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Photo of the Isle of Mull, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Isle of MullPhoto Adam Marikar / Unsplash

Places to explore near Oban

The busy little ferry port of Oban gathers around a horseshoe bay on the Argyll coast, watched over by the Colosseum-like folly of McCaig's Tower on the hill behind. Boats leave for the isles from here — Mull, Lismore, Colonsay and beyond — while the low green island of Kerrera shelters the harbour mouth. Dunollie and Dunstaffnage castles keep watch along the shore nearby. Inland the great ridge of Ben Cruachan rises over the dark reach of Loch Etive, gateway to Glen Coe and the wider Highlands.

87 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 2 are national icons.

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Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo: McCaig's Tower, a viewpoint near Oban, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

McCaig's Tower

Viewpoint near Oban

Colosseum-like Victorian folly crowning the hill above Oban, with sweeping views over the bay to Mull.

0.1 km NE

Photo of Oban, a village in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Oban

Village

Bustling West Highland ferry town on a horseshoe bay, gateway to the Inner Hebrides.

0.4 km SW · Argyll and Bute

Photo of the Isle of Kerrera, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Isle of Kerrera

Island near Oban

Hilly, nearly car-free island facing Oban, with a circular walk past the clifftop ruin of Gylen Castle

1.4 km NW

Photo of Ganavan Sands, a beach near Oban, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Ganavan Sands

Beach near Oban

Family sandy beach just outside Oban with views to Mull, Morvern and Lismore.

2.6 km N

Photo of the Lynn of Lorn, a National Scenic Area in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Lynn of Lorn

National Scenic Area near Clachan

Sheltered island and shore country north of Oban, low and green, with brochs and castle ruins looking over the water

4.9 km N

Photo of the Isle of Lismore, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Isle of Lismore

Island near Clachan

Fertile limestone island in Loch Linnhe with St Moluag's medieval cathedral, an Iron Age broch and ferries from Oban and Port Appin

8.4 km NW

Photo of the Isle of Mull, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Iconic

Isle of Mull

Island near Salen

Tobermory's coloured harbour front, Duart Castle, Ben More, and white-tailed and golden eagles along the sea lochs

11 km W

Photo of the Isle of Seil, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Isle of Seil

Island near Clachan Seil

Reached by the 1792 'Bridge over the Atlantic', with the white slate village of Ellenabeich and ferries on to Easdale and Luing

11.9 km SW

Photo of Isle of Eriska, a restaurant near Clachan in the Lynn of Lorn, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Isle of Eriska

Restaurant · With rooms near Clachan

Michelin-starred hotel dining on a private island reached by a bridge north of Oban.

12.4 km N

Photo of Clachan Bridge, a landmark near Clachan Seil, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Clachan Bridge

Landmark near Clachan Seil

Elegant single-arch 1792 bridge to Seil, popularly dubbed the 'Bridge over the Atlantic'.

12.8 km SW

Photo of Ellenabeich, a village in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Ellenabeich

Village

Former slate-mining village of white terraced cottages on Seil, backed by quarry cliffs.

17.3 km SW · Argyll and Bute

Photo of Easdale Island, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Easdale Island

Island near Easdale

Car-free slate island of whitewashed cottages around flooded quarries, home of the World Stone Skimming Championships and a folk museum

17.5 km SW

Photo of the Isle of Luing, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Isle of Luing

Island near Easdale

Quiet slate island for cycling, with the quarry villages of Cullipool and Toberonochy and views across to Scarba and the Garvellachs

19 km SW

Photo of Loch Awe, a loch near Kilchrenan, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Loch Awe

Loch near Kilchrenan

Argyll's longest loch, guarded at its northern end by the ruined tower of Kilchurn Castle beneath Ben Cruachan.

20.2 km SE

Photo of Arduaine Garden, a garden in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Arduaine Garden

Garden near Arduaine

Coastal woodland garden of rhododendrons and rare shrubs on a headland between Oban and Lochgilphead.

20.8 km S

Photo: Ben Cruachan, a 1,127m Munro near Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Ben Cruachan

Munro · Marilyn near Taynuilt

The granite ridge above Loch Awe known as the Hollow Mountain, with a hydro power station buried in a cavern deep inside it

20.9 km E

Photo of Loch Etive, a loch near Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Loch Etive

Loch near Taynuilt

Reaching inland below Ben Cruachan, this long sea loch has its head among the finest mountain scenery of Argyll at Glen Etive.

21.1 km E

Photo of Cruachan Power Station, a visitor attraction near Kilchrenan, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Cruachan Power Station

Attraction near Kilchrenan

The 'Hollow Mountain', a pumped-storage hydro plant buried inside Ben Cruachan, with a visitor centre and tours into the rock.

21.9 km E

Photo of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, a National Scenic Area in Scotland.Iconic

Ben Nevis and Glen Coe

National Scenic Area near Kinlochleven

Scotland's most dramatic glen.

22.8 km NE

Photo of The Whitehouse, a restaurant near Lochaline, Highland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

The Whitehouse

Restaurant near Lochaline

Remote Morvern restaurant championing West Highland produce, on the 100 Best Local Restaurants.

23.2 km NW

Photo of the Garvellachs, an island in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.Highlight

Garvellachs

Island near Easdale

The 'Isles of the Sea', with early monastic beehive cells and a chapel on Eileach an Naoimh, traditionally founded by St Brendan

24.7 km SW

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Oban Distillery

Distillery near Oban

One of Scotland's oldest and smallest distilleries, tucked in the middle of Oban town since 1794.

0 km SW

Photo of Hinba Coffee Roasters, a farm & farm shop near Oban, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Hinba Coffee Roasters

Farm & farm shop near Oban

Speciality coffee roastery and cafe on the slate island of Seil.

0.1 km W

Photo of The Oban Inn, a pub in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

The Oban Inn

Pub near Oban

Traditional town-centre pub near the harbour, repeat winner of CAMRA's Argyll Pub of the Year.

0.2 km W

Photo of Dunollie Castle, a ruined castle near Oban, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Dunollie Castle

Castle near Oban

A medieval castle in Argyll and Bute.

1.6 km NW

Dunstaffnage Castle

Castle near Oban

A medieval castle in Argyll and Bute.

4.8 km NE

Photo of Gylen Castle, Kerrera, a ruined castle near Oban, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Gylen Castle, Kerrera

Castle near Oban

Gylen Castle, castle and associated settlement, Kerrera

6.6 km SW

Photo of Ardchattan Priory Garden, a garden in Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Ardchattan Priory Garden

Garden near Ardchattan

Herbaceous borders, roses and rockery set beside a medieval priory ruin on the shore of Loch Etive.

12 km NE

Ardchattan Priory

Priory near Taynuilt

Ardchattan Priory, priory, burial ground and carved stones

12.1 km NE

Photo of St Moluag's Cathedral, a church near Clachan in the Lynn of Lorn, Argyll and Bute, the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

St Moluag's Cathedral

Church near Clachan

Small parish church on Lismore incorporating the surviving choir of a medieval cathedral of Argyll.

13.3 km N

Everything else within 25 km (57) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.