A trip to the tower is no sweat with Tartan Tours, writes Rita Campbell
If there is one landmark that sets Oban apart from other seaside towns, it has to be McCaig’s Tower.
The iconic structure sits proudly on the hill above the town, overlooking bonnie Oban Bay.
Spend any time in Oban, and your eye is constantly drawn to the fascinating building.
Have you ever been tempted to take a closer look, but perhaps the steep route which leads to the tower made you think twice?
Now, saving tired legs, both young and old, an enterprising local businessman is running a regular shuttle service from the town centre to the tower throughout the summer.
Gordon MacGillivray, who runs the popular MacGillivray’s Seafood stall at Railway Pier, is operating the service from his busy pitch.
And he can even provide a tasty picnic to take to the top.
The Ford Fusion car which runs the Tartan Tours Oban service is easily identifiable, decked out in the same MacGillivray tartan as the seafood trailer.
Running every five minutes, from noon until 9pm seven days a week, the tour is a sweat-free way to see the tower and the fantastic views of Oban on a sunny or rainy day.
At £10 for a return ticket, you can spend as much time at the tower as you like, and your driver will tell you everything you want to know about Oban, including the best things to see and do.
You will also receive a booklet telling you all about the fascinating history of McCaig’s Tower.
Gordon said: “Enjoy the views, take a picnic, take photographs, spend all day up there if you like, or spend half an hour.
“It is a great way to explore Oban.”
McCaig’s Tower is one of the most famous sites on the Scottish west coast.
Built between 1895 and 1902 it was commissioned by the banker and philanthropist John Stuart McCaig who intended the tower to serve as a monument to his family history and provide local stonemasons with work over the lean winter months.
It was built at a cost of £5,000 – around half a million pounds in today’s money.
McCaig much admired the Roman and Greek architecture and planned for a structure based on the Colosseum in Rome.
His plans included an art gallery and museum with a central tower, however construction ended when McCaig passed away and, despite directions in his last will and testament promising a further £1,000 annually until its completion, no more work was undertaken.
Nevertheless, it remains an eye-catching and iconic symbol of Oban.