David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Oban
Oban is a port town on the west coast of Scotland, in Argyll, and the main ferry terminal for the Inner Hebrides including Mull, Coll, Tiree and Colonsay.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
Best things to do in Oban
The one thing not to miss
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland, the UK and the British Isles, and stands near Fort William. Treat it as a serious mountain day, not a casual stroll.
Ben Nevis and Fort William
Thincat, Public domain 1. Ben Nevis and Fort William
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland, the UK and the British Isles, at the western end of the Grampians in Lochaber. It stands close to Fort William, a town at the head of Loch Linnhe.
Ben Nevis is a high mountain; check weather and route advice from a mountain safety source before walking it.
31,673 readers a month
2. Isle of Mull
The second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides, with a mountainous core and Ben More, the only Munro in the Scottish islands outside Skye. Tobermory is its harbour town, and Duart Castle, seat of Clan MacLean, stands beside the Sound of Mull.
Check ferry times with the operator before you plan the day.
17,907 readers a month
3. Iona
A small island in the Inner Hebrides off the Ross of Mull, best known for Iona Abbey. It was a centre of Gaelic monasticism for three centuries and is known today for its calm, its natural setting and its importance to pilgrims.
Reaching Iona involves Mull and a ferry; check sailing times with the operators.
12,812 readers a month
Sources
4. Staffa and Fingal's Cave
Staffa is a small Inner Hebrides island named by the Vikings for its columnar basalt. Fingal's Cave, a sea cave on the island, is known for its natural acoustics and is owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
We have not confirmed boat operators or landing arrangements; check with an operator.
10,146 readers a month
5. Glenfinnan Viaduct
A railway viaduct on the West Highland Line, built from 1897 to 1901 at the head of Loch Shiel. It overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the loch.
7,349 readers a month
6. Inveraray Castle
A country house on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland's longest sea loch, and one of the earliest examples of Gothic Revival architecture.
Check opening times and any booking rules with the operator before you go.
6,518 readers a month
Sources
7. Glen Coe
A glacial glen cut through volcanic rock in the Highlands, regarded as the home of Scottish mountaineering and popular with hillwalkers and climbers.
Mountain weather can change quickly; check conditions before walking.
5,244 readers a month
Sources
8. Gulf of Corryvreckan
A narrow strait off the west coast of mainland Scotland between the islands of Jura and Scarba, in Argyll and Bute. Its Gaelic name means 'cauldron of the speckled seas'.
We have not confirmed boat operators or safety conditions; check with a local operator.
3,921 readers a month
9. McCaig's Tower
A prominent tower on Battery Hill above Oban, built of Bonawe granite from Loch Etive. It has two tiers of lancet arches, 94 in total, and is a Grade B listed monument.
2,588 readers a month
Sources
10. Kilchurn Castle
A ruined castle on a rocky peninsula at the north-east end of Loch Awe, begun in the mid-15th century by the Campbells of Glenorchy. It is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and open in summer.
Check opening times and any booking rules with the operator before you go.
2,296 readers a month
Sources
Just missed the list: Oban distillery (11th by readers; a Highland single malt distillery founded in 1794); Lismore (12th by readers; an Inner Hebrides island in Argyll and Bute)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Ben Nevis and Fort William leads with about 31,673 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.