Tour Oban, Scotland
Oban
Oban ("little bay" in Gaelic - Scotland's ancient Celtic language) Sheltered west coast bay with fishing boats and Hebrides ferries. Creeper-clad ruin of Dunollie Castle, former MacDougall stronghold. McCaig's Tower above town is Colosseum replica built 1890s.
Glencruitten Golf Club
Oban Whisky
Argyllshire Gathering
Clan MacDougall
Map of this area
Argyll and Bute
Dramatic mountain peaks tower over moors dotted with tumble-down crofts and ancient castles laid waste in clan feuds. Icy streams ripple through wooded glens and into lochs teeming with salmon and trout -- the delight of anglers. Golden eagles soar above the rocky crags and red deer roam the moors, near scattered villages haunted by tales of murder and treachery in days gone by.
Achnacloich Woodland Garden
Castellated mansion on promontory among gardens protected by oaks and larches. Views west to Mull and east to Ben Cruachan.
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Ardanaiseig Gardens
Rhododendrons and azaleas set paths ablaze with colour in wood-land gardens overlooking Loch Awe. Walled garden, 1 acre, with herbaceous borders.
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Ardrishaig
Sailing boats moor in harbour at southern end of 9 mile long Crinan canal, started l794 by John Ronnie to link Loch Fyne with Atlantic Ocean and cut out the 120 mile voyage round Kintyre.
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Auchindrain Open Air Museum
Restored cottages and barns survive from ancient communal farm by families who shared Visitor centre shows life of Highlanders in past centuries.
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Barcaldine
Crofters' fields surround scattered houses. Huge Douglas firs line paths to Gleann Dubh, where waterfalls plunge. Views of the Western Isles from reservoir.
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Benmore
Dawn redwoods and eucalyptuses line forest paths near Loch Eck. Avenue of 130ft Wellingtonias leads to grounds of Benmore House and botanic garden.
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Bonawe
Restored 1753 charcoal ironworks above Loch Etive. Exhibition of smelting process and local life. Boat cruises leave from pier.
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Castle Sween
Probably Scotland's earliest stone castle, built in mid-12th century. Stronghold of the MacSween family; destroyed in 1647. Ruins retain their original proportions.
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Clachan Bridge
Humpbacked stone 'Bridge over Atlantic', designed by Thomas Telford 1792, links Seil Island to mainland across arm of ocean.
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Cleigh
Cleigh, Kilmore, near Oban. Site of prehistoric cairn constructed sometime in the 4th millennium BC. This very early date makes it one of the oldest known Neolithic sites in western Scotland.
Excavations
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Connel
Falls of Lora swirl beneath bridge across narrows of Loch Etive. Stained glass in village church depicts bridge and falls.
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Crarae Glen Garden
Rare trees and rhododendrons flourish here. Associated garden centre sells shrubs and trees.
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Crinan
Yachts and fishing boats pass through locks at terminus of Crinan Canal. Duntrune Castle (closed to public) has skeleton of MacDonald piper imprisoned by Campbells in 17th century.
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Dunadd Hill-Fort
Stone walls of ancient fort. Carvings on rock face thought to mark Pictish victory in AD 683.
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Dunoon
Resort noted for sandy bays and castle burned in 1685. Hillside statue of Mary Campbell, Burns's 'Highland Mary', who was born here. Holy Loch Farm has rare breeds of cattle and horses.
Cowal Golf Club
Younger Botanic Garden
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Dunstaffnage Castle
Castle remains cling-to black crag on or near site of capital of Dalriada, original Scots kingdom. Campbells were castle governors in medieval times. Many buried in roofless chapel in wood.
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Easdale
Small island in Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. Peaks of Dun More look down on old slate quarries. Museum of industrial and domestic life.
Easdale Island Museum
Easdale Island Trust
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Eredine Forest
Dense forest skirts lochside road, ideal for picnics. View of Innis Chonnell Island with ruins of former Campbell stronghold.
