I received an email from West Coast tours re: our Tobermory/Treshnish/Staffa tour scheduled in April. Staffa landings continue to be on hold due to maintenance work-- the National Trust site says until June 10th. The email says our tour will still be running and the boat will go round Staffa instead of landing.
I hope our tour will still go, but I'm beginning to worry due to the smaller ferries in use from Oban to Craignure per recent forum posts, and always the possibility of bad weather. We only have one full day (2 nights) in Oban. If our tour is cancelled, I was thinking of driving to Kilmartin Museum and nearby sites. What else would you recommend along the way to the museum? Thanks!
Posted by
Lake District, England
9008 posts
I would either divert en route to Kilmartin to Cuan (via the 'Bridge over the Atlantic') to Cuan for the shortest ferry route in Scotland across to the Isle of Luing (a council run ferry) or to Ellanbeich for the private passenger ferry over to the Island of Easdale (to see the huge crater from former slate quarrying).
OR-
Take the long way round and visit the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace at Taynuilt and/or the Cruachan Power Station tour (aka the Hollow Mountain) then Kilchurn Castle from the shore (not accessible due to conservation work), and the B840 down the length of Loch Awe.
At Cruachan the Visitor Centre (still a worthwhile stop) is open- but the underground tours are suspended to a date unknown.
Out one route, back the other is not out of the question.
Inveraray is also entirely possible between Loch Awe and Kilmartin.
Duntrune Castle Gardens, just after Kilmartin, is another possible stop. Carnaserrie Castle is also on the way to Kilmartin for a brief stop.
You also pass the Arduaine Garden.
So plenty to choose from.
Posted by
OP
Tennessee
8 posts
Thank you isn31c, this is very helpful- I will look into each of these to help determine my plan. I wish we could fit in Inveraray, but unfortunately we are in the Oban area only for a Tuesday and a Wednesday when they are closed. Just another excuse to visit Scotland again in future.
Posted by
cardiff by the sea
187 posts
I appreciate this post as I am going to be staying on Iona the first couple days of June and had booked a Staffa tour with Staffa tours. They did not mention that there would not be a landing due to construction even though I had emailed about taking a tour to see the puffins specifically. As I have been to Staffa once in the past, I have walked out to the cave which is impressive and then up to see the puffins which are just adorable. I wanted to go back to spend some more time with the puffins. if they don't land this wouldn't happen. There is another tour which is longer that visits Staffa and also Lunga which has a large puffin population, but the tour is not offered on Sunday and Monday which is when I am there. Thank you again for this info.
Posted by
OP
Tennessee
8 posts
Carol, I'm glad this information is helpful for you but sorry it will affect your plans. I also wish we could land on Staffa, though I realize making repairs is necessary to continue access for future. When I booked my tour months ago with WestCoast, I was aware of Staffa being closed with reopening expected early Spring. I'm sure the tour operators are disappointed by the delay. I'm not sure if StaffaTours has updated their website yet, but WestCoast says closure til "end of May" so maybe they are hoping it will actually open before June. If so, that would be great news for you- good luck!