Oban

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Other meanings: See Oban (disambiguation)

Template:Infobox Scotland place with map Image:Oban from Druim Mor.jpg Oban (An t-Oban in Gaelic) is a resort town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, with a population of around 12,000. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by around 25,000 people.

Attractions in Oban include the Waterfront Centre, the Cathedral of St Columba, the Oban Distillery, Dunollie Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle and McCaig's Tower, which dominates the town's skyline.

The town also boasts a cinema and a railway station, and is an important ferry port. Oban is known as the Gateway to the Isles, with ferries sailing to the islands of Lismore, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree, Kerrera, Craignure on Mull, and to Castlebay in Barra and Lochboisdale in South Uist. A new ferry terminal was recently built on the railway pier, and a second linkspan is currently under construction to enable two ro-ro ferries to berth at any one time.

In 2003, Oban hosted the 100th Royal National Mod (a Gaelic festival), in anticipation of which many signs were replaced with bilingual versions. Not only was Oban the venue for the 100th Mod but it also hosted the centenary Mod in 1992 (the year it became Royal). The reason for the different dates for the 100th and the centenary being stoppages for the wars. Oban is considered the home of The Royal National Mod as the Mod was first held in Oban in 1892 with 10 competitors on a Saturday Afternoon

The local amateur football team is "Oban Saints" with a small stadium situated in Mossfield. However, shinty is a more popular game locally. The Oban Times runs a popular Spot the Shinty Ball competition each week.

Oban has also been used as a back drop to many films ranging from Ring of Bright Water to Morven Callar. See [1].

Oban is also reachable by plane via the small Oban airport. The airport is currently being upgraded (costing some £4.2 million), so commercial planes can operate life-line island services, using Oban as a hub.

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