Oban

Para otros usos, consulte Oban (desambiguación) .

Human settlement in Scotland

Oban Gaélico escocés : An t-Òban [1] Escoceses : Oban
Paseo marítimo de Oban con la torre McCaigs arriba
Oban Ubicación dentro de Argyll and Bute
Población	8.490 (mediados de 2016 est.) [2]
Referencia de la cuadrícula del sistema operativo	NM859298
•  Edimburgo	93 mi (150 km)
•  Londres	647 km
Área del consejo	Argyll y Bute
Área de lugartenencia	Argyll y Bute
País	Escocia
Estado soberano	Reino Unido
Ciudad de postes	OBAN
Distrito de código postal	PA34
Código telefónico	01631
Policía	Escocia
Fuego	escocés
Ambulancia	escocés
Parlamento del Reino Unido	Argyll y Bute
Parlamento escocés	Argyll y Bute
Lista de lugares Reino Unido Escocia 56°24′43″N 5°28′19″W / 56.412 ° N 5.472 ° W / 56.412; -5.472 Coordenadas : 56.412 ° N 5.472 ° W56°24′43″N 5°28′19″W /  / 56.412; -5.472

Oban ( / oʊ b ə n / ( escuchar ) OH -bən ; ^[3] Un t-Oban en gaélico escocés que significa la pequeña bahía ) es una ciudad de vacaciones en el Argyll and Bute área del consejo de Escocia . A pesar de su pequeño tamaño, es la ciudad más grande entre Helensburgh y Fort William . Durante la temporada turística, la ciudad puede tener una población temporal de hasta más de 24.000 personas. ^[4] Oban ocupa un escenario en el Fiordo de Lorn.. La bahía forma una herradura casi perfecta, protegida por la isla de Kerrera ; y más allá de Kerrera, la Isla de Mull . Al norte, está la isla larga y baja de Lismore y las montañas de Morvern y Ardgour .

Historia

Los seres humanos han utilizado el sitio donde se encuentra Oban desde al menos el mesolítico , como lo demuestran los restos arqueológicos de los habitantes de las cuevas encontrados en la ciudad. ^[5] Justo en las afueras de la ciudad, se encuentra el Castillo de Dunollie , ^[6] en un sitio que da a la entrada principal a la bahía y ha sido fortificado desde la Edad del Bronce . Antes del siglo XIX, la ciudad sostenía a muy pocos hogares, y solo mantenía industrias menores de pesca, comercio, construcción naval y canteras, y algunos turistas resistentes . ^[7]La empresa comercial Renfrew estableció un almacén allí alrededor de 1714, como un punto de venta local para su mercancía, pero una aduana no se consideró necesaria hasta 1736, y "Oban se consideró un lugar adecuado para limpiar los barcos para la pesca del arenque".

La ciudad moderna de Oban creció alrededor de la destilería , que fue fundada allí en 1794. Una carta real elevó la ciudad a un burgo de baronía en 1811. ^[8] Sir Walter Scott visitó la zona en 1814, año en el que publicó su poema El señor de las islas ; el interés por el poema trajo muchos visitantes nuevos a la ciudad. La ciudad se convirtió en un burgo parlamentario en 1833. Un enlace ferroviario, el ferrocarril Callander y Oban , se autorizó en 1864, pero tardó años en llegar a la ciudad. El tramo final de la vía a Oban se inauguró el 30 de junio de 1880. Esto trajo más prosperidad, revitalizando la industria local y dando nueva energía al turismo. También en este momento trabaja en el malogrado Oban Hydrocomenzado; la empresa fue abandonada ^[9] y quedó en mal estado después de 1882 cuando el Dr. Orr, el creador del plan, se dio cuenta de que había subestimado enormemente su costo. El trabajo en McCaig's Tower , un importante monumento local, comenzó en 1895. Pagado por John Stewart McCaig (1824-1902), la construcción tenía como objetivo, en tiempos difíciles, dar trabajo a los canteros locales. Sin embargo, su construcción cesó en 1902 con la muerte de su benefactor.

