Inside Scotland’s Town of the Year – with picturesque beaches and island links

OBAN is widely known as the gateway to the isles and wider highlands but there’s much more to the charming town than meets the eye.

Steeped in heritage and culture, the seaside gem is famed for its picturesque beaches, top-notch chippies and rolling hillsides.

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And this year, it has been crowned Scotland’s Town of the Year.

Dubbed as the Seafood Capital of Scotland, the pristine waters that the town sits on are teeming with top-quality fish and shellfish.

The Oban Fish and Chip Shop was previously branded one of the top three chippies in the UK by National Geographic.

With scores of award-winning restaurants and pubs, the town boasts a rich culinary and drinking scene.

The Oban Distillery is one of the oldest and smallest in Scotland.

Established back in 1794, the tiny distiller actually predates the town itself which only became a ‘burgh of barony’ in 1811.

The distillery has just two pot stills and has remained largely unchanged since its renovation in the 1890s.

The pure water flowing from Oban’s lochs and the smokey peat harvested from the land is used to produce their world-class whiskey.

With a small population of just 8,500 people, Oban has become the unofficial capital of the West Highlands.

And it’s enjoyed some time in the limelight thanks to homegrown talent golfer Robert McIntyre – who regularly boasted of his Oban roots as he battled his way to the top 20 of the world rankings.

His dad Dougie – who was his caddie during his Canadian Open victory – is head greenkeeper at the town’s Glencruitten Golf Club.

Its panoramic views of the mountains, islands and lochs draw in tourists from all over the world.

Six Hebridean islands are also accessible from Oban.

Isles such as Mull, Iona, Coll and Tirree are just a short ferry ride away and Scotland’s largest ferry operator, CalMac, operate an extensive service from the town.

Medieval castle ruins and tower houses are dotted along its picturesque coastline.

Kilchurn Castle, situated on the shores of Loch Awe, has become one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

And Castle Stalker which sits on Loch Liach is one of the recognisable settings in Monty Python’s blockbuster The Holy Grail.

The town is also home to two national nature reserves and has a wealth of wildlife.

Sightings of whales, dolphins and basking sharks are not uncommon in Oban.

And a number of different seabirds, seals, otters, deer and wild goats call it home.