A pretty town in the west Scottish Highlands is often used as a jumping-off point to visit the Hebrides – but it has much more to offer. Oban is the most affordable seaside town in the UK, according to a study by the Co-op Bank.
It has one of the lowest average house prices at £220,458. Rent is also notably affordable, averaging £800 per month, just 34.7% of the average monthly income, the lowest rent-to-income ratio among all the locations analysed. The name Oban is a Gaelic word meaning “little bay”, fitting for the small port town and former fishing village.
The town is well-known for its historic distillery. Opened in 1794, the Oban Distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland and has never moved location. The single malt scotch is multi-award-winning and made by just seven employees. Tourists can visit the distillery for tastings and tours.
Oban is home to a number of historic sites such as the prehistoric Kilmartin Glen, Clan MacDougall’s home Dunollie Castle, sea stack Dog Stone and landmark McCaig’s Tower. There are also lots of beauty spots to visit like Back of Ganavan, Battleship Hill, Fearnoch Forest and Greenacre Bay.
The Gateway to the Isles is protected by the Isle of Kererra and has access by ferry to Barra, Mull and South Uist. The town can get busy during the summer with tourists travelling to the Hebrides but is quieter in the winter.
The constant stream of visitors means locals have lots of funny stories about them, including Americans saying their fish is “too fishy”, French people shouting at waiters for not sitting them fast enough and Tripadvisor fanatics asking if staff “know who they are”. One local said: “It’s lots of madness, but lots nice people too.”
There are a number of hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses to stay in as well as lots of shops to visit, selling everything from local produce to crafts and gifts.
Oban also has popular restaurants and a handful of fish and chip shops, being named ‘Scotland’s seafood capital’ with its nearby waters producing oysters, prawns, mackerel, scallops, and lobster.