Kerrera – A Walk to the Hutcheson Monument and Lunch in Oban
A few hours.
The route
Most walkers on Kerrera head south to Gylen Castle, but the island's north end has its own landmark: the Hutcheson Monument, a granite obelisk of 1883 above Ardantrive Bay, looking across to Oban.
A track opened in 2021 runs north from the little ferry to Ardantrive. It's a fine walk for anyone happy on a farm track for a few miles, with lunch in town at Cuan Mor.
- Time
- A five-minute crossing.
- Distance
- About 4 miles on foot.
- The path
- A concrete slip and a ramp onto the small boat.
- Where to start
- A little parking at the Gallanach slip, about two miles south of Oban; no bus.
- Set off
- At the Gallanach slip five minutes before the boat, with a ticket already bought.
- When to go
- All year, on a day the Kerrera ferry sails and Cuan Mor is serving lunch.
- Dogs
- On a lead on the island, a sheep and cattle farm.
- Before you set out
- Wind can stop the boat: check CalMac's service status on the day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Every passenger needs a ticket before travel: buy it online from CalMac, or at the Oban Ferry Terminal on the way to Gallanach.
The day
Kerrera
A morning on foot on a car-free island, with Oban never far away across the water, and a warm table in town at the end of it.
About 4 miles on foot
Kerrera Ferry
An attraction
The Kerrera ferry sails from a slip at Gallanach, on the shore road about two miles south of the town centre; follow the Kerrera Ferry signs from Oban. There's a little parking at the slip and no bus. The small boat carries 12 passengers, crosses the Sound in five minutes and runs extra trips at busy times. A boat soon after 10am leaves the morning for the walk and brings you back in good time for lunch.
About 50 min on foot
Hutcheson Monument
An attraction
From the island slip, it's about 3 km north to the monument on the track to Ardantrive, where the marina's yachts lie in the bay. The granite obelisk was put up in 1883 for David Hutcheson, a ship-owner whose steamers served the West Highlands and the islands from the 1850s; his firm grew into the company behind today's CalMac ferries. It looks down on Ardantrive Bay, with Oban across the water and Lismore and the hills of Mull beyond. Sheep and cattle are farmed across Kerrera, so dogs stay on a lead and every gate goes back the way it was. Wear walking shoes or boots. The marina has a bar and coffee corner, with its hours on its own website.
About 45 min on foot
The ferry from Kerrera to Gallanach
It's about 3 km back down the same track to the island slip, and five minutes over the Sound to Gallanach. The 12.30pm or the 2pm boat back leaves good time for lunch in town. The island's public toilets are portable ones, behind the big green shed by the slip.
About 5 min by car
Cuan Mor, Oban
Lunch
Back on the mainland, lunch is in town at Cuan Mor on George Street, a casual restaurant and bar with views across Oban Bay. The room is built of reclaimed Scottish materials, Ballachulish slate among them, with beams salvaged from the lighthouse pier. The lunch menu runs from noon to 4pm, there's a children's menu, and dogs are welcome in parts of the restaurant. Up to five walk in; groups of six or more ring 01631 565078.
If it rains
The track is open to the weather the whole way, and a strong wind can stop the ferry, so check CalMac's service status for Gallanach to Kerrera before setting out. On a wild day, keep the island for another and make it a long lunch at Cuan Mor.
Make it a weekend
More days out in Oban.
For further reading, before you go.
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