Surviving Mai Tai Tom’s “Royal” Blunder: 2022 England & Scotland

Day Nineteen: Sleeping In, No Whisky For You, Julie Julie Julie Do We Love You?, War & Peace, Ay Columba, Castle On The Hill, Pie For What Ales Me, An Unwanted Trip To The Grocery Store, Perry Mason Hasn’t Ended Yet and Pier Review

Since our day in Oban was going to be a relaxing one, we actually slept in, which is 8:30 for us. We strolled along the harbor into Oban from the Barriemore on a lovely Scottish morning.

I had planned to do a whisky tasting that day at the Oban Distillery, but some of the castles we got shut out of earlier in the trip must have alerted them I was in town, as a sign posted on the door said it would be closed.

When you’re unable to whisky taste, the best next things are scones, and we had a bunch of them (and other breakfast dishes) at Julie’s Coffeehouse, located across the street from the Oban Distillery. We sat outside, and enjoyed everything about this coffeehouse.

Then it was a short walk to the Oban War & Peace Museum, where we ducked in for a few minutes to learn a little more about Oban and the role it played in both World Wars.

It was in interesting stop to learn about local history, and we left a small donation to this free museum.

As we started toward our next destination, Dunollie Castle, I looked back at Oban and the Columba Hotel.

In a few minutes, we were at another Columba, the Cathedral Church of St. Columba. Of course, I had to go in to the church located on the Corran Esplanade.

The Neo-Gothic meets Romanesque style church was started in 1932 (on the site of the prior church) and completed in 1959, when the two bells (Brendan and Kenneth) were blessed.

It was a quick stop, which ironically is what Kim and Mary prayed for.

Located very near to the Barriemore is the Oban War Memorial, a memorial originally built for the Oban soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. Later, it also memorialized soldiers from World War II and the Falkland War. It was originally dedicated in 1923.

I had walked ahead of the group affording me the opportunity to grab a seat with a pretty nice view. If I had had a whisky and another of Julie’s scones this scenic spot might have been where I spent the remainder of the day.

We followed the Old Carriage Footpath to Dunollie Dùn Ollaigh Museum, Castle & Grounds. It was a pleasant walk under a canopy of trees toward the castle, which tells the history of the “noble MacDougall Family.”

We came upon Fingal’s Dogstone. According to legend, the “rock is where the ancient warrior of Celtic mythology Fingal would tie his mighty dog, Bran,” which might only have a fiber of truth.

We passed by the Dunollie Woodland Trail steps, but my knees told me to keep going.

There were beautiful views overlooking Oban Harbor.

And, of course, those Scottish flowers, bushes and trees.

Kim had already nearly been run over by a bus on this trip, and suddenly it looked like he was in the grasp of an overzealous shrubbery ready to devour him. 

We were lucky that the Knights Who Say “Ni!” did not demand another shrubbery.

We passed the Dunollie Willow Hall. With all these different sights, I had to start a log to keep track.

The castle with views over Oban Bay and the Firth of Lorn has been in the hands of the Clan MacDougall for nine centuries.

The castle was built in the 12th and 15th centuries.

Stairs both up and down look challenging.

But they made the views even better.

The Celtic cross on the castle grounds is the burial spot for Alexander James MacDougall and his wife Colina Edith, which is why it’s named the MacDougall Cross.

In 2005, the Fairie Garden was created.

It was a peaceful walk, perfect for a lazy day.

Castles (well, almost everything) makes this group hungry so we made the walk back to town where we were lured into the Markie Dans, a family run pub, by this intoxicating sign.

Food was good, and I loved my Homemade Steak & Guinness Pie.