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A Day on the Isle of Lismore
Argyll and Bute

A Day on the Isle of Lismore

A day by car, from Oban to Lismore Ferry to Castle Coeffin.

Written by Graeme Johncock

Directions

The Isle of Lismore, just a short hop off the west coast, doesn’t get nearly enough attention in my opinion. Considering how easy it is to get there, I’m ashamed to say it took me until recently to make the journey. It was very much worth the wait to finally visit the island known in Gaelic as “The Great Garden”!

Pick your dates, and who is coming, and every stop will say whether it is open that day, and what it is like with children, a dog or a wheelchair.

How
A day by car
Distance
About 14 miles
Starts
Oban to Lismore Ferry
Ends
Castle Coeffin
Good for
Castles, History, Islands

Book before you go

0 of 2 booked

  1. Accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    Slochd6 miles awaySlochdSleeps 2The Old School6 miles awayThe Old SchoolSleeps 4Curlew Cottage6 miles awayCurlew CottageSleeps 5Elastic Cottage6 miles awayElastic CottageSleeps 4

  2. Oban to Lismore Ferry

    Book a foot-passenger return on the Oban to Lismore ferry online with CalMac, the ferry company, before you travel: on a weekday, the second boat of the morning out and the mid-afternoon boat back. Check the times for your date as you book, because they differ at weekends and shift on certain low-tide dates, and look at CalMac's service status page on the morning you sail. Be at the terminal ten minutes before sailing. At the time of writing an adult return is £7.70 and a child's £3.90, and bicycles go free. The Easdale ferry on day one needs no booking.

    Book

The day

  1. Oban to Lismore Ferry

    Oban to Lismore Ferry

    An attraction

    Leaving from the main ferry terminal in Oban, taking the Calmac ferry allows you to bring a car onto Lismore, although you might find that you don’t need it! This is as scenic a boat trip as you can imagine, past Dunollie Castle before forging on up Loch Linnhe to eventually land around halfway along the island.

    More about Oban to Lismore Ferry

    The rest of this day is for members.

    5 more stops, what to do at each, and the drive between them. Members read every one of our days, and the magazine.

    Become a memberAlready one? Sign in

  2. Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre

    An attraction

  3. Tirefour Broch

    An attraction

  4. Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre

    An attraction

  5. St Moluag’s Cathedral

    An attraction

  6. Castle Coeffin

    An attraction

Directions for the day
Where to stay

Places to stay near where the day ends, and when each is next free.

Slochd, Argyll and ButeSlochd
  • Sleeps 2
  • 6 miles away
Check datesA white cottage with a grey slate roof stands behind a stone wall among trees on a hillside.The Old School
  • Sleeps 4
  • 6 miles away
Check datesCurlew Cottage, ArdnamurchanCurlew Cottage
  • Sleeps 5
  • 6 miles away
Check datesAn aerial view shows a white cottage and stone bothy beside a road running along a wooded glen and river.Elastic Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • 6 miles away
Check dates

Make it a weekend

Days that start near Castle Coeffin.

Argyll and ButeRound the Appin Rocks to Clach Thoull at Port Appin.Argyll and ButeA Daytrip to Glen Coe from Oban.Argyll and ButeA walk up Beinn Lora above Benderloch.

More days by Graeme

Graeme has written these too.

Argyll and ButeWalking on Kerrera.Argyll and Bute · For membersA Day Exploring Mid-Argyll.Argyll and Bute · For membersFollowing the Quiet Road Around Loch Awe.

Photograph by Steven Lord via Google