Oban, Scotland
In Duror, we camped at Achindarroch Touring Park, a family-run campsite located in the Scottish Highlands a wee bit east of Loch Linnhe. The helpful camp hostess gave us tips for driving to Oban and sightseeing there. Off we went the next morning to explore the city of Oban.
First order of the day - find parking for our motorhome. What a surprise to find four spaces marked "M Homes Only" at the Tesco grocery store right in Oban. We'd never seen that before. We paid for several hours for our space so that we could explore without the pressure to hurry back.
Oban is "The Seafood Capital of Scotland." Second stop - lunch at "Nories" for their famous fish and chips. With (too) full bellies, we began the steep walk up to McCaig's Tower, our third stop, which sits above town like a crown. John McCaig built this monument in honor of his own family, providing work for local stonemasons.
Reminiscent of Rome's Coliseum, the monument encircles a garden that even in the late fall provided a lovely spot to stroll. I'd like to see it in the summer when the flowers are in their full-blooming glory.
The grounds of McCaig Tower are open to the public with no entrance fee. As it was a cold day in mid-November, we saw few other visitors.
An additional bonus - this monument affords beautiful views of the bustling harbor town of Oban.
From McCaig's Tower we could see Oban Bay, the outlet into which Loch Linnhe flows. The island in the middle ground of the photo above is Kerrera. The Isle of Mull lies in the distance. Hence, Oban is quite protected from the open sea.
Walking back down the hill, we enjoyed some whimsical neighborhood yard art. Notice the hydrangea flowers in the foreground and semi-tropical plants. Oban's climate reminded us of Seattle, Washington, USA. Upon a little research, I learned that its maritime climate is mild enough that it rarely freezes in Oban.
Lots of yard art done with tile, such as these playful cats. Looking back up, from any part of town, we could spot the monument above Oban. A wonderful day exploring a place we'd never heard of until touring Scotland!
