In the Area

Explore the Beauty of the West Coast

We are just 30 minutes drive from the popular coastal fishing and ferry port of Oban (recently voted the UK’s 2nd best staycation spot).

A small but bustling market town you will find all you need there in terms of supermarkets (Tesco also delivers to Bragleenbeg), boutique shops and up-scale or family friendly places to eat.

Highlights that our visitors have experienced include:

Islands

Nearby

Jump aboard a ferry to Mull, Staffa and Iona (day trips possible) – see CalMac for the routes and tickets (booking strongly advised!).
Seil, separated from the mainland by the impossibly hump-backed “only bridge over the Atlantic” , has the perfect walk-followed-by-lunch pub at the Tigh an Truish. Drive on to Ellanbeich and take the tiny passenger ferry over to Easdale island and enjoy the coruscating sea-scapes.
Regular ferries run to Kerrera, Lismore and Luing – take the passenger ferry and explore the various sites each has to offer by bike – all lovely days out and each with their own island-run cafe / stores.

Further Afield

Drive to Claonaig to take a pasenger ferry to Arran and take in the delights and the Seafood Cabin (May – September only) at Skipness Castle.
Drive to Tayinloan for the ferry to Gigha – leave your car and explore the white-sand beaches on foot or drive up to the North Western tip for a trip across dunes to the secluded azure water Twin Beaches – coves straight out of Treasure Island!

Family Days Out

Beach lovers will enjoy the nearby sands at Ganavan or mile-long Tralee beach (there is a great zip-wire in the kids play-park at the far end).
Make a day trip and drive south to the renowned Mull of Kintyre and visit either Wesport Beach at Machrahanish Sands or Carradale bay overlooking the moody silhouette of the isle of Arran.
For any Harry Potter fans, a long, but exhilerating, day trip can be undertaken after driving to Fort William and embarking on the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig that passes over that iconic viaduct on what is one of the world’s finest train journeys (April to October only).
Castle Stalker – take in its delights from the Cafe Stalker with its amazing view point overlooking the bay and the Firth of Lorne and practice your best Monty Python Knights of the Holy Grail impersonations.
Head to that most infamous of Scottish destinations – Glen Coe – and you can ski / snowboard in winter or trail-bike / tube in the summer. There is a National Trust Glen Coe Visitor Centre with a great cafe if the weather is not playing ball!

Historical Interest

Oban has 3 very proximate Castles to enjoy – Dunollie, a walk away from the town centre or Dunstaffnage which is a moderately lenghty walk from Ganavan beach, or a 10 minute drive out of town. Both are important clan strongholds and great fortresses in spectacular locations. Or take the very short ferry ride to Kerrera and walk to the Southern end to explore the dramatic setting of Gylen Castle.
A drive to explore the majestic ruins of Kilchurn Castle (pictured above) and the gothic splendour of St Conan’s Kirk on Loch Awe, and whilst you are there voyage “inside the mountain” to see the Ben Cruachan dam installation deep in the bowels of Argyll’s highest peak).
Dunadd and Carnassarie Castle are located in the Kilmartin Glen area of important Neolithic and Bronze again remains. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius, with 150 of them being prehistoric. Kilmartin Museum is undergoing a massive upgrade and will re-open in 2023 and in the meantime the village has a cafe, hotel and village shop.

Outdoor Activities

Walks a plenty – see our separate page on walks from the doorstep or further afield
Hair-ruffling Seafari trips from Ellanebeich on Seil are exhilerating, wave-skimming 3 hour (or more) rib-rides to explore Europe’s third largest whirlpool and see Eagles, dolphins, seals and more in the island-peppered Sound of Luing.
Boat trips can be organised through a variety of local providers – Coastal Connections, Sea-life Adventures, Etive Boat Trips or book a kayaking tutorial and tour with Sea Kayaking Oban.
Horse riding and pony trekking are available either to the South at Lunga or in Achnalarig Stables in Oban. Both very family friendly focused and cater for even the shyest of novices.
Golfers will find the full range from a “proper” course at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban to smaller community-run courses with the most dramatic of backdrops to play against: Balvicar Golf Club, Dalmally Golf Club, Taynuilt Golf Club.

Plus many, many more. Message us if you’d like some more ideas!