Sheltered island and shore country north of Oban, low and green, with brochs and castle ruins looking over the water
North of Oban the sea breaks up into sheltered channels and low islands, and the Lynn of Lorn takes in the best of it. The long limestone island of Lismore sits at its heart, greener and gentler than the Argyll hills nearby.
The area covers 157 km². Lismore is thick with old stone. The broch of Tirefour Castle still stands to a good height, Coeffin Castle crumbles above the shore, and St Moluag’s Cathedral marks a monastery said to date from the sixth century. On the mainland side, Airds Hill is an easy viewpoint over the islands and channels.
Lismore is reached by ferry from Oban, and it is flat enough to see well by bike. It makes for a calm day out rather than a strenuous one, though the crossings run to a timetable.
