Oban facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oban Scottish Gaelic: An t-Òban Scots: Oban
Town and former burgh of barony
A view over Oban from McCaig's Tower
Oban
Population	8,140 (2020)
OS grid reference	NM859298
• Edinburgh	93 mi (150 km)
• London	402 mi (647 km)
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OBAN
Postcode district	PA34
Dialling code	01631
Police	Strathclyde
Fire	Strathclyde
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland 56°24′43″N 5°28′19″W / 56.412°N 5.472°W / 56.412; -5.472

Oban (pronounced OH-bən) is a beautiful resort town in Scotland. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic An t-Òban, which means The Little Bay. Even though it's not huge, Oban is the biggest town between Helensburgh and Fort William.

During the busy summer months, Oban's population can grow to over 24,000 people! The town sits in a lovely spot called the Firth of Lorn. Its bay is shaped almost like a perfect horseshoe. It's protected by the island of Kerrera and, further out, by the Isle of Mull. To the north, you can see the island of Lismore and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour.

Ancient History of Oban

People have lived in the area where Oban is now for a very long time. We know this from old tools and remains found in caves. These date back to the Mesolithic period, which was the Middle Stone Age.

Just outside Oban, you can see Dunollie Castle. This spot has been a fortified place since the Bronze Age, which was thousands of years ago. It overlooks the main entrance to the bay.

Archaeologists found more evidence of early life north of Oban in 2010. They discovered signs of people living there from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) up to early historic times. They even found old burial sites and a farm from the 7th to 9th centuries AD.

Oban's Story Through Time

Oban in 1900

Before the 1800s, Oban was a very small place. It had only a few homes and small businesses like fishing, trading, and shipbuilding. Some brave tourists also visited. A trading company set up a store here around 1714.

The modern town of Oban really started to grow around the Oban Distillery. This whisky distillery was founded in 1794. In 1811, Oban was given a special royal charter, making it a "burgh of barony." This meant it had certain rights and a local government.

Famous writer Sir Walter Scott visited in 1814. His poem, The Lord of the Isles, made many more people want to visit Oban. In 1833, it became a "Parliamentary Burgh," giving it more political importance.

A railway line, the Callander and Oban Railway, was approved in 1864. It finally reached Oban on June 30, 1880. This brought more wealth to the town. It helped local businesses and boosted tourism even more.

Work on McCaig's Tower, a famous landmark, began in 1895. John Stewart McCaig paid for it to give work to local stonemasons during tough times. He also wanted it to be a lasting memory for his family. Sadly, construction stopped in 1902 when he died. His family stopped the funding. The Oban Municipal Buildings were finished around 1900.

During World War II (1939–1945), Oban was a very important base. Ships from the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy used it during the Battle of the Atlantic. The Royal Navy had a signal station and a system to detect enemy ships. There was also a Royal Air Force base for flying boats.

Oban was also important during the Cold War. The first Transatlantic Telephone Cable (TAT-1) came ashore here. This cable carried the special "Hot Line" between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union.

Since the 1950s, tourism has been Oban's main industry. The town is also a busy ferry port. It's the main hub for Caledonian MacBrayne ferries. These ferries connect Oban to many of the beautiful islands in the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

Oban's Weather

Like the rest of the British Isles, Oban has a maritime climate. This means it has cool summers and mild winters. The nearest weather station is at Dunstaffnage, a few miles north of town. It rains a lot, but thanks to the Gulf Stream, it rarely gets very cold.

Oban's Culture

Oban has a strong Gaelic culture. Many people in the town speak or understand Gaelic.

Oban is known as the home of the Royal National Mòd. This is a big festival that celebrates Scottish Gaelic language, music, and culture. It was first held in Oban in 1892. The town has hosted it many times since, bringing thousands of visitors.

An annual Highland Games event, called the Argyllshire Gathering, also takes place in Oban. Here you can see traditional Scottish sports and performances.

The Corran Halls theatre hosts many local events, shows, and touring groups like Scottish Opera.

Oban used to have a cinema that closed in 2010. But thanks to local efforts, it reopened in 2012 as the Phoenix Cinema! Oban has also been a filming location for movies like Ring of Bright Water.

You can visit the Oban War and Peace Museum to learn about the town's history. There's also a museum at the Oban Distillery, where you can learn how whisky is made.

