Oban, Scotland

Highlands to Alpine Adventure: Day 3 – Oban & Garden Strolls

Oban: The Gateway to the Isles

We started the day in the picturesque harbor town of Oban, often called the “Seafood Capital of Scotland.” We started with a walking tour of the town.

Towering above the town is McCaig’s Tower, a circular stone monument that resembles a Roman coliseum. I made the short climb up for panoramic views of Oban Bay, the surrounding islands, and the rooftops below. The walk up is short, but it is steep.

Lunch at The Green Shack

For lunch, I stopped at the Green Shack (also known as The Seafood Shack) on the pier, as recommended by my Tour Manager. It’s no-frills but full of flavor — I tried the mussels and the scallops in garlic butter. It’s cash only, and it’s SO much food! I hated that I had to waste some and would recommend sharing or only getting one item. I also finally tried the Irn-Bru, Scotland’s iconic soft drink. I actually liked it though it’s hard to describe the flavor. They sell more Irn-Bru in Scotland than Coca-Cola.

After lunch, I wandered some more during my free time by walking around the waterfront and looking in a few shops. I arrived back to meet the bus too early so I popped into the pub and had a quick GT.

Afternoon at Loch Melfort Hotel

After exploring Oban, we returned to the stunning Loch Melfort Hotel. We had some downtime so I walked down to the beach area before sitting on the deck and listening to my audio book. The weather has been gorgeous so I enjoyed time outdoors.

After dinner, our Tour Manager took us into the gardens and we walked up to the viewpoint for the setting sun. I regret not spending more time in the gardens. They were stunning and are the perfect place to wander around, it’s so peaceful.

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