Walking in Oban, Lorn & the Isles
Get active at all levelsWalking is popular with most visitors to Oban, as we've got leisurely walks along our esplanade, through to a plentiful supply of 'Munros' (Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet) for hill walkers to conquer.
As a major transport hub it is also easy to take a ferry to the islands and join the growing number of 'island baggers' for a great day's walking offering a taste of island life.
Walking Routes to Delight You
For a scenic, informative and entertaining stroll around town, we highly recommend an Oban Walking Tour with a fully trained and insured tourist guide, who will take you on a journey through Oban’s history from Mesolithic man to the present day. Or take a self-guided amble following the QR trail.
For a relaxed country amble, a visit to Ardchattan Priory Gardens is recommended. The Priory is Scotland's second oldest inhabited house and it was here that the last Gaelic-speaking Scottish Parliament was held in 1308. Gaelic is still spoken in the Oban area and bi-lingual signs are in evidence to show the importance of preserving the cultural heritage.
Ardchattan is not Oban's oldest surviving building. This honour falls to Dunollie Castle, which according to Scottish records was captured by the Irish brothers Loarn, Fergus and Angus in AD498. Loarn governed the area around Dunollie - which still bears his name (Lorn as it is now known) - and the Scots became firmly established in what is now modern-day Argyll.
Hand in hand with history, Lorn boasts beauty spots too numerous to mention. Just five miles north of Oban, beneath Connel Bridge (itself a beautiful replica of the more famous Forth Bridge) the racing waters of Loch Etive form rapids at the 'Falls of Lora'. This world-renowned spectacle, best viewed at mid-ebb spring tides, is Europe's only seawater falls.
Explore the mighty Ben Cruachan, the walk where you can go "up and under". From the visitor centre at Cruachan Hydro Station, take the one-mile trip into the heart of the mountain to see the water from Loch Awe pumped into a vast reservoir on Ben Cruachan.
Follow the link to Wee Walks Oban to explore the town on foot developed by locals or download the Love Oban Active Travel App and take the walking maps with you.
Hillwalking
Oban, Lorn & the Isles may not class itself as one of the more mountainous areas of Scotland, but it more than compensates for that with views that can take your breath away.
Most of the hills in this part of the world overlook the sea and the views out over the islands can be spectacular and you don't even have to be too energetic to get the best views.
Ben Lora, just a few miles north of Oban, overlooks Ardmucknish Bay giving great views over to Mull and can be walked up and down in around 2 hours.
For those keen on Munro bagging (Munros are hills over 3,000ft in height named after Sir Hugh Munro, the first person to catalogue them all) there are over 20 Munros within a 45-minute drive of Oban.
Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the Mamores are just outside this area. All of these hills offer a good challenge to even the fittest. Allow over 6 hours for an ascent in summer and much longer in winter, when the snow level can make them expeditions for only those very experienced in hill walking.
Anyone attempting these hills needs to be well equipped and well versed in mountain navigation as you can quite often experience all 4 seasons during a day's walking.
Love Oban Active Travel App
Your digital active travel guide to a series of walking and cycling trails in and around Oban.
Featuring eight self-guided trails, interactive tours and an Eye Spy game this guide is your opportunity to find out about some of the important buildings and landmarks to be found in and around Oban whilst out walking or cycling.
The type of trails featured range from relatively flat routes along the waterfront through to more challenging routes that cross moorland and high ground. The trails have not been graded, however each trail page includes a route synopsis and detailed route description to allow you to decide whether or not the trail is suitable for you.
Key Features
- Eight Self-Guided interactive walking trails
- Three 360° interactive tours
- Fun family challenges to spot features in and around the town
- Links to local visitor information resources
Download
BEINN LORA
A challenging climb through varied woodland at the foot of Beinn Lora is richly rewarded. The panoramic views are among the most memorable in Argyll. From the Eagle’s Eyrie on a clear day you can look over Benderloch to Mull, Lismore and beyond.
SUTHERLANDS GROVE
Walk among the mighty fir trees of Sutherland’s Grove, the oldest of which were planted in 1870 and the ancient oaks and Scots pines. The trails follow the gorge of the Abhainn Teithil burn, whose curiously-sculpted rocks create entrancing waterfalls.
GLASDRUM NATURE RESERVE
Overlooking Loch Creran, is the native woodland of oak, ash, birch and alder, an abundance of lichens, grassy glades and the mild, humid climate of the west coast, which makes this reserve one of Scotland’s best sites for butterflies.
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