Oban is located on the west coast in the region of Argyll; it’s a port town that acts as a springboard to explore the neighbouring islands- therefore it’s the perfect base to do some island hopping! With so many choices, I’m helping you narrow down the best islands you can visit from Oban.
Oban is the perfect base for an island-hopping adventure; its one of the main port towns in Scotland, and services the islands in the Inner Hebrides and further afield.
With so many options, it can be confusing to know what islands you should include on your itinerary. I’ve written this guide to highlight ten of the best islands to visit from Oban. I’ve also grouped together certain islands that I recommend visiting in one big trip.c
While it would be ambitious to try and visit all of these islands in one trip, I suggest starting with 1-3 that appeal to you the most, and plan your adventure from there.
Here are ten of the best islands you can visit from Oban!
1. Mull
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
One of the best (and easiest) islands to visit is the Isle of Mull. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides, Mull is known for its wildlife, Isle of Mull cheese, and colourful seaside village of Tobermory. Because it’s one of the more heavily populated islands, it’s perfect if you’d like to immerse yourself with the locals and experience island life.
The ferry from Oban takes less than an hour to arrive at Craignure, and from here you can continue west towards Tobermory, or head east to visit Duart Castle, the ancestral home of Clan Maclean. Explore the rocky mountainous west side of the island, dip your toes in the whitewashed sands of Calgary Bay, and look out for hairy coos free grazing on the roadside. Tobermory Distillery is a must-visit for gin and whisky lovers, while the Mull and Iona Food Trail caters to foodies. There’s also lots to discover for nature enthusiasts- wander through woodland trails at Aros Park, or if you’re looking for a challenge, hike the island’s only munro, Ben More.
Mull is special because you can visit in just one day; however, I recommend allowing at least three days on the island to experience all it has to offer.
Read more: 12 tips for visiting the Isle of Mull
2. Iona
Isle of Iona
Iona is one of my favourite islands in the Inner Hebrides and while there isn’t a direct ferry from Oban (you have to go via Mull) it’s absolutely one of the best islands to visit from Oban.
Iona was gifted to St Columba in the 6th century. Columba is known for bringing Christianity to Scotland, so he’s a pretty big deal. He established a monastry on the island, where Iona Abbey now stands. There are 48 Scottish kings buried on Iona, and the Book of Kells (one of the world’s most famous religious texts) was created here. It now resides in Dublin, Ireland.
Aside from its fascinating history, Iona is a gem of an island with crystal clear turquoise waters and crisp, white sandy beaches. It’s a haven for beach lovers who enjoy a bit of soul searching. I could easily spend a few days here just reconnecting.
Tip: Visit Mull and Iona together
Seeing as you have to go via Mull to get to Iona, it makes sense to plan trips to both of these islands. You can also include a visit to Staffa (as you need to go via Iona or Mull in many cases) in your itinerary.
3. Staffa and the Treshnish Isles
Puffins on Staffa
Visitors between May and July will often book a boat trip to either Staffa and/or the Treshnish Isles to see the colourful, comical puffins.
While Staffa is known for its puffins, it’s also home to Fingal’s Cave, a sea cave formed of basalt rock (similar to the Giant’s Causeway). To get to Staffa you need to book a boat tour, which allows you just over an hour to explore the island.
The Treshnish Isles are made up of eight uninhabited islands and skerries (smaller islands). Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles, is known for having the most puffins than any other island.
Tip: Group these islands together
I also recommend visiting Staffa if you are going to Mull and Iona; the boat to Staffa departs from Iona and three locations on Mull (Fionnphort, Tobermory, and the Ulva ferry pontoon) depending on which tour company you book with. You can also book a day trip to these islands from Oban. If you’d like to know what tours are available and need help with your island hopping itinerary, I suggest signing up for our Planning a trip to Oban + the Isles Workshop.
4. Kerrera
Kerrera is an easy day trip from Oban- it’s just a five-minute ferry! It’s a walkable island (you cannot take cars across) and on this island you can explore Gylen Castle, a 16th-century castle ruin, once home to the MacDougall clan.
I suggest walking the Gylen Castle circuit which takes you around the island. The Kerrera Tea Garden is another must-do. Featuring a quaint cafe and bunkhouse- so you can actually spend a night on the island if you wanted to!
5. Lismore
Lismore is another easy island day trip from Oban. It takes 1 hour on the ferry and is another island to explore on a bike or on foot. At 10 miles long and 1 mile wide, this island has a magical feel and is known as the ‘Great Garden.’