Construida en 1897 para James Boutein, Glencruitten House se construyó en el sitio de una finca anterior. Ahora catalogado como Categoría B , ^[10] el edificio es un castillo de estilo escocés, o casa baronial escocesa, que fue significativamente alterada en 1903. Se añadió un ala de biblioteca en 1927/1928. El arquitecto original, Edward Appin, también participó en el trabajo terminado en 1903. Robert Lorimer, de la firma Lorimer & Matthew, guió las adiciones realizadas en la década de 1920 para Alexander Mackay, el propietario en ese momento. La Casa ha sido una propiedad incluida en la lista B desde 1971. ^{[11] [12]}El contenido se iba a vender en subasta en 2003, incluidos algunos muebles diseñados por Lorimer. Los informes de ese momento arrojaron luz adicional sobre los anteriores propietarios de la casa, indicando que la familia MacKay "en la casa Argyll" había sido propietaria de la propiedad durante cuatro generaciones, desde 1917 cuando fue adquirida por "el capitalista de riesgo Alexander MacKay"; ^[13] el propietario original figuraba como la familia Shelly-Bonteyn. Se decía que MacKay y su hijo Robert Ferrier Burns Mackay eran importantes coleccionistas de arte, incluidas obras de "Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) y James McBey (1883-1959)". ^{[14] [15]} Durante algún tiempo antes de 2020, Glencruitten House fue propiedad de una comunidad religiosa que la puso a la venta ese año. ^[dieciséis]La lista a la venta proporcionó detalles adicionales: la casa contenía "carpintería y paneles que se cree que son de Clow Bros y vidrieras de Louis Davis. También dentro de la biblioteca hay un órgano Ingram original de grado A con mecanismo de juego de roles de la Filarmónica Welte (no completamente operativo) ". En la lista también se indicaba que "el propietario actual [fue] emprendido recientemente". ^[17]

Oban en 1900

Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939-1945), los barcos mercantes y de la Marina Real utilizaron Oban como base importante en la Batalla del Atlántico . La Royal Navy tenía una estación de señales cerca de Ganavan y una estación de bucle indicador antisubmarino , que detectaba cualquier superficie o buques submarinos entre Oban, Mull y Lismore . Había un campo de minas controlado en el estrecho de Kerrera , que se operaba desde un edificio cerca del sitio de la caravana en Gallanach. Un Real Fuerza Aérea hidroavión base de funcionar a Ganavan y en Kerrera y un aeródromo en North Connel , construido por la Royal Air Force. Se construyó una Sala de Operaciones del Sector cerca del aeródromo; después de la guerra, esto se amplió para convertirse en la sede del Grupo Real del Cuerpo de Observadores .

Oban también fue importante durante la Guerra Fría porque el primer cable telefónico transatlántico ( TAT-1 ) llegó a tierra en la bahía de Gallanach. Esto llevó la línea directa entre los presidentes de los Estados Unidos y los secretarios generales de la URSS . En North Connel, junto al aeródromo / aeropuerto, se encontraba la NRC (Nuclear Reporting Cell) del Royal Observer Corps (29 de octubre de 1925 al 31 de diciembre de 1995).

Desde la década de 1950, la industria principal ha seguido siendo el turismo, aunque la ciudad también es un importante puerto de transbordadores, que actúa como el centro de los transbordadores Caledonian MacBrayne a muchas de las islas de las Hébridas Interiores y Exteriores .

Clima

Al igual que con el resto de las islas británicas , Oban experimenta un clima marítimo con veranos frescos e inviernos suaves. La estación meteorológica oficial de la Oficina Meteorológica más cercana de la que se dispone de registros en línea se encuentra en Dunstaffnage, a unas 2,7 millas (4,3 km) al noreste del centro de la ciudad de Oban. Las precipitaciones son altas, pero gracias a la Corriente del Golfo , la temperatura rara vez cae por debajo de los 0 ° C (32 ° F).

