Oban's Railway Pier – Island Ferries and a Local Breakfast
A few hours, from Oban station and back.
The route
Food from Argyll's café sits in the ferry terminal on Oban's Railway Pier, run by the local producers whose meat, fish and preserves fill its shelves.
It's a lovely spot for breakfast, with the CalMac ferries loading for Mull and the islands right outside. Afterwards, take a turn along the pier to watch the boats come and go across the bay. It's an easy, unhurried start for anyone staying in town or waiting for a boat.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Glencruitten House, a mile away.
The day
Oban
A slow start by the water. Breakfast from the producers of Argyll in the ferry terminal, then a wander along the pier while the boats load for the islands.
About an hour and a half
Food from Argyll
Breakfast
Breakfast is at the café of Food from Argyll in the ferry terminal on the Railway Pier, a minute's walk from Oban station. If you come by car, the North Pier car park round the bay is a paid one, 7 minutes' walk away. It opens at 8.45am every day for nearly all the year, with a two-week break after New Year. Its shelves are full of Argyll producers' preserves, meat and fish. Sit inside or take a coffee out onto the pier. If it's full or shut, Cuan Mor on George Street serves breakfast from 8am to 10.30am every day.
Oban Harbour
An attraction
Then walk out along the pier to watch the CalMac ferries load and sail for Mull and the islands, with Kerrera across the bay and McCaig's Tower above the town. It's a working pier, with cars and lorries boarding, so keep children close by the open edge. There are free toilets in the terminal.
If it rains
The café and the ferry terminal are under a roof, so on a wet morning linger over breakfast and watch the boats from the terminal.
