About Oban » Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com THE online guide to Oban and Lorn Thu, 06 Feb 2014 23:36:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Oban Bay Time-lapse http://blog.aboutoban.com/2014/02/oban-bay-time-lapse/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2014/02/oban-bay-time-lapse/#comments Thu, 06 Feb 2014 23:33:09 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=133 Time-lapse film of Oban Bay from June, 2012.
Watch a week of stunning views over Oban Bay, sunset and sunrise over the Island of Kerrera and the bustle of ferries back and forth to Mull and the Islands.

Visit http://aboutoban.com/ for everything you need to know about Oban, or download our iPhone app here:
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Oban is regarded as the Seafood Capital of Scotland and is a busy ferry hub for services to Mull, Coll, Tiree, Lismore, Barra and Colonsay.
Find out more about the Caledonian MacBrayne ferries here -http://www.calmac.co.uk/

]]> http://blog.aboutoban.com/2014/02/oban-bay-time-lapse/feed/ 0 [VIDEO] West Highland Yachting Week, Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-west-highland-yachting-week/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-west-highland-yachting-week/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:22:44 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=91

West Highland Week,  Scotland’s Second Largest Yachting Event

This Friday July 29th!

This historic and unique sailing regatta is now in its 64th year.

It has evolved into the West Coast’s second biggest sailing event taking in 3 venues, Craobh, Oban and Tobermory.

Up to 1000 competitors from around the world enjoy national and local media coverage

The event has evolved a distinctive blend of competitive racing combined with a varied and full programme of family social events.

Source and for more information: www.whyw.co.uk

To plan a trip to Oban for The West Highland Yachting Week, check out our list of Oban Hotels, Self Catering, Bed and Breakfast and hostel accommodation.

 


]]> http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-west-highland-yachting-week/feed/ 1 [VIDEO] The Taynuilt Highland Games & Oban Pipe Band http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-the-taynuilt-highland-games-oban-pipe-band/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-the-taynuilt-highland-games-oban-pipe-band/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:55:27 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=86 Read more ]]> “Highland Games originated in Scotland over a thousand years ago under the sponsorship of Kings and Clan Chiefs, for the purpose of selecting and recruiting staff for their entourage. The fastest men were used for delivering orders in battle, the distance runners for rallying the clans and the strongest men for bodyguards.

Dancers were taken into the Chief’s household for entrainment as were pipers. The dancers and pipers composed tunes and dances to extol the virtues and victories of the Chief. Neighbouring clans, when at peace, would match their best in competition: to win was to honour the clan thereby increasing its standing in the area.

The first sporting contest between the Scots and English was held when an envoy of Henry VIII brought with him a team of athletes. Competitions were arranged with local athletes as they travelled around Scotland.

Whenever large groups of Scots gathered, athletics, music and dancing were common results. Horse fairs and markets often ended with Games, the largest gatherings being that of the military.

Bagpipe music stirred the Scottish soldier to greater glory and some of the best bands of pipes and drums are to this day found in the armed forces. The kilted Highland regiments in the First World War earned the German nickname “the ladies from Hell” with the skirl of the pipes enhancing this reputation. The failure of the 1745 Rebellion brought a period of savage repression to Scotland with anything Highland being banned. However by the 1820s gatherings similar to those held today were again being celebrated in Scotland. Under the patronage of Queen Victoria, Highland Games went from strength to strength and are now held all over the world wherever Scotsmen gather. Several ancient Scots sports such as the Hammer Throw & the Shot Putt are now part of the international circuit. This indicates the role of Highland Games in influencing world sport.”
Source: http://www.taynuilthighlandgames.com/

To plan a trip to Oban and Taynuilt check out our list of Oban Hotels, Self Catering, Bed and Breakfast and hostel accommodation.

