Family Friendly/Child Friendly
Family Friendly/Child Friendly
Bonawe House is an ideal location for families and children looking for a holiday to Oban. The gardens around the house provide fantastic exploring possibilities and there are lots of local walks and bike rides to do. The loch is 5 minutes walk away and offers a safe stony beach area for swimming, splashing, kayaking and sailing and generally playing in the water. There are also piers to go crabbing from and fish off.
Inverawe Smokery – 01866 822 446
See tea-rooms. Kids love it. Playpark and walks, with more play things round the walks as well. A walk up to the viewpoint is easily combined.
Ganavan Beach – Oban
A sandy beach for exploring. Dogs not permitted.
25 minutes by car. From Taynuilt turn right onto the A85. Into Oban turn right at the first and second roundabouts, signed to Ganavan. The beach is a few miles down at the end of the road. The caravan site charges you to park.
Tralee Beach – Benderloch
Miles of clean sandy beach and shallow waters. This is where we tend to go ourselves. Dogs permitted. 20 minutes by car. From Taynuilt head for Oban on the A85. Before you come to Oban, take the turn off left in Connel signed for Fort William. This takes you around and over the Connel railway Bridge. Go through Benderloch, and turn left at the end, signed for Tralee Beach. After a mile there is an indisript car park on the right. Park here and walk down to the beach opposite, about half a mile walk. Alternatively, park in the village of Benderloch by the Lora Café, and follow the signs to walk from there to the beach. About ¾ mile.
Going wild at Nevis Centre – Fort William 01397 700 707
A ballpark with slides, tunnels and bouncy castle, all indoors. Brilliant fun. 1.5 hours by car. Drive to Fort William, take the ring road around the centre, along the water. At the next roundabout go straight on as for Morisson, next roundabout right as for Morisson, then past the Morisson turnoff, and the leisure centre is on your left. Parking just beyond. You pay at the bar in the entrance.
Tobermory Handmade Chocolate – 01688 302 526
They are situated on the front of the Tobermory Bay, just east of the clock tower. To get to Tobermory, see your options in the Island Excursion section to Mull (Tobermory is Mull’s capital, the prettiest fishing village on the West Coast).
What’s the story in Ballamory
Every kid knows about Balamory. Well, it is filmed in Tobermory on Mull and you can see all the houses that the characters live in. Also all merchandise available! For how to get there see the Island Excursion section.
Tobermory is a lovely fishing village to stroll along. An Tobar is an Arts centre slightly up on the hill in a church that is worth seeing. There is a big playground on the west side of Tobermory, just after Josie Jump’s house on the left.
Atlantis Leisure Centre – Oban 01631 566 800
Swimming pool, and fantastic climbing soft play from age 0 to 11. Please check the opening times (also available online), particularly during term time. Adult to child ratios more relaxed than other pools, please see website for policy. Also rock climbing wall and playground outside. You can also eat or just have a coffee at Atlantis.
25 mins by car. From Taynuilt head right on the A85 to Oban. Coming down the hill into Oban, turn left where it is signed, then left at the next T junction. Turn right onto the car park. This is also Oban’s free car park.
Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park – 01786 841 456
Lots of wild safari animals. Open end March to 30 Sept 10.00 to 17.30. 1.5 hours drive. Turn left coming out of Taynuilt on the A85, towards Tyndrum. Turn right in Tyndrum to Stirling. Pass through Calander and pass Doune to the A84. It’s on the left just before Stirling.
