Oban 352442 move=:edit= 224558897 2008-07-09T12:11:05Z Harald Haugland 7192844 [[no:Oban]] {{Citations missing|date=April 2007}} {{otheruses}} {{Infobox UK place |official_name= Oban |gaelic_name= An t-Oban |scots_name= Oban |country= Scotland |population= 8,120 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]) |population_density= |os_grid_reference= NM859298 |edinburgh_distance= |london_distance= |latitude= 56.412356 |longitude= -5.470232 |post_town= OBAN |postcode_area= PA |postcode_district= PA34 |dial_code= 01631 |constituency_westminster= [[Argyll and Bute (UK Parliament constituency)|Argyll and Bute]] |unitary_scotland= [[Argyll and Bute]] |lieutenancy_scotland= [[Argyll and Bute]] |constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Argyll and Bute]] |website= |static_image=[[Image:Oban from Druim Mor.jpg|240px]] |static_image_caption=<small>Oban from Druim Mor</small> }} '''Oban''' (''An t-Òban'' in [[Scottish Gaelic]] meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a [[resort]] [[town]] within the [[Argyll and Bute]] council area of [[Scotland]]. It has a total resident population of 8,120.<ref>http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/analyser/analyser?topicId=1&tableId=&tableName=Age&selectedTopicId=&aggregated=false&subject=&tableNumber=&selectedLevelId=&postcode=&areaText=&RADIOLAYER=&actionName=view-results&clearAreas=&stateData1=&stateData2=&stateData3=&stateData4=&debug=&tempData1=&tempData2=&tempData3=&tempData4=&areaId=353&levelId=9]</ref> Despite its small size, it is the largest town between [[Helensburgh]] and [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]] and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of [[Kerrera]], and beyond Kerrera is [[Isle of Mull|Mull]]. To the north is the long low island of [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]], and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour. 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. Oban is an excellent base from which to explore the sights of [[Kilmartin Glen]]. The Oban Tourist Information Centre, operated under [[VisitScotland]], is located in the centre of the town in Argyll Square. It is housed in an old [[Church of Scotland]] building. In 2004, the Oban Tourist Information Centre was second to [[Edinburgh]] as the busiest Tourist Information Centres in Scotland.[http://www.oban.org.uk]. == History == === 1940 to today === [[Image:Hans Gude--Oban Bay, Skottland--1889.jpg|thumb|left|Oban Bay, painted by [[Hans Gude]] in 1889]] During [[World War II]], Oban was a busy port used by merchant and [[Royal Navy]] ships. The [[Royal Navy|RN]] had a signal station near [[Ganavan]] which is now a private house. Also near Ganavan was a [[anti-submarine]] [[indicator loop]] station which detected any surface or submarine vessels between Oban, [[Isle of Mull|Mull]] and [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]]. There was a controlled [[minefield]] in the Sound of [[Kerrera]] which was controlled from a building near the caravan site at Gallanach. There is one surviving [[air raid shelter]] in the centre of Oban. There was also a [[Royal Air Force]] [[flying boat]] base at Ganavan and on [[Kerrera]]. The airfield at [[North Connel]] was originally built by the Royal Air Force during [[World War II]]. A [[Sector Operations Room]] was built near the airfield and after the war this was extended to become the [[Royal Observer Corps]] Group HQ. Oban was also important during the [[Cold War]] because the first [[Transatlantic telephone cable|Transatlantic Telephone Cable]] ([[TAT-1]]) came ashore at [[Gallanach]] Bay and this carried the "[[Hot Line]]" between the US and USSR Presidents. There was protected accommodation for the cable equipment at Gallanach Bay. == Culture == In 2003, Oban hosted the 100th [[Royal National Mod]] (a [[Gaels|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 2009 Mod is to again be held in Oban The town boasts two screen [[movie theater|cinema]]. Oban has also been used as a backdrop to several films including ''[[Ring of Bright Water]]'' and ''[[Morvern Callar]]''. See [http://www.scotlandthemovie.com/movies/obaninfo.html]. == Sport == The local amateur [[Football (soccer)|football]] team is "[[Oban Saints F.C.