]]> http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-the-taynuilt-highland-games-oban-pipe-band/feed/ 0 [VIDEO] Oban Strip The Willow Breaks World Record http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-oban-strip-the-willow-breaks-world-record/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-oban-strip-the-willow-breaks-world-record/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:26:10 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=74 Read more ]]> “Hundreds of people turned out for a Scottish country dancing world record attempt in Oban, Argyll. Crowds filled the streets around the piers and along the esplanade in Oban Bay to take part in a Strip the Willow dance at 1830 BST on Saturday.  People formed into groups of eight and danced for five minutes to music by world-famous piper Angus MacColl.  It has not yet been confirmed whether they beat the record set in 2000, when 1,917 people danced in Edinburgh.  Organisers said everyone who took part in the Oban Bay event was given a badge saying “I’ve stripped for Oban”.  The event was part of Oban’s Bicentenary Celebrations.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-14177251

To plan a trip to Oban check out our list of Oban Hotels, Self Catering, Bed and Breakfast and hostel accommodation.


]]> http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/video-oban-strip-the-willow-breaks-world-record/feed/ 1 [PHOTOS] Oban & Argyll by Duncan Lamont http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/photos-oban-argyll-by-duncan-lamont/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/photos-oban-argyll-by-duncan-lamont/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:15:24 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=33 Read more ]]> Duncan Lamont was born in Oban, Argyll, Scotland and lived on the Isle of Islay until he was eight. Following his schooldays in Perth, Duncan studied graphic design and typography at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, in Dundee, and on graduating became employed in the design business as a graphic designer and illustrator.

Duncan is passionate about the Scottish landscape as well as Gaelic culture, traditions and music. He has spent many years enjoying what Scotland’s outdoors has to offer and has a keen interest in photographing the grandeur of the Scottish Highlands and islands.

If you’re interested in buying any of Duncan’s work you can do so via his website.

For information on accommodation in and around Oban areas photographed by Duncan, get in touch with us or check out our list of Oban hotels.

Kilchurn10am-5.01.10 Inverawe House Saltire Loch-Etive Cruachan-Dam Inveraray-12.08 Rusty Bike & Shed Glen Etive 1 Kilchurn and frozen L Awe Kilchurn & Ben Lui Dunstaffnage Castle Castle-Stalker 2- cows Glen Lonan

 

]]> http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/07/photos-oban-argyll-by-duncan-lamont/feed/ 0 [PHOTOS] Castle Stalker & McCaigs Tower http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/06/photos-castle-stalker-mccaigs-tower/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/06/photos-castle-stalker-mccaigs-tower/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:52:12 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=23 Just a few wee photos of Castle Stalker in Appin and McCaigs Tower in Oban.

We were out filming at the Lorn Farmers & Crafters Market in Benderloch and stopped to get a few snaps on the way, couldn’t resist the heavy dramatic skies!  Well worth a visit and when the tide is out, and if you’re quick, you can get in pretty close for some amazing photographs.

IMG_1644 IMG_1650 IMG_1651 2 IMG_1662 Castle Stalker McCaigs Tower Oban ]]> http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/06/photos-castle-stalker-mccaigs-tower/feed/ 0 [VIDEO] The LORN Farmers and Crafters Market, near Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/06/video-the-lorn-farmers-and-crafters-market-near-oban/ http://blog.aboutoban.com/2011/06/video-the-lorn-farmers-and-crafters-market-near-oban/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:17 +0000 About Oban http://blog.aboutoban.com/?p=8 Read more ]]> Near Oban the LORN Producers are delighted to offer you a regular opportunity to buy from them at their Local Producers Market held every first and third Thursday of the month, 10am to 3pm at the Kintaline Plant and Poultry Centre.

A wonderful attraction for all locals and tourists alike.

Come along and experience the vibrant atmosphere, enjoy catching up with friends over lunch – always plenty to eat whilst your there – and plenty of produce to take home, from butchered beef, mutton, lamb and pork, fresh seafood and fish, goose, fruits and vegetables, according to seasons, as well as eggs, herbs, cheese, pies, bakery, sweets and confectionary.

Cookery demonstrations are regular, as are trial sessions of felting, pyrography, jewellery, wood turning and other craft activities, with beautiful items to take home for yourself, or as gifts and souvenirs.

Plans for 2011 include natural history, traditional skills, language and culture, history and charity stalls.
To make each market even more special it is located on a working farm, just outside the village of Benderloch, where there is a wide range of poultry and waterfowl, Jacob sheep to see as you stroll through the ground, set out to encourage local wildlife, as well as a plant centre to explore.

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