Value for Money or Lavish Breaks in Oban

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Wildcamp—There are some great wee coves and bays around the coastline within walking, biking, or paddling distance of Oban town centre. Remember the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and if you do need to drive to your chosen location, park responsibly and pitch your tent well away from houses or other infrastructure.

Motorhomes should park overnight in an Aire or a pitch in a caravan park. There are plenty of low-cost options available on oban.org.uk. There are also youth hostels and backpackers' accommodation in Oban, so getting your head down for the night doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

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Spoil yourself and book one of Oban’s trendy boutique hotels on the Esplanade with sea views. The Promenade, Number 17 or its sister hotel Number 26 By The Sea offer luxury, style, and a glass of bubbly on arrival. The Perle, Oban Bay and Dungallan House are more traditional hotels, but you’ve also got a great range of self-catering properties, many of which are like Blaven House, which has amazing views.

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Atlantis Leisure is the community-owned and run sports centre in Oban, but you don’t have to be a local to use its facilities. Park for free (first 2 hours), enjoy a swim and a sauna (£3.70), or just pop in to use the showers, change, and grab a coffee-to-go in the wee café. Numerous classes, gym sessions, and courts are available to book, all with free equipment provided.

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Isle of Eriska Hotel Spa offers indulgent treatments, a beautiful 17m indoor pool, a private golf course, indoor sports hall and numerous activities from Axe throwing to Zen meditation. The Spa and Golf course are open to non-residents and the hotel is located on a private island accessed by bridge. It’s been the hideout for Salman Rushdie, Mick Jagger, Dame Judy Dench and many other celebrities who value its luxurious privacy.

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Oban’s pub scene is legendary. Take your pick from Aulay’s Bar on Argyll Square, The Lorne on Stevensons Street, or visit Oban’s oldest pub - the Oban Inn, established in 1740, which pre-dates Oban Distillery. Many pubs offer live music (often free), Markie Dans even runs its own music festival each Spring, and if you don’t mind a ‘chain’, Oban has a ‘Spoons’ on the old Railway pier named after the great whirlpool The Corryvreckan. Pick up a craft beer in a can or a bottle from the Oban Beer Seller opposite the Oban distillery for consumption back at your holiday base.

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Seek out Scottish spirit specialist Ooshka bar. Their team is based in Oban and provides private tastings and experiences. Their regular whisky tasting sessions are held in the Lulu Lounge in The Perle Hotel in Oban. You can also book a distillery tour directly with Oban’s Malt Whisky Distillery (tours from £30 to £75 pp) or enjoy a whisky flight in the bar above the Oban distillery gift shop. Most Oban bars and hotels offer a good range of whiskies, and if you’ve got the money, head for the top shelf malts and be prepared to spend. Rare bottlings can be purchased directly from Oban Distillery or Whisky Fix across the street. Some wonderful wines are on offer at the Wee Wine Shop in Oban – all curated by an Oban-based French sommelier.

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Enjoy an al fresco picnic – if you don’t fancy sand in your sandwiches, there are a couple of tables next to the car park at Ganavan Beach. There are also Great views with lunch from the benches at Dungallan shore next to Oban sailing club. Or do as the locals do and perch on the seawall with your poke of chips (keeping an eye out for the thieving gulls). Don’t forget the fresh seafood stalls on Railway Pier, which is adjacent to the Calmac passenger terminal. You can save a fortune on a seafood platter at the Green Shack or MacGillivray’s, and there’s a good chance of getting a seat if you are prepared to queue. Despite its small size, Oban has numerous independent cafes, so if you don’t want to sit outside and fend off the wildlife, just stroll through the town’s main shopping streets and take your pick.

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For a Michelin-starred meal, you’ll have to travel out of town. Inver at Strachur or closer to Oban, Knipoch Hotel, Loch Melfort, The Pier House and Isle of Eriska Hotel all have a clutch of red rosettes between them. In Oban, try Richard Fowler – local chef-proprietor focusing on contemporary fine dining at Coast, superbly set seafood restaurant Eeusk perched on North Pier with stunning sea views or traditional Scottish classics at The Manor House out towards Gallanach.

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Walking is FREE!
The town is compact, and apart from the steep walk up to McCaig’s Tower or Pulpit Hill (both offering amazing views out over Oban Bay), the streets are level. The QR self-guided walking trail or the FREE Love Oban Active Travel App will keep you busy, and you’ll learn a great deal about the history of the Seafood Capital of Scotland. Oban was crowned Scotland’s Town of the Year 2024, and the locals are proud of their Gaelic heritage and the clans that have shaped their past. Time has not stood still here – there’s 4G connectivity (free town wifi if you’re saving your data) and good transport links.

Woodland wellness is FREE!
You can explore Oban’s ancient woodlands for FREE – not all wellness treatments can be found in a spa! There’s also pleasure and satisfaction to be gained in giving. Hope Kitchen is a local charity organising projects and events for volunteers. It could be a beach clean, litter pick or tree planting - you only need some free time to volunteer for a good cause.
Oban is a great town to enjoy free music. Street buskers can be found performing on George Street, and the Oban Pipe Band holds weekly band practices in Station Square and at McCaig’s Tower during the summer season. You can also enjoy a variety of musical events at St John’s Cathedral.

Local sports spectating!
If you enjoy watching sport you’ve a choice of watching a game at the shinty field behind Ganavan beach or at the home of Shinty in Oban – the hallowed turf of Mossfield. Next to the shinty pitch, you’ll find Oban Rugby Club. Free spectator sport is on offer each week on the water as Oban Sailing Club has regular race nights for dinghies and keel boats, and you might catch a regatta during the summer season. Check out all Oban’s sports clubs and societies at the local sports shop.

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Take to the air!
Take a scenic flight from Oban Airport with Hebridean Air. You can charter a private plane if you want to visit an island distillery or pack your clubs to play on a remote Links course.

Land tours!
If you’d rather stay on dry land then book a private tour with Argyll Safaris and let retired Army Captain Rab Black do the driving.

Take to the sea!
You’ve plenty of choices at sea too – book a sea tour, charter a Skate fishing boat, explore the coastline and the marine wildlife or simply take in the scenery.Coastal Connection is a family-owned and operated sea tours business and a good place to start if you want to get out on the water.