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Oban
The major ferry port of Oban started life as a fishing village until its importance grew as a farming, ferry and shipbuilding centre. The arrival of steam-ships and the railway in the latter half of the nineteenth century made it a key staging post to islands such as Mull, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree and the Outer Hebrides.
It is now, by far, the largest port and gateway on the west coast serving the Hebridean Isles. The town is a solid, Victorian holiday Mecca with coach-loads of visitors arriving daily to commandeer larger hotels and storm the multitude of gift shops and cafes waiting for them along George Street on the front. The most imposing structure in the town is the slightly absurd 'Craig's Folly' set directly above the town centre and harbour.
Like a miniature Coliseum of Rome, it stands out like a sore thumb amidst more sober Victorian bungalows. Banker, John McCraig, intended to create work for unemployed masons and labourers but local chatter of the time put it down more to a personal memorial to a rather vain man. Nevertheless, from this prospect, the views over the harbour and the activities of the fishing and ferry boats are excellent.
