Oban and Dunstaffnage

Dunstaffnage castle
 

A visit to Oban by bus proved interesting but a bit underwhelming. One thing that has occurred to me while visiting Scotland is that what is considered a big town is not, by our southern standards. Nevertheless Oban is a charming little town on the waterfront, with a ferry service to Mull and some of the other islands and a marina opposite the town situated on Kerrera island. We did spot the super yacht moored in the marina, perhaps it was there for the Highland Regatta week that starts at the end of July. The town itself is small with a few upmarket shops catering for tourists selling expensive tweeds etc and likewise restaurants selling seafood. The seafood restaurant on the quay is happy to serve you  a seafood platter for two at £100. There are various Victorian hotels which have seen better days and a sweet little museum, but otherwise nothing much to write home about. There is a very bizarre tower on the hill built by a local dignitary that looks like the Coliseum in Rome and was built purely to provide work for local masons.

The following day we decided to walk around the bay to Dunstaffnage castle,
which has an interesting history. I am going to be lazy here and show you the history in pictures if you are interested in reading about it.



 A brief history of Dunstaffnage Castle



Viking gifts in the castle shop!
 

On the walk we passed through the international campus of the modern Scottish Association of Marine Science, a complete contrast to the castle. The Ocean room and café were closed by the time we got there but we will return. Again I am being lazy and letting you read the history yourself. It is very impressive.

Part of the SAMS campus
 

We have made friends with the couple moored next to us who are from Canada, which we had guessed as they were flying a large Canadian flag. They have spent six years sailing around the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and they are now spending this summer exploring North West Scotland and its many islands. They fly home to Canada every winter to work and then come back every summer to their boat. Migrating birds came to mind. They were full of useful information about the local area. As she said "we are living the dream, I have to pinch myself sometimes!"
Having pinched ourselves and discovered we are still living the dream, we are now spending four days exploring the Highlands by car with my sister Deidre and her other half, starting in Inverness and working our way back to Dunstaffange. More on this in my next blog.