Oban

The town of Oban sits in an idyllic bay (almost perfectly horseshoe in shape) on Scotland's west coast. Known as An t-Òban in Gaellic, which translates as "the little bay", Oban has a small population, with approximately 8,500 permanent residents, but is a busy port, particularly during the summer when visitors flock to the area.

Oban is also known as the 'Gateway to the islands', with ferries running throughout the year to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, including Islay, Coll, Lismore, Colonsay, Tiree, Barra, South Uist and Mull.

McCaig's Tower
Among the attractions of Oban is McCaig's Tower, a beautiful folly overlooking the town, which was completed in 1902. The design for the folly was inspired by the famous Colosseum in Rome, and it takes its name from its designer and architect John Stuart McCaig.

The Oban Distillery
Oban's Distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland; in fact the distillery actually pre-dates much of the town, which later grew around the trade. The distillery was opened by the Stevenson brothers in 1794, and was operated by their family until 1866. The success of the whisky industry then played an important role in the local life, allowing for much of the growth in the town. Today the distillery is still very much operational, producing a number of different specials - some of which are made over an incredible 32-year period.