Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland
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136 SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS 137
7 Loch Awe land marks are the pink granite
cathedral and the 600yearold
Argyll. 3 @ Dalmally. n Inveraray
(01499) 302063. ∑ loch-awe.com ruined keep of Dunollie Castle,
once the northern outpost of the
One of the longest freshwater Dalriadic Scots. Among Oban’s
lochs in Scotland, Loch Awe other attractions are working
stretches 40 km (25 miles) centres for glass and pottery,
across a glen in the south and Oban Distillery, producers
western Highlands. A short of fine malt whisky. On rainy
drive east from the town of days a good option is the old
Lochawe are the remains of fashioned Oban War and Peace
Kilchurn Castle, abandoned Museum for its interesting
after being struck by lightning insight into local culture.
in the 18th century. Dwarfing Early in August yachts
the castle is Ben Cruachan. McCaig’s Tower looming over the houses con verge on the town for
The huge summit of 1,126 m and fishing boats of Oban West Highland Week, while at
(3,694 ft) can be reached by the the end of the month, Oban’s The picturesque kaleidoscope of houses in Tobermory, one of Mull’s most favoured tourist stops
narrow Pass of Brander, where 8 Oban Highland Games take place.
Robert the Bruce fought the Argyll. * 8,000. 3 @ g n North Nearby Kilmore, Taynuilt and 9 Mull the summer months the abbey 0 Coll and Tiree
Clan MacDougal in 1308. Near Pier, (01631) 563122. ∑ oban.org.uk Tobermory, on Mull, also host Argyll. * 2,700. g from Oban, has a large influx of visitors. Argyll. * 950. g from Oban. ~
the village of Taynuilt, the summer Highland Games. Lochaline and Kilchoan; from If the weather is fine, head from Glasgow to Tiree only. n Oban
preserved Lorn Furnace at Known as the “Gateway to the Fionnphort, on Mull, to Iona. to Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of (01631) 563122. ∑ visitcoll.co.uk
Bonawe is a reminder of the Isles”, this bustling port on the Environs n Craignure (01680) 812377. Staffa (see p21). A true natural ∑ isleoftiree.com
ironsmelting industry that Firth of Lorne commands fine A few miles north of Oban, off wonder, the cave is surrounded
destroyed much of the area’s views of the Argyll coast. Shops the A85, is the 13thcentury The largest of the Inner by “organ pipes” of basalt, the Despite frequent notices of
woodland in the last centuries. crowd the seafront around the Dunstaffnage Castle where Hebridean islands, Mull features inspiration for Mendelssohn’s winter gale warnings, these
On the A816, to the south of “little bay” which gives Oban its Flora MacDonald was briefly rough moor lands, the rocky Hebrides Overture. Boat trips run islands, the most westerly in
the loch, is Kilmartin House. name, and fresh fish is always imprisoned for helping Bonnie peak of Ben More and a splen there from Fionnphort and Ulva, the Inner Hebrides, often record
The museum here displays for sale on the busy pier. Regular Prince Charlie escape in 1746. did beach at Calgary. Most and to the seven Treshnish more hours of sunshine than the
artifacts from local prehistoric ferries leave for Mull, Coll, Tiree, Further north at Barcaldine is roads follow the coast line, Isles. These uninhabit ed isles are rest of Britain. They offer beautiful
sites, as well as reconstructions Barra, South Uist, Islay, Colonsay the Scottish Sealife Sanctuary. affording wonderful sea views. a sanctuary for thousands of beaches and impressive surf.
of boats, utensils and jewellery, and Lismore, making Oban one This centre combines looking On a promontory to the seabirds, including puffins, razor Tiree’s soil is 60 per cent shell
providing a vivid glimpse of life of the mostvisited places on the after injured and orphaned east of Craignure lies the 13th bills, kittiwakes and skuas. Lunga sand, so no trees can grow. As a
in prehistoric Scotland. west coast. Built on a steep hill, seals, with displays of under century Duart Castle, home of is the main stop for tour boats. result, it is perhaps the wind iest
the town is dominated by the water life. The Isle of Seil is the chief of Clan Maclean. You place in Scotland. Wild flowers
E Kilmartin House immense McCaig’s Tower, an reached via the 18th century can visit the Banqueting Hall, E Mull Aquarium flourish here in spring.
Kilmartin. Tel (01546) 510278. Open eccentric Colosseumlike structure “Bridge over the Atlantic”. The State Rooms and the dungeons Taigh Solais, Tobermory. Tel (01688) Breacachadh Castle, the
daily. & 7 - ∑ kilmartin.org built in the 1800s. Other major Easdale Folk Museum, on the that once held prisoners from 302876. Open Easter–Oct: daily. 15thcentury home of Clan
tiny island of Easdale off Seil, a Spanish Armada galleon, sunk 7 limited. ∑ mullaquarium.co.uk Maclean until 1750, over looks
describes the history of slate in 1588 by one Donald Maclean. + Duart Castle a bay in south Coll but is not
mining in the area. South of At the northern end of Mull Off A849, near Craignure. Tel (01680) open to the public. Tiree has
Oban along the coast is is the town of Tobermory, with 812309. Open Apr: 11am–4pm Sun– two free museums, the Trenish
Arduaine Garden, noted for its brightly coloured buildings Thu; May–Oct: 10:30am–5pm daily. Isles Exhibition, about the
its varieties of springblooming along the seafront. Built as a & - = ∑ duartcastle.com natural history of this group of
rhododen drons and azaleas. fishing village in 1788, it is now islands that are visible from
a popular port for yachts. The } Fingal’s Cave and Treshnish Isles Tiree, and the Skerryvore
E Oban War and Peace Museum harbourside Mull Aquarium 4 Easter–Oct. Tel (07831) 885985. Lighthouse Museum in Hynish
Corran Esplanade. Tel (01631) 570007. provides an insight into the Timetable varies, call for details. & – the lighthouse stands 20 km
Open Mar–Nov: daily. 7 workings of the port and the ∑ staffatours.com (12 miles) offshore.
+ Dunstaffnage Castle local natural history. With its
Connel. Tel (01631) 562465. Open Apr– touch pools and cinema, it
Sep: daily; Oct–Mar: Sat–Wed. & 8 holds great appeal for kids.
O Scottish Sealife Sanctuary
Barcaldine, near Connel. Tel (01631) Environs
The small and very beautiful island
720386. Open daily. & 7
∑ sealsanctuary.co.uk of Iona is one of the biggest
attractions on Scotland’s west
E Easdale Folk Museum coast. A restored abbey stands
Easdale. Tel (01852) 300173. on the site where Irish missionary
Open Apr–midOct: 11am–4pm daily. St Columba began his crusade
∑ easdalemuseum.org in 563 and made Iona the home
Y Arduaine Garden of Christianity in Europe. In the
Arduaine. Tel (01852) 200366. Open abbey grave yard, 48 Scottish
The ruins of Kilchurn Castle on the shore of Loch Awe daily. & 7 8 by appointment. « kings are said to be buried. During A traditional croft building on the island of Coll
For hotels and restaurants see pp176–7 and pp187–9
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