Oban – Coastal Road Trip

Day 16 – Oban to Strontian

A slightly late start to the day, as our hotel had wifi that actually worked pretty well, something we struggled with for the next week or so. So we took advantage of the speedy wifi to catch-up on the blog!

Then we spent much of the day driving along the side of several beautiful lochs, and we really started to appreciate the importance of the large network of Scottish ferries.

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Dunstaffnage Castle, Pigeon — A pigeon keeping an eye on us from the rather green walls of Dunstaffnage Castle.

Dunstaffnage Castle

Coastal Road Trip, Dunstaffnage Castle — First stop of the day, just north of Oban at Dunstaffnage Castle, standing proud over Loch Etive. Famous for the imprisonment of Flora MacDonald after she helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape Scotland.

Castle Stalker

Coastal Road Trip, Castle Stalker — Castle Stalker reflecting in Loch Laich. Monty Python used this tower house as one of the settings in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Loch Eil and Ben Nevis

Coastal Road Trip, Loch Eil — Refelctions across the still Loch Eil. We had first traveled west along the north side of Loch Eil from Fort William, but the road was surprisingly busy. However, when we turned off along the south side, we ended up on a lovely quiet lane that then continued on along the west side of Loch Linnhe.

Coastal Road Trip, Loch Eil, Ben Nevis — Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak starting to emerge from the cloud.

Coastal Road Trip, Ben Nevis — And almost out of the cloud.

Corran Lighthouse

Coastal Road Trip, Corran Lighthouse — Corran Lighthouse at the Corran-Ardgour ferry crossing.

Gleann Geal

Coastal Road Trip, Gleann Geal, Deer — Mother and fawn, nervously keeping an eye on us as we drove by on the way to the Sound of Mull.

Coastal Road Trip, Gleann Geal, Sheep — This road isn’t big enough for the two of us!

Lochaline

Coastal Road Trip, Lochaline, Otter — Nice beaver, sorry, I mean otter.

Coastal Road Trip, Lochaline to Fishnish Ferry — Last ferry of the day from Lochaline to Fishnish (love that name) on the Isle of Mull. We then double backed on ourselves to Strontian for the night.

Daily video

Day 15 – Carradale to Oban

172 miles on day fifteen, one of our longer drives, and we packed in some great sights along the way from Carradale to Oban.

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Deer — Feorlan

Carradale

Coastal Road Trip, Carradale Harbour — After another huge Scottish breakfast, we checked out Carradale’s small harbour. Just us, the seagulls and a solitary boat off on an early morning sail.

Saddell

Coastal Road Trip, Saddell Abbey — The remains of Saddell Abbey, built by Irish monks in the 1100s, it had operated as a local centre of worship for 350 years.

Davaar Island

Coastal Road Trip, Davaar Island Lighthouse — As we drove closer to Campbeltown, Davaar Island emerged in the distance, with views over to its Lighthouse.

Campbeltown

Coastal Road Trip, Campbeltown, Harbour, Logs — Logs stacked along the harbour at Campbeltown.

Feorlan

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Feorlan, Deer — Along the long winding road to the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse this young deer spotted us.

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Feorlan, Deer, close up — Quickly sniffed the air … then did a runner into the woodland.

Mull of Kintyre

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse — The Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse. Following in the footsteps of Paul McCartney. We had to walk the final stretch down a steep lane from the cliffs above… we only walked part way and ‘zoomed’ the rest 😉

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Green Foliage — Lush green or deep purple foliage everywhere you look.

Carskey Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Carskey Bay — The views down to the secluded Carskey Bay from the lane back from the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse.

Westport Beach

Coastal Road Trip, Westport Beach, Paddle Board, Surfer — A surfer braving the cold waters at Westport Beach.

Kilberry

Coastal Road Trip, Kilberry Sculptured Stone — One of the sculptured stones found in Kilberry, from around the 14th century.

Coastal Road Trip, Kilberry, Lane — The track past the stones.

Crinan Canal

Coastal Road Trip, Cairnbaan, Crinan Canal, Reflections — Perfect reflections in the still Crinan Canal at Cairnbaan.

Coastal Road Trip, Bellanoch, Crinan Canal, Boat Reflections — And more reflections further down the Crinan Canal at Bellanoch.

Coastal Road Trip, Old Crinan Harbour, Loch Crinan, Julian, Jarno — Suns out!

Coastal Road Trip, Old Crinan Harbour, Loch Crinan — Enjoying the views across Loch Crinan from Old Crinan Harbour.

Kilmichael Glassary

Coastal Road Trip, Kilmichael Glassary, Dunadd Fort — Views form the top of Dunadd Fort, one of the most important early medieval sites in Scotland. Legend says that the hero Ossian left the footprint in this stone when he leapt 1km from Rhudle Hill.

Kilmartin

Coastal Road Trip, Kilmartin, Nether Largie Standing Stones — The Nether Largie Standing Stones, Temple Wood, placed here around 3,200 years ago. They align with the rising and the setting of the moon and sun at significant times.

Loch Melfort

Coastal Road Trip, Loch Melfort — Buoys on Loch Melfort.

Loch Feochan

Coastal Road Trip, Kilninver, Loch Feochan — The warm evening light at Loch Feochan, near Kilninver.

Oban

Coastal Road Trip, Oban, Sunset — The sun starting to set over Oban Bay.

Coastal Road Trip, Oban, Sunset — Daylight almost gone as the sky turned to a dusty pink.

Daily video