4 Day Family Break in Oban
Recommended by local LindaArgyll offers endless possibilities for an active family holiday, whether you have teenagers or toddlers in tow.
Sand & Stone Castles
Argyll offers endless possibilities for an active family holiday, whether you have teenagers or toddlers. Let’s start in Oban – this bustling seaside town has two delightful sandy beaches at Ganavan Bay. The largest beach is at the end of a windy road which hugs Oban’s coastline beneath Dunollie Castle. You might be tempted to stop en route and explore the Dunollie House museum – a family ticket gives you unlimited access to the 1745 house and the 13th century castle.
The beach at Ganavan is easily accessible for even the youngest family members. If all you need is safe, shallow bathing and fine golden sand for your classic bucket-and-spade day at the seaside, then this ticks all the boxes. Even better, the first two hours of car parking are free, and there are public toilets and a popular food trailer offering light bites and drinks.
At the weekend, there’s often a shinty match at the recreational ground behind the beach, and for bikers, there’s an undulating off-road tarmac path from the beach which leads to Dunstaffnage Castle a little further along the coastline. This is another of the Clan MacDougall strongholds but unlike Dunollie (which remains the Clan seat to this day) Dunstaffnage was ceded to the Clan Campbell and is now open to the public though Historic Scotland. It’s a 5k cycle, and there are some steeper sections, but don’t worry if you decide it's too far as there’s another chance to visit the castle on Day Four.
Sealife & Slate
A pleasant drive south of Oban, the ‘Slate Islands’ are easily accessible and offer a great day out for all the family. You can drive across the ‘bridge over the Atlantic’ from the mainland to the Isle of Seal (one of the largest islands in the group) and enjoy family-friendly gourmet pub food in the Tignatruish – which translates from the Gaelic as ‘House of Trousers’. Men from the islands would stop off at the Inn to change out of their plaids (the forerunner to today’s kilts) into trousers to avoid arrest by Red Coats on the mainland. After the failed Jacobite uprising and defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Highlanders were suppressed, and many Highland traditions were banned, including wearing plaid, speaking Gaelic, and even playing bagpipes – which were regarded as a weapon of war! Today, the Inn is warm and welcoming and has a good reputation for providing local food and drink. The pub is pet-friendly too, and there’s a lovely walk to the local yacht anchorage in the Pool of the Otter, or Puilladobhrain. You might catch a glimpse of an Otter from the rocky shoreline, but to improve your chances of seeing marine wildlife, hop on board one of Seafaris' RIBs from the harbour at Easdale. For the ‘Whirlpool Special’ RIB ride, your kids must be over 8, but all other marine sea tours can accommodate children as young as 4, so this is a great family adventure.
Once everyone has their sea legs, a short five-minute ferry ride to Easdale Island itself is an extra option. There’s a tiny community-run folk museum telling the history and heritage of the Slate Islands, but the kids might just prefer to explore the island. It’s the smallest inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides, and in an hour, you'll be back at the harbour to take the ferry back to Seal Island.
Coorie and Ceilidh
If the weather is bleak or your brood is tired, there’s nothing better than to “coorie doon” over a mug of hot chocolate and a freshly cooked waffle at Oban Chocolate Shop on the Esplanade. The views are great (looking out over Oban Bay) but they’re even better from the viewing platform at McCaig’s Tower sitting above the town on Battery Hill. The sugar high will get them there and back without too many complaints about the steep walk!
On the way up, you can pass the quirky sculpture garden of local artist Alice Strange. Her digital reimagining of well-known art masterpieces adorns the exterior walls of the chocolate shop. On the way back, you can count the steps as you descend Jacobs Ladder – it’s a local shortcut and brings you back into town beside the Congregational Church. From there, it’s a short level walk to Oban’s community arts venue – The Rockfield Centre. Families are welcome, and the interactive ‘KidSpace’ area combines play with local history and heritage.
If you want to tire the children out even further, find a local ceilidh and get them dancing. The View is one of the best seasonal Ceilidh venues in Oban, and under 11s go free, so it’s suitable for all the family—and there’s a bar to keep the grown-ups going, too.
Licking & Learning!
Take the car and cross the churning waters at the mouth of Loch Etive over Connel Bridge. Keep an eye out for kayakers riding the waves below or simply enjoy the views up Loch Etive towards Glencoe. Your final day will offer hairy coos and handmade ice cream at The Highland Fold farm at Barcaldine just 11 miles from Oban in the middle of the countryside in the ancient parish of Ardchattan. As long as your little ones are over 8 they can join one of the guided walks through the farm. If they’re younger then just go for the delicious ice cream and experiment with a myriad of local, natural toppings.
Before returning to Oban stop off at the Ocean Explorer Centre at Dunbeg. This family-friendly (and FREE) attraction is great for inquisitive children. Located opposite the UK’s oldest oceanographic institution, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (now part of the University of the Highlands and Islands), the visitor centre showcases marine research through a series of interactive displays. There’s a beach Café for a cuppa and cake, parking and a shop with plenty of sea and marine themed toys, books and gifts for all the family.
If you missed Dunstaffnage Castle on Day One then this is your opportunity to visit before you leave as it’s almost next door to the university campus. Download the Explorers Quiz before you go and keep the kid’s entertained. The castle is less ruinous than Dunollie and it’s far bigger – the battlements are particularly impressive. You could spend several hours exploring and family tickets are available.
That’s it – four adventure filled days of family fun in Oban and Lorn.
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Oban Distillery
For two centuries, Oban’s bustling fishing village has sat on the frontier of the West Highlands and the Islands, the meeting place of land and sea. One of S...
Oban Distillery
Stafford St
Oban
PA34 5NH
Tel: 01631 572004
Oban in Pictures
The seaside town of Oban is a great place for a holiday with much to see and do in wider area and nearby Inner Hebridean islands.
Find your place to stay from luxury hotels for a relaxing retreat to holiday parks and self catering options for adventure seekers, and everything in-between.
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