Climate data for Dunstaffnage (3 m asl, averages 1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13 (55)	13 (55)	15 (59)	24 (75)	25 (77)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	24 (75)	20 (68)	15 (59)	13 (55)	27 (81)
Average high °C (°F)	7.0 (44.6)	7.2 (45.0)	8.6 (47.5)	11.0 (51.8)	14.5 (58.1)	16.2 (61.2)	17.7 (63.9)	17.7 (63.9)	15.4 (59.7)	12.6 (54.7)	9.4 (48.9)	7.9 (46.2)	12.1 (53.8)
Average low °C (°F)	2.1 (35.8)	2.2 (36.0)	3.0 (37.4)	4.2 (39.6)	6.6 (43.9)	8.8 (47.8)	10.9 (51.6)	10.9 (51.6)	9.3 (48.7)	7.3 (45.1)	4.3 (39.7)	3.0 (37.4)	6.1 (43.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−8 (18)	−7 (19)	−7 (19)	−2 (28)	0 (32)	2 (36)	5 (41)	3 (37)	1 (34)	−1 (30)	−6 (21)	−8 (18)	−8 (18)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	192.2 (7.57)	139.5 (5.49)	153.2 (6.03)	80.1 (3.15)	67.0 (2.64)	82.6 (3.25)	102.4 (4.03)	119.2 (4.69)	163.3 (6.43)	186.9 (7.36)	182.1 (7.17)	192.4 (7.57)	1,660.9 (65.39)
Average precipitation days (≥ mm)	27	23	28	24	23	26	24	26	27	28	27	27	310
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm)	20	16	19	12	11	13	14	15	17	19	19	19	194
Average snowy days (≥ cm)	7	6	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	23
Mean monthly sunshine hours	33.5	59.6	86.2	145.8	189.7	174.9	142.6	141.7	97.5	75.6	46.2	30.7	1,224
Source 1: Met Office[18]
Source 2: Weatherbase[19]

Culture

The local culture is Gaelic. In 2011, 8.2% of the town's population over age 3 could speak Gaelic and 11.3% had some facility in the language.^[20] Oban is considered the home of the Royal National Mòd, since it was first held there in 1892, with ten competitors on a Saturday afternoon. The town hosted the centenary Mod in 1992 (the year it became Royal) and in 2003 the 100th Mod. These two events attracted thousands of competitors and visitors (the 100th Mod was later than the centenary because it was not held in the war years). The Mod is held in Oban roughly every 6–8 years, and has last been held in October 2015.

An annual Highland Games, known as the Argyllshire Gathering,^[21] is also held in the town.

The Corran Halls^[22] theatre acts as a venue for community events, local and touring entertainers, and touring companies such as Scottish Opera.

The town had a two-screen cinema, which closed in early 2010. Thanks to a local community initiative supported by a number of famous names,^[23] it reopened in August 2012 as the Phoenix Cinema.^[24] Oban has itself been used as a backdrop to several films, including Ring of Bright Water and Morvern Callar.

The Oban War and Peace Museum advances the education of present and future generations by collecting, maintaining, conserving and exhibiting items of historical and cultural interest relating to the Oban area in peacetime and during the war years. A museum also operates within Oban Distillery, just behind the main seafront. The distillation of whisky in Oban predates the town: whisky has been produced on the site since 1794.^[25] The Hope MacDougall collection^[26] is a unique record of the working and domestic lives of people in Scotland.

Music is central to Gaelic culture, and there is lively interest in the town. In the 2010 pipe band season, the local Oban High School Pipe Band, led by Angus MacColl, was successful in winning the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, the Cowal Games competition, and the Champion of Champions for the year in the novice-juvenile grade. The town also boasts a successful senior pipe band.^[27] The local Gaelic choir^[28] competes regularly and successfully in the Mod.

During the 2011 Guy Fawkes Night, Oban became briefly infamous for its fireworks display, which became a worldwide news and online hit when £6,000 of display fireworks were ignited all at once due to a computer error. The display, which was due to last 20–30 minutes, was over in less than a minute. Pyro1, the company putting on the display, later apologized to the town by providing a free fireworks show.^[29]

The town has been the birthplace and home of a number of well-known people.

Oban Bay from McCaig's Tower. The bay is sheltered by the island of Kerrera. Behind lies the Isle of Mull.

Oban and bay at night, note McCaig's Tower is illuminated.

Local attractions

The local attractions are also detailed at a sister project, Wikivoyage. The respective sister portal for Oban: link.

The area around Oban has a dramatic scenery of the coast and mountains, as well as historically valuable local castles and ancient religious sites. North of the town the natural rock formation of Fingal's Dogstone is connected in legend to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.^[30]

The Oban Visitor Information Centre, operated by VisitScotland, is located in the Columba Buildings on the North Pier. The Oban & Lorn Tourism Alliance also provides information about local attractions at the official web site.^[31]

• Bay aerial view

• Town aerial view

Transport

v t e Caledonian MacBrayne
Legend
Lochboisdale, South Uist to Mallaig Eriskay Ardmore, Barra Castlebay, Barra Baile Mòr, Iona Fionnphort, Mull Tobermory, Mull Kilchoan Fishnish, Mull Lochaline Craignure, Mull Scarinish, Tiree Arinagour, Coll Achnacroish, Lismore Scalasaig, Colonsay to Port Askaig & Kennacraig Oban  A85  to Glasgow Queen Street