There is a fantastic view of the Nevis and Glencoe mountain range from the island, as well as an assortment of outdoor activities including walking, kayaking, cycling and seaweed foraging.
Cycle the pathways across the island, explore the ruins of Chanduin Castle, and afterwards have coffee and cake at the cafe in the Heritage Centre.
6. Coll
The Isle of Coll is the perfect island to visit if you want to escape to an island with very few people and do nothing but wander. The Isle of Coll was actually the first island we visited with Alex when he was three months old. We chose it because we wanted to go somewhere to relax with an overwhelming number of things to see and do. Sometimes, it’s nice to go somewhere and just ‘be’ for a bit.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to do here- there absolutely is! One of the things Coll is known for is being home to basking sharks, and you can even swim with basking sharks on an organised tour!
Hire a bike and cycle to the north of the island, exploring the empty, picturesque white sandy beaches and deserted crofts along the way. Enjoy your evening at the Coll Hotel, devouring some delicious locally sourced scran from their impeccable menu.
7. Tiree
Tiree is located south of the Isle of Coll, and while Coll is an island perfect for solitude and relaxation, Tiree is a great island for the adventurous. It’s known as the ‘sunshine island’ and ‘Hawaii of the North’. It attracts water sports lovers and festival goers, and each year it plays host to the Tiree Music Festival, a Scottish folk music festival.
Tip: Visit Coll and Tiree together
At just a 55-minute ferry ride apart, Coll and Tiree are two more islands you can group together. In many cases the ferry that departs Oban to Coll will carry on to Tiree, and when you depart Coll the ferry also sometimes goes back to Oban via Tiree. Both islands are fairly small and are the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides- so it makes sense to visit both!
8. Colonsay
Colonsay is one of the lesser-visited islands but by no means any less lovely. It’s a small island tucked away in the western corner of the Inner Hebrides and is a peaceful paradise popular with surfers and nature lovers.
A must-visit includes the Colonsay House Gardens, a beautiful 15 acre woodland with a variety of rare plant life. Colonsay has its own book festival every year, but if you’re visiting outside this time there is a neat bookshop you can visit.
You can also visit the neighbouring island Oronsay at low tide- simply walk across to explore the ancient Priory and observe the grey seal colony on the east side of the island.
9. Islay
You can also reach Islay by ferry from Oban, but only on a Saturday (the ferry goes via Colonsay). Islay is a fantastic island best explored by car, and is home to nine whisky distilleries. Islay whisky is unique and distinct due to the flavours added by peat- a resource the island has an abundance of- but some distilleries are bucking the trend and have unpeated whiskies, too. For gin lovers, you’ll be delighted to hear that The Botanist is made on Islay at the Bruichladdich Distillery.
Islay also has an incredible history. It was the home base for the Lords of the Isles, and the Kildalton Cross is one of the very few early Christian carved stones still standing. Along with its beautiful sandy beaches, delicious seafood and cute seaside villages, Islay is a diverse island that has something for everyone.
Tip: Visit Colonsay, Islay and Jura together
Colonsay, Islay and Jura are three excellent islands to hop between. There is a ferry that goes from Colonsay to Islay on a Saturday, so I suggest exploring Colonsay first and then Islay. From Islay, you can explore Jura.
10. Barra
Barra has the nickname ‘Barra-dise’ and it’s easy to see why once you cast your eyes on the glorious whity sandy beaches and azure waters. While you can fly from Glasgow and do the quirky beach landing (yes- the beach acts as a runway on Barra!) you can also catch a ferry from Oban.
Spend a day exploring the neighbouring island Vatersay (a bridge connects the two islands so you can drive across) or book a boat trip to Mingulay, a wild island even further south.
Barra is also a great starting point from which to head north and explore all the islands that make up the Outer Hebrides. You will need to book ferries to visit some of the islands in the archipelago, but there are also bridges connecting some of the smaller islands to the bigger ones.
I have an excellent guide on planning a trip to Barra if you plan on visiting this bonnie isle.
Planning a trip to Oban + the Isles
If you are planning on visiting Oban and doing some island hopping, you will love our Oban + the Isles Workshop. This workshop covers planning a trip to all of the islands included in this guide, as well as day trips from Oban around the mainland. We cover how to get around using public transport, share our favourite driving routes, and give personalised tips on the best places to eat and drink. The workshop also comes with must-see cheat sheets, a digital workbook, maps and more resources to make island-hopping from Oban super easy!
Which of these islands do you plan to visit from Oban?
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