic mythology, would chain his dog Bran to the stone. As the dog circled and struggled, it created a groove around the base of the stone. Locals claim you can still hear its ghostly howls. Map.

Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds

A short walk north up the coast brings you to Dunollie Castle. The ruins and woodlands of the Clan MacDougall home are now home to a museum, gift shop & cafe. Check http://dunollie.org for opening times as it is only open for part of the year. Map.

Ganavan Sands

Located a 40 minute walk north of Oban is Ganavan Sands. It’s a nice, clean beach that offers great views of the sunset over the Isle of Mull. On my visit, it was very rainy and there was no chance of catching a sunset! Map.

Julie’s Coffee House

Julie’s Coffee House is a charming cafe selling homemade sandwiches, soups and cakes. The coffee was good and it was a very friendly place to enjoy a good coffee and escape the rain. Map.

McCaig’s Tower

McCaig’s Tower is an open stone tower built in the late 19th century. It has an inner garden and offers the best views over Oban Bay. John McCaig buit it as a monument to himself and his family. He employed local people only when they were unemployed. Free admission. Map.

Oban Distillery

Oban Whisky, founded in the 18th century, has a strong reputation and the distillery offers tours and tastings. Map.

Click here for opening times, entrance fee and other information.

Oban Fish & Chip Shop

On Oban’s main street, there are three fish and chip restaurants/takeaways all with identical prices and menus. ‘Oban Fish & Chip Shop’ (map) proudly displays celebrity chef Rick Stein’s endorsement “The best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted” in its window. Obviously, this attracts tourists and the fish and chip shop just down the road have used the same endorsement to try and trick visitors. It appears that the Rick Stein quote was for Oban Fish and Chip Shop and not naughty ‘Nories’.

I took a takeaway back to the hotel: small cod and chips for £7.20. There really is no need to buy large as the small portion is plenty.

The food was good but certainly not the best in the UK. The cod was quite flat and the chips were just above average. Maybe ‘Nories’ might have a point after all.

Oban War & Peace Museum

A small museum of local history artifacts & memorabilia. Find out about the McCaig Tower and the history of the town from its formation to the present. Free admission with donations appreciated. Map.

Click here for opening times and more information.

Best Pubs In Oban

On my second night in Oban, at the last minute I decided to go out and try the famous Oban Whisky. This obviously led me to visit a number of pubs in the area and stay out way later than planned.

I started and finished my night in ‘Markie Dans’ (map). At the start of the night, people were eating, drinking and playing pool. On my return, the pool table had been removed and a live band had taken its place. It had a young clientele and was probably the liveliest pub in town.

‘Auley’s Bar’ (map) was very busy and filled mainly with locals but no-one battered an eyelid at my presence. No music here, but screens showing sports.

‘Oban Inn’ (map) promised live music but it never happened on this occcasion as the band had to pull out. Shame. It’s a small place but friendly and cosy.

‘The Tartan Tavern’ (map) was a fun place. There was traditional live music on my visit and the locals were singing and dancing. Great fun.

Is Oban Worth Visiting?

Oban reminded me of the kind of small, quaint towns you find in Derbyshire such as Matlock and Bakewell. It’s a very pretty place and I enjoyed my short stay here. Unless you plan to visit the islands, you don’t need to spend long in Oban as it is a small town.