Oban lies at the western end of the A85 road. It also has a railway station from where a number of Abellio ScotRail trains run to and from Glasgow Queen Street daily. The town is also an important ferry port: it is Caledonian MacBrayne's busiest terminal. Oban is known as the "Gateway to the Isles",^[32] with ferries sailing to the islands of Lismore, Colonsay, Islay, Coll, Tiree, to Craignure on Mull, to Castlebay on Barra and to Lochboisdale on South Uist. In 2005, a new ferry terminal was opened, and in 2007 a second linkspan opened, allowing two vessels to load/unload at the same time.

Scottish Citylink run buses from Glasgow's Buchanan bus station several times a day; in summer, buses run from Dundee via Perth (route 973) and to Edinburgh via Stirling (route 978).

West Coast Motors operate many local services and also coach links as far south as Lochgilphead and as far north as Fort William.

The Isle of Mull ferry leaving the terminal

Formerly, Oban also had direct passenger railway services to Edinburgh. The scenic line, which ran via Glen Dochart, Strathyre, Callander, Dunblane and Stirling, closed in 1965. Railway services north to Ballachulish on Loch Leven were withdrawn in 1966. (These services were withdrawn as a result of the Beeching cuts.)

Oban has an airport outside the village of North Connel,^[33] some 5 miles NE of the town.

Schools

Oban has a primary school campus located in the south of the town along with Park Primary School at the north of the town, and a major high school, Oban High School. Secondary school pupils are drawn from a wide surrounding catchment area, with some pupils having long commutes to and from school every day. Students who live on surrounding islands such as Coll or Mull stay at a local hostel during the school week. The school funds the hostel so that the families of the students don't have to pay themselves.

The building formerly used as Rockfield Primary School has now been taken over by the Community and is being extensively refurbished.^[34]

Churches

St Columba's Cathedral

Oban is served by Kilmore & Oban Parish Church of the Church of Scotland. There are two church buildings in the united parish, namely at Glencruitten Road as well as Kilmore Church. The minister (since 2007) is the Rev. Dugald Cameron, who formerly served at St. John's Renfield Church, Glasgow.^[35]

A third church, the former Corran Esplanade Church (opened in 1957 as Christ Church) at Corran Esplanade in the town, is now closed.^[36]

A fourth church, St Columba's Argyll Square Church was opened in 1888 and closed in 1984^[37]

The mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is St Columba's Cathedral at the north end of the Esplanade. During the 19th century, the Rector of the Pro-Cathedral was Father Allan MacDonald, a poet and Gaelic scholar. The present cathedral was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and constructed between 1932 and 1959.

The Scottish Episcopal Church is represented in Oban by the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine, situated in George Street.^[38] It is one of two cathedrals of the united Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, the other being the Cathedral of the Isles in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae.

There are several other churches in the town, including the Free Church of Scotland in Rockfield Road, the Baptist Church in Albany Street, Salvation Army in Stevenson Street, Elim Pentecostal Church in Soroba Road, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Lorn Christian Fellowship (Independent) both of whom meet at Oban High School and the Associated Presbyterian Church in Campbell Street.^[39] The Congregational Church in Tweedale Street was built in 1880.^[40]

A Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses is located nearby at 57 Lorn Road, Dunbeg.

Sport

Oban's proximity to the mountains and the sea means that a wide array of sports are available to visitors and locals, from scuba-diving to coasteering to sailing to mountain biking to winter mountaineering. Other activities of note in the town are:

The local amateur football team is 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, in the town. The Oban Times runs a "Spot the Shinty Ball" competition each week. Oban Cricket Club was formed in 2003 and plays in nearby Taynuilt. Oban Lorne Rugby Football Club turned 50 years old in 2012, and competes in the RBS West region.^[41] The Highlanders were a World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling tag-team originally from Oban. Oban Golf course was designed by professional golfer James Braid in the early 1900s,^[42] and offers a challenging 18 holes across difficult terrain.

The West Highland Tennis Championships are held annually in July and attract some of Scotland's best players to the town. Past champions include Colin Fleming and Judy Murray.^[43]

Oban also has a thriving martial arts scene, with karate, kick boxing, mixed martial arts, and boxing all available.

