Bustling town of Oban stunning Scotland

Humans have used the site where Oban now stands since at least Mesolithic times, as evidenced by archaeological remains of cave dwellers found in the town. 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.
Just to the north of Oban, at Dunstaffnage, excavations in 2010, by Argyll Archaeology, in advance of the development of the European Marine Science Park found evidence that people were also living in the area from the Neolithic to the Early Historic periods. The archaeologists discovered funerary pyres that were in use for several generations during the Late Iron Age and a farmstead in use sometime between the late 7th to 9th centuries AD.Prior to the 19th century, the town itself supported very few households, sustaining only minor fishing, trading, shipbuilding and quarrying industries, and a few hardy tourists. The Renfrew trading company established a storehouse there around 1714, as a local outlet for its merchandise, but a custom-house was not deemed necessary until 1736, with "Oban being reckoned a proper place for clearing out vessels for the herring fishery".
The modern town of Oban grew up around the distillery, which was founded there in 1794. A royal charter raised the town to a burgh of barony in 1811.Sir Walter Scott visited the area in 1814, the year in which he published his poem The Lord of the Isles; interest in the poem brought many new visitors to the town. The town was made a Parliamentary Burgh in 1833. A rail link - the Callander and Oban Railway - was authorised in 1864 but took years to reach the town. The final stretch of track to Oban opened on 30 June 1880. This brought further prosperity, revitalising local industry and giving new energy to tourism. Also at this time work on the ill-fated Oban Hydro commenced; the enterprise was abandoned and left to fall into disrepair after 1882 when Dr Orr, the scheme's originator, realised he had grossly underestimated its cost. Work on McCaig's Tower, a prominent local landmark, started in 1895. Paid for by John Stewart McCaig (1824-1902) the construction aimed, in hard times, to give work for local stonemasons. However, its construction ceased in 1902 on the death of its benefactor.
Built in 1897 for James Gemmel Boutein, Glencruitten House was built on the site of an earlier estate. Now Category B Listed, the building is a Scottish-style castle, or Scots Baronial house, that was significantly altered in 1903. A library wing was added in 1927/1928. The original architect, Edward Appin, was also involved in the work completed in 1903. Robert Lorimer of the Lorimer & Matthew firm, guided the additions made in the 1920s for Alexander Mackay, the owner at that time. The House has been a B-listed property since 1971. The contents were to be sold off by auction in 2003, including some furniture designed by Lorimer. Reports at that time shed additional light on the previous owners of the House, indicating that the MacKay family "at the Argyll house" had owned the property for four generations, since 1917 when it was acquired by "the venture capitalist Alexander MacKay the original owner was listed as the Shelly-Bonteyn family. MacKay and his son Robert Ferrier Burns Mackay were said to be significant collectors of art, including works by "Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) and James McBey (1883-1959)For some time prior to 2020, Glencruitten House was owned by a religious community who listed it for sale that year.The listing for sale provided additional specifics: the House contained "woodwork and panelling believed to be by Clow Bros and Louis Davis stained glass windows. Also within the library is an original grade A listed Ingram organ with Welte Philharmonic roleplay mechanism (not fully operational)". The listing also stated that "remedial work [was] recently undertaken by the current owner
During World War II (1939-1945) The Royal Navy had a signal station near Ganavan, and an anti-submarine indicator loop station, which detected any surface or submarine vessels between Oban, Mull and Lismore. There was a controlled minefield in the Sound of Kerrera, which was operated from a building near the caravan site at Gallanach. A Royal Air Force flying-boat base operated at Ganavan and on Kerrera, and an airfield at North Connel - built by the Royal Air Force. A Sector Operations Room was built near the airfield; after the war, this was extended to become the Royal Observer Corps Group HQ.
Oban was also important during the Cold War because the first Transatlantic Telephone Cable (TAT-1) came ashore at Gallanach Bay. This carried the Hot Line between the US Presidents and USSR General Secretaries.
Since the 1950s, the principal industry has remained tourism, though the town is also an important ferry port, acting as the hub for Caledonian MacBrayne ferries to many of the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

[@ronchaloner]

Nice video brought back many good memories of 40 years ago when i worked at the Great Western Hotel. Happy times good friends made and happy memories.

[@rowanstravels8038]

Thanks,great place Ron,do you live in Oban i bet you have seen some changes over the years

[@ronchaloner]

@@rowanstravels8038 no i only worked there for 6 months in 1982 and about 2 months in 1980. Both times at the Great Western Hotel. But i never forgot the place as i said happy memories and long lost friends now. Enjoyed watching your video :)

[@rowanstravels8038]

@@ronchaloner thank you for watching

[@edwarduchenna7859]

This is so amazing!! Can't wait for the next one

[@rowanstravels8038]

Thank you Edward

[@margaretsmallallan28]

Oban's seagulls are horrors! They swoop down and steal fish and chips from the poor tourists. They have had years of practice, and their beaks are lethal weapons! After they have eaten, the squawking tells just how much they enjoyed the food, and get undercover quickly as they are not toilet trained, and can make a dreadful mess on peoples clothes! A brilliant video. Thankyou.

[@rowanstravels8038]

They are devils Margaret but them fish and chips are lovely sitting looking out over the sea arent they,thank you for viewing

[@MattClarke-oj3qz]

ahem! excuse me? I see you just walked straight passed spoons without going in? hahahaha

[@rowanstravels8038]

😄😃Matt its that mrs of mine she keeps dragging me away from them 😄😃 good luck with viewing, Paul & Gail

[@jaye26]

​@@rowanstravels8038I live in Oban.... when do you return to Oban

[@rowanstravels8038]

@@jaye26 amazing place you live in Jay we are in Lewis at the min am not sure when we will be returning to Oban but I would think either autumn or next year

[@rowanstravels8038]

It's a shame Oban doesn't have some overnight stops for motorhomes we would love a night or 2 there

[@jaye26]

Hello from Oban 29 April 2024

[@rowanstravels8038]

HI Jay are you on holiday or live in Oban? Thank you for commenting and viewing and I hope you have subscribed 😀😀😀😀

[@rowanstravels8038]

It's a shame oban don't have some overnight places for motorhone I think they would be popular we would love a night or 2 in Oban

[@alexrobinson2281]

Nae different ti Tynemooth !

[@rowanstravels8038]

You think i been to both and they are total different in my opinion