Gylen Castle – A Kerrera Ferry, an Island Walk and a Ruin
A few hours.
The route
Kerrera sits just across the water from Oban, a five-minute hop on a tiny ferry, and at its far end stands Gylen Castle, a ruined MacDougall tower on a crag above the sea.
The walk out and back is a lovely island morning of sheep, quiet bays and big views to Mull, with lunch afterwards at one of Oban's oldest pubs. It suits fit walkers, and older children happy with a few miles.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Buy your Kerrera Ferry tickets online from CalMac before you set out, or at the CalMac ferry terminal in Oban, as every passenger needs a ticket before boarding at Gallanach: an adult return is £4.30 at the time of writing, and a ticket is good for any sailing in that season's timetable.
The day
Kerrera
A five-minute crossing, then the whole morning is on foot on a car-free island. Walk down the island to the castle, look out over the Firth of Lorn, then cross back for a late lunch in Oban.
About four hoursAbout 5 miles on foot
Kerrera Ferry
An attraction
The Kerrera ferry leaves from the slip at Gallanach, on the shore road just south of Oban: follow the Kerrera Ferry signs past the CalMac terminal. There's only a little parking by the slip and no bus, so come in good time or take a taxi. Every passenger needs a ticket before boarding, so buy yours online from CalMac before you go, or at the CalMac ferry terminal in Oban. The little ferry is turn up and go, carries 12 passengers and crosses in about five minutes. Take the boat just after 10am.
5 min by boat, 1 hr on foot
Gylen Castle
An attraction
It's a 5-minute crossing, then 60 minutes' walk south on the island's track to Gylen Castle. The island's trust puts Lower Gylen about 3.5 km from the ferry, with the castle a few minutes beyond, and there are a couple of climbs on the way. Head south from the slip along the Sound of Kerrera, then follow the painted signs for the castle and the tea garden over the hill and down to Lower Gylen. The tea garden closes for the winter at the end of September and the island has no shop, so bring a flask and a snack. Gylen Castle stands on its crag above the sea at the south end of the island, a slim tower the MacDougalls built in 1582, burned in a siege in 1647. A partial restoration in 2006 lets you step inside and look out over the Firth of Lorn to the islands. Kerrera is one big sheep and cattle farm, so keep dogs on a lead and leave gates as you find them. Wear good boots, as the track is muddy in places, and in a strong wind stay well back from the crag's edge.
1 hr on foot
The ferry from Kerrera to Gallanach
It's about 60 minutes' walk back the same way to the slip. There's no sailing in the early afternoon, so to catch the 12.30 boat leave the castle by about 11.25; otherwise the next is at 2pm, and the last boat back leaves Kerrera at 5.55pm. Then it's a five-minute crossing to Gallanach.
6 min by car
The Oban Inn
Lunch
Drive 6 minutes from the slip at Gallanach into town for lunch at the Oban Inn, on the seafront at the foot of Stafford Street. It's one of Oban's oldest pubs, a classic local that's cosy in winter. Food is served every day from noon to 8pm, and dogs are welcome.
If it rains
In heavy rain or a gale the island walk is exposed and the little ferry can be stopped by the weather, so check CalMac's service status for Gallanach to Kerrera before you set out. On a wild day, save Kerrera for a better one and have a long lunch at the Oban Inn instead.
