Oban. Coordinates: Oban ( listen ; An t-Òban in Scottish Gaelic meaning The Little Bay) is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can play host to up to 25,000 people. Oban occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. The bay is a near perfect horseshoe, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera the Isle of Mull.
To the north is the long low island of Lismore, and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour. History[edit] The site where Oban now stands has been used by humans since at least mesolithic times, as evidenced by archaeological remains of cave dwellers found in the town.[2] Just outside the town stands Dunollie Castle, on a site that overlooks the main entrance to the bay and has been fortified since the Bronze age.
Oban in 1900 Culture[edit] The town had a two-screen cinema which was closed in early 2010. Sport[edit] Oban Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland. Oban stands unchallenged as the capital of the western seaboard of Scotland. It was a late starter, existing only as a small fishing and trading village until the steamers of the early Victorian era started arriving in ever greater numbers. It became the main point of departure for the Western Isles and a regular stopping-off point for the steamers linking Inverness with Glasgow via the Caledonian and Crinan canals. And the arrival of the railway in 1880 only confirmed its growing status.
But there's much more to Oban than simply a convenient transfer point between train and boat, or somewhere you drive through to catch a ferry. The town itself lies in a crescent that is defined by the hills surrounding Oban Bay. The Bay itself is protected from all but the most severe of weather by the northern tail of the island of Kerrera, which blocks wider seaward views at Esplanade level. These days McCaig's Tower serves three main functions. Oban - Towns & Villages in Oban, Oban. Oban tourism information and accommodation - The Official Website. Oban Town Diary for events and offers in and around Oban Oban Town Diary. McCaig's Tower. McCaig's Tower. View from the tower over Oban Bay looking towards Kerrera. The structure was commissioned, at a cost of £5,000 sterling (£500,000 at 2006 prices using GDP deflator), by the wealthy, philanthropic banker (North of Scotland Bank), John Stuart McCaig. John Stuart McCaig was his own architect.[3] The tower was erected between 1897 and his death, aged 78 from Angina Pectoris, on 29 June 1902 at John Square House,[4] Oban, Argyll.
McCaig's intention was to provide a lasting monument to his family, and provide work for the local stonemasons during the winter months. McCaig was an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture, and had planned for an elaborate structure, based on the Colosseum in Rome. His plans allowed for a museum and art gallery with a central tower to be incorporated. Legacy[edit] The empty shell of the tower dominates the Oban skyline, and is now a public garden with magnificent views to the islands of Kerrera, Lismore and Mull.
External links[edit] Coordinates: Overview of McCaig's Tower. McCaigs Tower ~ ~ OK, what is that tower on the hill? McCaigs Tower When was it built? Who built it? OK, why does a town in the Scottish Highlands have a Roman style colosseum dominating the skyline and standing guard like some monolithic sentinel? It's all thanks to John Stuart McCaig (1824 - 1902) who was responsible for it's construction over a five year period from 1895 until his death in 1902. Why? His idea was two fold - to keep local stonemasons employed during the winter months and to provide a lasting monument to the McCaig family. By the time McCaig died and having spent five thousand pounds - a considerable sum in those days - only the outer wall had been completed and he made provision in his will for one thousand pounds a year towards the completion of the project.
Surviving family members had other ideas for the money and the will was successfully challenged with the judge describing McCaig as "eccentric testator". The tower stands approximately 220 feet above sea level. How to get there? Mccaig's Tower - Oban. Welcome to Seafari Adventures (Oban) The Scottish SEA LIFE Sanctuary. Official Scottish Seal Sanctuary | Oban SEA LIFE | Buy Tickets Online & Save. Oban Distillery - The Distilleries of Scotland - scotchwhisky.net.
Royal National Mod. The Mòd is run by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Gaelic Association), and includes competitions and awards. History[edit] The Mòd has been held most years in October since 1892. The only years in which the National Mòd was not held were the war years of 1914-1919 and 1939-1946. The "Royal" was not originally part of the name. It is still the practice of the St Columba's Church to send a Concert Party to start off the fund-raising when the Mòd visits Oban.
The Mòd itself has been greatly influenced by the National Eisteddfod of Wales, although it tends to be somewhat more restrained in its ceremonial aspects. Competitions[edit] The Mòd largely takes the form of formal competitions. The winners of each day's competitions are invited to perform in the winners' céilidhs held every evening. One of the aims of the Mòd is "securing the future of [Scottish] Gaelic language and culture".[2] Culturally, the Mòd is comparable to the Welsh Eisteddfod.
The Mòd Fringe[edit] Media coverage[edit] See also[edit] Oban Gaelic Choir - Welcome. An Comunn Gàidhealach - Royal National Mod : Home. Oban Winter Festival. Welcome to The Oban Times - News for Argyll news for Lochaber News for Fort William and news in The Highlands and Islands. The Oban Times. The Oban Times is a local, weekly newspaper, published in Oban, Argyll and Bute. It covers the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, reporting on issues from the Mull of Kintyre to Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland, to the Inner and Outer Hebridean Islands with Argyll, and Lochaber as its heartlands.
History[edit] In 1861 The Oban Monthly Pictorial Magazine was established by James Miller at a printing site on George Street in Oban.[1] In 1866 the monthly operation became a weekly and changed its name to The Oban Times, although locally it was often referred to as ‘The Highlander’s Bible’.[1] Printing was later transferred to a printing plant at the top of John’s Lane.[1] In June 1976, Alan Cameron's decided to relinquish control of the paper and The Oban Times was acquired by Johnston Press, Falkirk.[1] The control of the paper reverted to private ownership in 1983 when it was purchased by its present owner, Howard Bennett.[1] Today[edit] References[edit] External links[edit]
Firework show is down the Tubes | The Sun |Scottish News.