Oban makes a great base for exploring the west coast of Scotland. A picturesque seaside town surrounded by miles of shoreline and beautiful countryside there is plenty of things to do within a short distance.
3 miles: Coligin, Oban
Just a five minute drive from Oban, nestled in the hills, Cologin has several self catering accommodation options offering peaceful, warm and comfortable, family friendly and dog friendly getaways and two lodges that are designed for assisted wheelchair access.
On site you'll find, The Barn. Once a cattle byre the Barn is a favourite with locals and visitors alike who come to enjoy the friendly atmosphere and great food and drinks. With a focus on local, seasonal and homemade food the menu is in constant rotation to allow the team to provide the very best the area has to offer. The Barn is open Thursday - Monday.
10 miles: Shenavallie Farm, Benderloch
Shenavallie Farm Bed and Breakfast and self-catering is an ideal base to explore the beautiful area around Oban.
A warm welcome awaits you when you visit, with the choice of staying in a purpose built self catering house or B&B on the edge of the working farm where you'll find Highland cattle, beef cattle and North Country Cheviot ewes. The farm itself and original farmhouse are just a mile from the B&B/self catering.
Guests are free to have a walk down by the shore where the Highland Cattle roam freely and explore the areas around the farm - walking boots or wellies are recommended.
13 miles: Oban Seil Farm, Clachan-Seil
Oban Seil Farm is the home of the Hunter family, about 100 sheep and five hens. The farm is set in 100 acres of hills and coast on Seil Sound.
The Steading, which used to be the home for cows and machinery, is now converted into 3 self catering holiday houses and The Bothy, was a ruin, now converted to a charming little house set apart from the rest of the farm.
13 miles: Highland Fold Ice Cream, Barcaldine
Highland Fold's fresh ice cream is made from milk from (hand milked!) from the farms own iconic Highland cows. A previously unused barn has been converted into a fully functioning ice cream factory and you can visit Highland Fold HQ to sample the unique ice cream, traditional warm puddings, homemade toppings, bakes and sauces, sundaes, sorbets, milkshakes, hot drinks and more!
You can also take home half litre tubs scooped for you at the counter, or pre-ordered Tubs, Selection Boxes and Ice Cream Cakes.
Ardentrive Farm, Isle of Kerrera
Ardentrive Farm is a family run farm on the Isle of Kerrera, just off the coast from Oban.
The farm is 180 acres comprising of inbye fields, hill and some small pockets of woodland. The farm's fold of pedigree Highland Cattle was established in 2000 from three heifers and now consists of 10 breeding cows, 1 bull, 3 heifers and a number of steers which are reared for retail as Ardentrive Highland Beef.
At the small farm shop, "The Lean To", you can buy a selection of the farms own highland beef, lamb and pork - available fresh seasonally and frozen throughout the year - alongside the pure Kerrera honey and free range eggs. There is also a range of local produce including drinks, snacks and handmade crafts.
24 miles: Lochbuie Cottages, Mull
Despite being only 24 miles from Oban, a stay at Lochbuie Cottages will require a ferry ride to Mull, which takes 45 minutes. The ferry crossing itself can be a great trip with the right weather - look out for seals basking, Golden Eagles overhead and possibly dolphins and whales!
At Lochbuie Cottages, there are two traditional style cottages to choose from - Mabel, which sleeps two in twin beds and Kathleen, which sleeps five. Both properties are on the Lochbuie Estate, with sandy white beaches, dramatic mountains and an abundance of wildlife on the doorstep making for a perfectly peaceful rural getaway with plenty of potential to explore the island.
27 miles: Cladich Farm Tours, Cladich
15 minutes from the shores of Loch Fyne, you can visit Cladich and the award-winning Highland Cattle of the Cladich Fold with your very own tour guide.
The Visit Cladich farm tour offers you the opportunity to get close to the Highland Cattle in their Highland home, whilst taking in the stunning scenery. Tours can be arranged for groups of up to 5, in the morning or afternoon, to fit in with your travel plans. Starting at 10am or 2.30 pm, they last about two and a half hours.
