Hi everyone! I have 3 nights to book in-between Inverness and Edinburgh. I was thinking of Oban, but I'm not sure if 3 nights is too long? Also, after searching Tripadvisor, it seems there's no perfect hotel in Oban. Any suggestions for a boutique-style, preferably not a B&B? Price is not an issue.

Thank you.

kikij- Oban all by itself for 3 nights without venturing to lets say Mull for a night - I don't know. I would rather spend 1 night in Oban and 2 nights on Mull to take advantage of the trips to the mind blowing Fingal's Cave on the Isle of Staffa ( which incidentally is the other end of The Giant's Causeway in Ireland).

IMO Oban isn't 'worth' any nights itself. For a base for seeing Mull/Iona, Kilmartin, etc -- OK. But the town itself - not so much.

Some people do like Oban and it isn't terrible. But I just think there are so many nicer places. What do you want to see in the area?

Thanks for your quick replies!

We really want to go to the Oban Distillery. As well, we've heard Oban is well-known for excellent seafood. We'd also be interested in going to the Isle of Mull, so perhaps 1 night in Oban and 2 on Mull would be a great option.

This is one of the nicest B&Bs I've ever stayed in: http://www.dunheanish.com/index.html

We enjoyed the meals we ate at Cuan Mor, recommended by our host (it was one of several that he recommended).

"<i>so perhaps 1 night in Oban and 2 on Mull would be a great option.</i>"

I'd opt for either that or just a morning/early afternoon in Oban and 3 nights on Mull.

Oban is sort of an old fashioned seaside town/ferry port and while there are some decent restaurants -- it isn't a culinary destination by any means.

You could visit the distillery, have lunch at ee-usk and then take the ferry across to Mulll in the late afternoon.

http://www.eeusk.com/

janisj

thanks for the link to eeusk. I have just spent days trying to get a half reasonable flight to Pisa/Seville or Athens in July. Bearing in mind the prices are silly once you get there and generally the quality we have seen recently has been way below the UK, you have just made my mind up.

It's been 7 years but this July is a week in The Western Isles with our cottage in Rockcliffe as a base.

Need to work out how to do the ferries from Largs to Oban without tariling through Glasgow.

Stayvacation this year.

The Oban Distillery is awesome. Such a tiny little place puts out such mind-blowing stuff. Unforunately, it isn't free, but you get enough tastes to make it worthwhile.

The little harbor in Oban is very pretty and is the departure point for many ferries and excursion boats.

And don't make the mistake we made last Christmas: We tried to find McCaig's Folly on our own, not knowing the name but just seeing it from the parking lot near the distillery. We drove all over trying to find a sign, any sign, directing us to what looked like Roman ruins. We finally gave up as darkness approached. Then I typed in our next destination, Stirling, into my GPS. We were then led over the nastiest, narrowest, most gravelly and icy roads I've ever experienced. We ended-up being directed through sheep pastures far into the boonies where no other buildings or signs of civilization existed. All on a day after one of Scotland's biggest snowstorms in years. And in a POS VW Passat with summer performance tires. Looking at the route on Google Earth I swear we were driving on a hiking trail.

Try to visit in the summer.

Hi. We stayed in Oban at the Glenburnie Hotel which is a small guesthouse on the Esplanade. We loved it especially the great sea view from the window in our room. The room we had was the one showing on the website. Lovely people and great breakfast. A short walk into town along the Esplanade.

This place is just outside Oban and really lovely....great spot, fab food and Charlie and Bella look after you so well

http://www.leragshouse.com/

Word of advice Kikij - wherever you choose to stay on Mull, make sure you leave for the boat trip to Staffa or Iona etc., at least 2 hours before sailing time. Rather spend the extra time hanging around the little harbour than panicking about missing the sailing. I tell you this because the roads are narrow and twisty in some places and you cannot speed gaily along - it's a slow drive and a very long way.
If you have a map it will give you the distances: We drove from just outside Tobermory to the Ulva ferry. That was a good hours driving . If we had wanted to go to Fionnphort and the crossing to Iona & Staffa we would have had to leave more than 2 hrs ahead.
Here are my photos:http://tinyurl.com/6cobzf

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Need to work out how to do the ferries from Largs to Oban without tariling through Glasgow.
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No need to go through Glasgow when driving from Largs to Oban. Take the coast road via Greenock, come off the M8 at the Erskine Bridge and onto A82 for an easy drive to Oban.

I always stay at the Manor House Hotel in Oban. Delightful small hotel with wonderful restaurant - exceptional views from the sea facing rooms as the hotel sits right on the harbor.