Music is a big part of Gaelic culture in Oban. The Oban High School Pipe Band has won major championships. The town also has a successful senior pipe band and a Gaelic choir.

Oban Bay from McCaig's Tower. The bay is sheltered by the island of Kerrera. Behind lies the Isle of Mull.

Oban and bay at night, note McCaig's Tower is illuminated.

Fun Things to See and Do

The most famous landmark in Oban is McCaig's Tower. You can see it from most parts of the town. John Stuart McCaig started building it in 1897. He wanted to give jobs to local stonemasons and create a lasting monument. However, construction stopped when he died in 1902.

The area around Oban has amazing coastal and mountain scenery. You can also explore historic castles and ancient religious sites nearby. North of town, there's a natural rock formation called Fingal's Dogstone. Legend says it's connected to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

The Oban Visitor Information Centre can give you more details about things to do.

Getting Around Oban

Oban is at the end of the A85 road. You can take a ScotRail train from Oban railway station to Glasgow Queen Street every day.

The town is a very important ferry port. It's the busiest terminal for Caledonian MacBrayne ferries. Oban is known as the "Gateway to the Isles" because ferries sail from here to many islands. These include Lismore, Colonsay, Islay, Coll, Tiree, Mull, Barra, and South Uist. A new ferry terminal opened in 2005, making it even easier for ships to load and unload.

Scottish Citylink buses run from Glasgow several times a day. In summer, you can also find buses to Dundee and Edinburgh. West Coast Motors runs local bus services and coaches to other towns.

Oban also has an airport outside North Connel. It has regular flights to Islay, Colonsay, and Tiree. These flights are only about half an hour long.

Schools in Oban

Oban has a primary school campus in the south and Park Primary School in the north. It also has a large high school, Oban High School. A brand new building for the high school was finished in 2019.

Students from a wide area, including nearby islands like Coll and Mull, come to Oban High School. Students from the islands often stay at a local hostel during the school week. The school helps pay for the hostel so families don't have to.

Local News and Radio

For many years, Oban FM was the town's local radio station. It broadcast local news and entertainment. In late 2024, Nevis Radio announced it would start broadcasting in Oban in 2025.

You can also listen to BBC Radio Scotland on 93.3 FM.

The Oban Times is the local newspaper. It comes out every Thursday.

Churches in Oban

St Columba's Cathedral

Oban has several churches. The Kilmore & Oban Parish Church is part of the Church of Scotland.

The main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is St Columba's Cathedral. This beautiful building was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built between 1932 and 1959.

The Scottish Episcopal Church has the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine in Oban. It's one of two cathedrals for its diocese.

You can also find other churches in town, including the Free Church of Scotland, the Baptist Church, and the Salvation Army.

Sports and Activities

Oban is a great place for sports because it's near mountains and the sea. You can try many activities like scuba-diving, sailing, mountain biking, and winter mountaineering.

• Football: The local amateur football team is Oban Saints.
• Shinty: This is a very popular local game, with two main teams: Oban Camanachd and Oban Celtic.
• Cricket: Oban Cricket Club started in 2003.
• Rugby: Oban Lorne Rugby Football Club has been around for over 50 years.
• Golf: The Glencruitten Golf course was designed by famous golfer James Braid.
• Tennis: The West Highland Tennis Championships are held here every July.
• Martial Arts: Oban has classes for karate, kick boxing, mixed martial arts, and boxing.
• Watersports: Sailing is very popular. The West Highland Week brings sailors from all over the world. Scuba diving is also popular, with great wreck diving sites in the Sound of Mull.

Famous People from Oban

Many well-known people have come from Oban, including:

• Jamie Campbell-Walter, a racing driver
• Robert MacIntyre, a professional golfer
• John McPhee, a Grand Prix motorcyclist
• Susan Partridge, a long-distance runner
• Susie Wolff, a professional racing driver

Twin Towns

Oban has two twin towns:

• Laurinburg, North Carolina, United States: They became twin towns in 1993. Oban High School students even do a yearly exchange with students from Scotland High School there.
• Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland: Oban also twinned with Gorey in 1997.

Images for kids

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  Oban Municipal Buildings

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  The Isle of Mull ferry leaving the terminal

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  Oban Bay from above

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  Oban town from above

See also

In Spanish: Oban para niños