The town of Oban sits in an idyllic bay (almost perfectly
horseshoe in shape) on Scotland's west coast. Known as An t-Òban in
Gaellic, which translates as "the little bay", Oban has a small
population, with approximately 8,500 permanent residents, but is a
busy port, particularly during the summer when visitors flock to
the area.
Oban is also known as the 'Gateway to the islands', with ferries
running throughout the year to the Inner and Outer Hebrides,
including Islay, Coll, Lismore, Colonsay, Tiree, Barra, South Uist
and Mull.
McCaig's Tower
Among the attractions of Oban is McCaig's Tower, a
beautiful folly overlooking the town, which was completed in 1902.
The design for the folly was inspired by the famous Colosseum in
Rome, and it takes its name from its designer and architect John
Stuart McCaig.
The Oban Distillery
Oban's Distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland; in
fact the distillery actually pre-dates much of the town, which
later grew around the trade. The distillery was opened by the
Stevenson brothers in 1794, and was operated by their family until
1866. The success of the whisky industry then played an important
role in the local life, allowing for much of the growth in the
town. Today the distillery is still very much operational,
producing a number of different specials - some of which are made
over an incredible 32-year period.
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