My husband and I are less than 6 weeks away from our trip and are looking for any tips offered on this forum related to our plans. I have been to Oban and Iona before and am excited to share with my husband but it's been 9 years since I was there. Any suggestions from you appreciated - where to eat, what not to miss, etc. Thank you for all you have helped me in the past.
Wed, Sept 2
Arrive in Glasgow 10 am
Staying at Dakota - need transportation from airport to Dakota
afternoon walk - maybe toward cathedral and Necropolis
Dinner at Dakota, early to bed
Thur, Sept 3
Train from Glasgow to Oban - have reserved seats for 10:36 train to arrive in Oban at 14:36.
Staying at Killorn Guest House
Discover Oban
Dinner: Ee-Usk or Oban Seafood Hut
Fri, Sept 4
Travel to Iona - take 7:25 am ferry from Oban
Stay at Argyll
Dinner: Argyll
Sat, Sept 5
Hike, explore - could do Staffa tour - not sure if worth it
Lunch:
Dinner: Martyr’s Bay or Columba Hotel
Sun, Sept 6
Attend Abbey service at 10:30
Travel back to Oban
Stay at Killorn Guest House
Dinner: Coast or Cuan Mor
Mon, Sept 7
leave on train for Windermere, England
Thu, Sept 10
Take train from Windermere back to Glasgow
Stay at Maldron Hotel
Visit Kelvingrove, U of Glasgow area
Dinner:
Find music for the evening: maybe Ben Nevis or The Scotia or what else is true Scottish music?
Fri, Sept 11
Tour with Rabbies of Ayrshire & Robert Burns Country all day
Dinner:
Maybe more music?
Sat, Sept 12
Fly home - flight leaves 2 pm
Posted by
Lake District, England
12124 posts
If you haven't already booked the train from Glasgow to Windermere on 7 September then book the 1038 one as soon as possible, as that is currently just £12.95 with your Two Together Railcard. Going back on 10 September the 0955 is £16.15, but the 1147 is just £8.45.
On arrival day at Windermere, add a Windermere Plus Bus ticket to your train ticket for £5.65- https://www.plusbus.info/windermere
unlimited use of the buses between Bowness/Windermere and Grasmere that day.
On Sunday 6 September there are only two buses to Craignure at 0920 and 1520- https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/westcoastmotors/WCMO/96-timetable-20260327-6171e578.pdf, so you can certainly attend service at the Abbey
On 10 September another scenic way out from Windermere would be to get the #508 bus over Kirkstone Pass and along Ullswater at 0855, arrive Penrith station at 1039 (fare £3), then the 1101 train to Glasgow, arrive 1240 for £9.25 each with railcard.
Posted by
Chicagoland
2506 posts
Either the Glasgow Express Bus, £11/person that will drop you off about a 10 minute walk to the Dakota or taxi.
Make any dinner reservations in Oban if possible.
Only you can decide if the Staffa tour is worth it for you. Keep in mind the trip to Staffa is weather dependent.
For your return to the airport from the Maldron, taxi or Uber would be easiest.
Posted by
Chicago
830 posts
This is amazing to see: I was in Glasgow, Oban and Iona in late May/early June with my sister. We were also in the Lake District for five days of hiking.
For Glasgow, I'd add the Tenement Museum. We also saw the Kelvingrove and the Cathedral. The exhibits in the Kelvingrove on the Glasgow Boys, Scottish colorists and Charles Rennie Mackintosh were fascinating. I recommend the audio tour. If they have a noon concert in the main hall, it will likely be worth it. We heard an organist perform for a half-hour. Though I've seen close to 20 European cathedrals, the one in Glasgow is pretty amazing and worth the audio tour.
The Oban Seafood Hut might have served me my second-best meal in my life. I got a salmon sandwich, which was incredibly fresh.
Climbing up hill to see McCaig's Tower in Oban is worth it.
The West Coast Tours "Three Isles Tour" from Oban is also excellent. The highlight for me was being on the ocean to Lunga and Staffa islands for almost an hour each way from Iona (see trip report here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/renew-the-soul-on-iona-lunga-and-staffa-islands). In addition, the hike on Lunga was fabulous.
When you visit the Abbey on Iona, make sure to see the museum next to it.
It looks like you're going to Windermere, England. As previously mentioned, he hiked in the Lake District, covering some 75 miles (trip report here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/a-75-mile-hike-in-the-lake-district). It's quite beautiful.
One more tidbit: I like to read a book, either fiction or nonfiction, about places I'm visiting while there. I took the Douglas Stuart Novel "Shuggie Bain" with me. It's excellent and quite gritty. The novel won the 2020 Booker Prize, the most prestigious award for English language writing. Stuart is only the second Scot to win it.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
6091 posts
Note that the Seafood Hut closes at 18:00 on Thursdays.
Posted by
27 posts
JeanN - wondering what restaurants you would recommend in Oban. We will have two nights for dinner, and at least one lunch. There are so many wonderful options.
I appreciate the info on the trains - our trains are set and we got a good price on our train from Glasgow to Windermere and back. We don't want to miss the Oban Seafood Hut - whether for lunch or dinner. Have only heard good things. When I was there 9 years ago, I believe I ate at Cuan Nor, which was very good, but would like to try something new. We both love seafood: fish, shrimp, scallops, lobster, etc. No sushi or raw oysters. We don't need to have an expensive meal - I'm sure we will have a couple of those while traveling, but want fresh, delicious food. As for Glasgow, we will have two afternoons and evenings to explore since we will be taking a Rabbies tour on our last full day. Also, where is your favorite restaurant(s) on Iona?
Posted by
Chicagoland
2506 posts
We only had 1 dinner at the previously mentioned EE-USK in 2023 since we were staying outside of town in Benderloch. Good service and nice sunset views.