The tours can be varied according to your particular interests and the time of year and might include lambing, Highland cattle grooming, a visit to ancient oak woods, the open hill with its spectacular views across to Loch Awe and the Cruachan mountain range, the bronze-age cup-marked rock and remains of a chambered tomb.
32 miles: Glenorchy Farm Stay, Dalmally
At Glenorchy Farm, Tristan and Fiona strive to ensure livestock and nature live in harmony and flourish. The couple aim to produce quality meats from animals that have lived their best lives at Glenorchy Farm and are constantly working with the land through regenerative agriculture which uses natural systems to improve the quality of land and the biodiversity within the Glen.
Glenorchy Farm is an idyllic location - remote, yet practical, for exploring a large part of the highlands which has something for everyone. The farm has two luxury log cabins, designed to ensure a perfect destination for a relaxing and peaceful holiday. They are set away from the farm, within new woodland, to give privacy and space to enjoy the tranquillity of the glen.
32 miles: Isle of Mull Cheese, Mull
Isle of Mull Cheese is the last remaining traditional farmhouse cheese from the Hebridean Islands and comes from Sgriob-ruadh Farm, the only dairy farm on the island. All Isle of Mull cheese is made with unpasteurised milk from the family's cows which are fed on grass and whisky grains from the Tobermory Distillery.
You can buy Isle of Mull Cheese online but during a trip to the island, you can sample some in the farms, Glass Barn Café and Shop, along with Island pork from the farm's pigs, home made jams and preserves and Island Bakery biscuits.
41 miles: Treshnish & Haunn Cottages, Mull
Treshnish and Haunn Cottages can be found on the stunning Treshnish Farm, on the Isle of Mull.
The Somerset family keep a flock of about 650 sheep and cows from another farm graze on Treshnish in the summer to support the management of the farm's habitats.
There are eight cottages in total, with various capacities, some of which are dog friendly and all with gorgeous sea views, plenty of wildlife to spot, beaches and hills to explore.
47 miles: Ardkinglas Estate, Cairndow
A beautiful, 4800 hectare estate on the shores of Loch Fyne, Ardkinglas Estate, boasts beautiful gardens and a stunning house which are both open to visitors.
Within the house, there is self catering accommodation, 'The Butlers Quarters', which sleeps up to 5.
Ardkinglas house is very much still a family home which hosts tours every Friday throughout the summer months (must be booked in advance) and is the perfect location for a stunning wedding or special occasion.
The gardens are open all year round and entry is for a small admission fee, which goes directly into maintaining and looking after the woodland and it's collection of trees and plants. The gardens are large and exciting enough for the whole family to while away a few hours and are well worth a visit at any time of year.
53 miles: Duncan Family Farms, Dunbartonshire
Stable Cottage is part of the original farmhouse at Duncan Family Farms' Inveruglas farm and is now a listed building. Sitting discretely in the corner of the working farm steading this luxury self-catering accommodation comfortably sleeps two and gives private loch side access on the bonnie banks themselves meaning spectacular scenery all around.
Inveruglas is one of the few remaining hill sheep farms at the north end of Loch Lomond. The Gaelic name means ‘mouth of the black river.
61 miles: Carry Farm, Tighnabruaich
The MacPhail family has been at Carry Farm for the past 25 years and divide their time between the 66 acre coastal small holding and running Tighnabruaich Sailing School during the summer months.
On the farm, you'll find the Hayshed Gallery, a space for exhibiting textiles and ceramics all made at Carry Farm. The Hebridean sheep on the land provide the textiles to hand craft products with an enviable provenance and colourful modern designs. Hebridean sheepskins are organically tanned by using a centuries old technique and the process of shepherding the sheep, shearing and transforming the fleece into textiles, results in unique products rooted to Carry Farm.
There's a coffee bar, serving coffee from Argyll Roasters.
During the summer months Tighnabruaich Sailing School runs in the bay at Carry Farm. The sailing school has been providing an unsurpassed sailing experience on the Kyles of Bute for over 50 years (the oldest sailing school in Scotland) and is renowned on the west coast for quality tuition.