Watersports are an obvious activity in a seaport, and sailing is very popular. West Highland Week^[44] brings sailors from around the world to the town every year. Scuba diving is also readily available. The wreck diving is spectacular, with the Sound of Mull offering some truly world-class dive sites. Although weather and visibility can be variable, the local geography means that a dive somewhere can always be achieved.

Town twinning

Laurinburg, North Carolina, United States became a twin town to Oban in 1993. The initial agreement was between Scotland County, North Carolina, and Argyll & Bute District Council. Following reorganisation in 1995, the agreement was confirmed by Argyll & Bute Council in 1997. In 1997, Oban was also twinned with Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland.^[45]

References

1. "Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba ~ Gaelic Place-names of Scotland Gaelic Place-names of Scotland".
2. "Mid-2016 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
3. John Butler. "Pronunciation of Scotch Whiskys". School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
4. "Argyll and Bute – Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd". BBC. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
5. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (1974). Argyll, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments, Volume 2 Lorn. HMSO. ISBN 0 11 491147 9.
6. "Dunollie Castle | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
7. "History of Oban". Oban Tourist Information Centre.
8. "Oban History". The Gazetteer for Scotland.
9. "The Hydro -- Oban Hydropathic Establishment and Sanatorium-". www.obanargyll.com. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
10. "Glencruitten House". Historic Environment Scotland.
11. "GLENCRUITTEN HOUSE (LB11984)". portal.historicenvironment.scot.
12. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report (July 17, 2020, 4:31 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk.
13. "Alexander MacKay" (PDF).
14. "Trio of Scots talents in one". www.antiquestradegazette.com.
15. "Contents sale puts Scottish painters onto eager market". www.antiquestradegazette.com.
16. Keel, Toby (23 March 2020). "A 13-bedroom castle under £1m with a stunning oak-panelled library and impossibly romantic boathouse". Country Life.
17. "Glencruitten House, Glencruitten, Oban, Argyll and Bute, PA34 13 bed detached house for sale - £975,000". OnTheMarket.
18. "Dunstaffnage 1971-2000 averages". Met Office. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
19. "Oban weather records". Weatherbase. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
20. 2011 Scotland Census, Table QS211SC.
21. "Oban Games - Information about The Oban Games".
22. "The Corran Halls - Oban". Argyll and Bute Council. 6 December 2010.
23. "Dame Judi Dench in bid to save Oban cinema". BBC News. 17 February 2011 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
24. "Scotland the Movie Location Guide - Oban".
25. "Oban Distillery - The Distilleries of Scotland - scotchwhisky.net". www.scotchwhisky.net.
26. "Dunollie House Oban :: O, A, J".
27. "Oban Pipe Band on top of the world". 20 August 2011.
28. "Oban Gaelic Choir". www.obangaelicchoir.co.uk.
29. Mullen, Scott (8 November 2011). "Fireworks company to put on free show to make up for display which lasted just 50 seconds because of computer error".
30. Fingal's Dogstone, Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 25 May 2020
31. "Oban & Lorn Tourism Alliance :: Home".
32. "Visit Oban: The Gateway to the Isles - Scotland blog - By Scotland Channel".
33. Council, Argyll and Bute (21 December 2010). "Oban Airport Information". Argyll and Bute Council. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
34. "Rockfield Primary School (Former), Rockfield Road, Oban | Buildings at Risk Register". www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
35. "Kilmore & Oban Church of Scotland".
36. "Oban, Corran Esplanade, Christ Church Dunollie | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
37. "Argyll Square Church (C) Gerald England". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
38. "St. John - An Online Cathedral For St John The Apostle". Archived from the original on 3 August 2010.
39. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
40. http://www.lochgilphead.org/CongregationalChurchOban/index.html
41. "50th Birthday Celebration for Oban Lorne".
42. "Oban Golf Course, Argyll, Scotland, Glencruitten Golf Club".
43. "West Highland Tennis Week".
44. "West Highland Yachting Week".
45. "Gorey Town Twinning". Gorey Town Council. Retrieved 10 June 2014.

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.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Oban.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oban.

• Oban Airport
• Oban Times (local newspaper)
• Oban War and Peace Museum
• Royal Air Force Oban
• Anti-submarine indicator loop at Oban
• Minefield control tower at Gallanach
• ROC Group HQ Connel, a Royal Observer Corps post
• Oban page of Caledonian MacBrayne (ferry company)
• Oban Station page at Abellio ScotRail