|Oban Saints]]" with a small stadium situated in Mossfield. However, [[shinty]] is a more popular game locally, with two major teams, [[Oban Camanachd]] and [[Oban Celtic]] playing in the town. The Oban Times runs a popular ''Spot the Shinty Ball'' competition each week. Oban also boasts Oban Cricket Club that was formed in 2003 and play their home fixtures in nearby Taynuilt. [[The Highlanders (professional wrestling)|The Highlanders]] are a [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWE]] wrestling tag-team originally from (and billed) Oban. Scuba Diving is also readily available around Oban. There are many dive operators running srvices in and around the area. The wreck diving is spectacular, with the Sound of Mull offering some truly world class dive sites. Although weather and visability can be variable the local geograhphy means that a dive somewhere can aways be achieved. [[Image:Oban 2006.jpg|thumb|right|View of Oban Harbour with Kerrera (and Mull beyond)]] == Exchange == Oban High School and Scotland High School (located in sister city of [[Laurinburg, North Carolina]]) share an exchange program which enlightens many students on the different and similar cultures within the two countries. The two schools have hosts families of 20 students (10 from each) which share experiences for two weeks in the summer (Oban) and 2 weeks in the fall (Laurinburg). The exchange was expanded in 2007 to include a participating law enforcement officer from each community. The law enforcement officer exchange is during the same time as the schools' exchange. == Transport == [[Image:Oban_front.jpg|thumb|right|Oban sea front with [[McCaig's Tower]] above]] Oban lies at the western end of the [[A85 road]]. It also has a [[Oban railway station|railway station]] where a number of [[First ScotRail]] services operate to and from [[Glasgow Queen Street railway station|Glasgow Queen Street]] on a daily basis. The town is also an important ferry [[port]], being Caledonian MacBrayne's busiest terminal. Oban is known as the ''Gateway to the Isles'', with [[Caledonian MacBrayne|ferries]] sailing to the islands of [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]], [[Colonsay]], [[Islay]], [[Coll]], [[Tiree]], [[Craignure]] on [[Isle of Mull|Mull]], and to [[Castlebay]] in [[Barra]] and [[Lochboisdale]] in [[South Uist]]. In 2005 a brand new modern ferry terminal was opened. In 2007 a second link span opened now allowing two of the vessels to load/unload at the same time. [[Scottish Citylink]] operate services from Glasgow's [[Buchanan Street bus station]] several times a day, and during the summer a service from Dundee via Perth is also operated. [[West Coast Motors]] operate many local services and also coach links as far south as [[Campbeltown]] and as far north as Fort William. Oban is also reachable by plane via [[Oban Airport]] at the village of [[North Connel]]. 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. In 2007 a further airlink was created between Oban and west-central Scotland with a Seaplane service making it possible to fly from [[Glasgow]] city centre's [[Glasgow Seaplane Terminal|Seaplane Terminal]] off the [[River Clyde|Clyde]] into the bay in Oban. == Town twinning == *{{flagicon|United States}} [[Laurinburg, North Carolina|Laurinburg]], [[North Carolina]] *{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Gorey, County Wexford|Gorey]], [[County Wexford]] == See also == * [[Oban Times]] == External links == {{commons|Oban|Oban}} * [http://www.oban.org.uk/webcam/ Webcam] * [http://www.obantimes.co.uk Oban Times] (local newspaper) * [http://www.fishing-argyll.co.uk/ Fishing-Argyll web site.] *[http://www.highlandcathedral.org/history.php?section=history&resource=congregation&id=9 Origins of the Mod] * [http://whisky.com/distilleries/oban_distillery.html Oban Distillery] * [http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/terminals_database.asp?terminals=28 Oban Ferry Terminal] * [http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/09/oban_overview.html Video of Oban from McCaig's Tower] * [http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/10/oban_harbor_vie_1.html QTVR Panorama of Oban Harbour] * [http://www.obanmuseum.org.uk/ Oban Peace and War Museum] * [http://www.rafoban.co.uk/index.htm Royal Air Force Oban] * [http://home.iprimus.com.au/waldingr/obanbay.htm Anti-submarine indicator loop at Oban] * [http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/o/oban_minefield_control/index.shtml Minefield control tower at Gallanach] * [http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/o/oban/index.html ROC Group HQ Connel] * [http://wikitravel.org/en/Oban Wikitravel Oban] * [http://www.wakefieldfhs.org.uk/genealogyjunction/Argyll%20&%20Bute/Oban%20War%20Mem%201914%20-%201918.htm Oban War Memorial] * [http://www.obancc.co.uk Oban Cricket Club] == Further reading == * Hughes, Mike, ''The Hebrides at War'' Canongate Books 1998, ISBN 0-86241-771-6 * Batstone, Stephanie, ''Wren's Eye View, The Adventures of a Visual Signaller'', Parapress Ltd 1994, ISBN 1-898594-12-0 Written by a Wren based in Oban for most of WWII. [[Category:Oban| ]] [[Category:Towns in Argyll and Bute]] [[Category:Seaside resorts in Scotland]] [[bg:Оубън]] [[cs:Oban]] [[de:Oban (Schottland)]] [[fr:Oban (Écosse)]] [[gd:An t-Òban]] [[la:Oban]] [[nl:Oban (Schotland)]] [[no:Oban]] [[pl:Oban]] [[ru:Обан]]