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Oban Scotland United Kingdom Cruise Port Guide
Location:
This is a tender port. The tender dock is in the center of town.
Printable map to take along.
Cruise calendar for this port.
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Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Oban Scotland United Kingdom
Sightseeing:
Oban has always been known as the traveler's rest. As a small town with a resident population of 8,500 this unofficial capital of the West Highlands often swells with large numbers of visitors touring the Highlands of Scotland. Oban is renowned for its glorious gardens, its fabulous views, the ocean promenade, islands all around, ancient monuments and castles, and outdoor activities such as diving, hiking, fishing, bird-watching – even whale spotting. Take a day tour, do some island hopping or explore the local sightseeing attractions.
Attractions in Oban include the Waterfront center, the Cathedral of St Columba, the Oban Distillery, Dunollie Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle and McCaig's Tower, which dominates the town's skyline. Oban is an excellent base from which to explore the sights of Kilmartin Glen.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
There are several trip boats and ferries working out of Oban. You just walk around the bay to where you see the signs and choose a boat.
It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.
Nearby Places:
Kilmartin Glen is an area in Argyll not far from Kintyre, which has one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. The glen is located between Oban and Lochgilphead, surrounding the village of Kilmartin.
There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius of the village, with 150 of them being prehistoric. Monuments include standing stones, a henge monument, numerous cists, and a "linear cemetery" comprising five burial cairns. Several of these, as well as many natural rocks, are decorated with cup and ring marks.
The remains of the fortress of the Scots at Dunadd, a royal center of Dal Riata, are located to the south of the glen, on the edge of the Moine Mhòr or Great Moss. The Kilmartin House Museum of Ancient Culture is located within the village itself, and aims to interpret the rich history of the glen.
Shopping and Food
Strolling along George Street, the main shopping area of the town
and past the bay with beautiful views across to the Island of Kerrera
and beyond, leads you down to Argyll Square with its attractive floral
display and lined with even more shops and cafes.
Leading off George Street are small lanes hiding many more independent
shops well worth exploring.
Currency:
The currency throughout the UK is the pound (£). You may also hear the slang term quid for pounds. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon in other parts of the UK, so change the notes before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM) or less formally 'holes in the wall' are very widely available and usually dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, are accepted by most shops and restaurants.
Communication:
English is spoken throughout the country, but sometimes with heavy accents!
Most cafe's and restaurants offer free WiFi.
The local emergency telephone number is 999, however the EU-wide 112 can also be used.
Opening Hours and Holidays:
Shopping hours are in general:
Small stores 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm)
Larger stores in general stay open til' 9PM
Hyper marts often 24/7
Holidays in the United Kingdom
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