Helensburgh
Fishing, sailing and golf resort, backed by hills and glens. Obelisk memorial to steamship pioneer Henry Bell. Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed The Hill House; special display on architect.
Helensburgh Heritage Trust
Helensburgh Golf Club
Helensburgh Toffee
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Inveraray
Inveraray, Argyll is located at the head of Loch Fyne, a long sea loch on Scotland's scenic west coast. Hereditary seat of Dukes of Argyll. Campbell chiefs ruled from 15th century in blue-grey castle. Tapestries, paintings and swords on display. Story of Scot-fish crime and punishment in Inveraray Jail, with reconstructed prison cells and torture scenes. Visitors to the Castle can see the State Dining Room, the Tapestry Room, costume displays, kitchen, gift shop and tearooms, plus a grand collection of 18th century French furniture and porcelain. The Armoury Hall contains over 1,300 pieces: pikes, cutlasses, claymores, shields, ancient guns, everything a warrior could wish for. Legend has it that sometime in the 17th century, a harpist at the castle was caught peering through a keyhole at the lady of the house. He was hanged for his impudence. Ever since it is said that a harpist can be heard playing in the library every day.
Inverary Golf Club
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Inverliever Forest
Switchback road through forest inhabited by deer and badgers. Paths from Dalavich village to waterfalls and hill-top views.
Iona
On the small island of Iona, west of the Isle of Mull, the abbey of Iona was founded by St. Columba. Exiled from Ireland, St. Columba arrived on Iona in 563AD to found his church and create a center of learning known throughout Europe.
The burial ground on Iona is recorded to hold the remains of over 60 Scottish, Irish and Norse kings.
The Iona Community
Iona College
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Kilmartin
Kilmartin House is the centre for archaeology and landscape interpretation situated in Argyll, on the West Coast of Scotland. The Museum of Ancient Culture was awarded the "Scottish Museum of the Year" Bronze Age symbols adorn burial chambers in village. Stone sculptures in churchyard.
Kilmartin House
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Kilmory
Ruined church contains medieval cross and Celtic grave slabs. Views look across to Papa of Jura.
Kilmory Cross
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Kilmory Castle Gardens
Rare alpines, ferns and rhododendrons line the woodland paths in these gardens started in 1770s.
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Lismore Island
Mountains embrace site founded AD 580 by St Moluaig. Parish church set in 13th-century cathedral destroyed in Reformation.
Isle of Lismore
Lochawe
Resort overlooks narrow loch with fishing for salmon and trout. Robert Bruce memorial chapel in 1881 St Conan's Kirk. Kilchurn Castle, built 1440, on loch shore.
Campbell Ancestors in Argyll
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Loch Creran
Seals gambol in well-lit tanks at Sea Life Centre. Eels, dogfish, salmon, cod and bass also on view. Hillside walks above 17th-century Barcaldine Castle.
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Lochgilphead
Crescent of stone-built houses overlooks loch. Bronze Age carvings on rocks near standing stone at Achnabreck.
Rock Carvings
Lochgilphead Golf Club
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Port Appin
Whitewashed hamlet has wildlife museum with local nature display. Castle Stalker, built 14th century, on offshore island.
Castle Stalker
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Taynuilt
Taynuilt is located twelve miles (19 km) from the town of Oban, the gateway to the islands of Scotland. Facilities within the village include shops, hotels, churches, a golf course, boat hire, historic locations, railway station. Anglers and walkers converge on village dominated by 3,695ft Ben Cruachan. Nelson memorial erected in 1805. Woodland nature reserve at Glen Nant.
Taynuilt Gaelic Choir
Highland Games
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Tayvallich
Natural harbour on shores of Loch a' Bhealaich. Walks lead into Knapdale and west to Carsaig Bay, overlooked by hills of Jura.
Community Web Site
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Tighnabruaich
Cottages scattered on hillside of woods and gardens. To the north lies viewpoint of Kyles of Bute and forest trail.
Kyles of Bute Golf Club
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If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me at;
sandystevenson@thefreesite.com
Or why not visit my extensive
Travel Scotland
Web site at:
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