We headed off from our accommodation in Ronachan around 10am to drive north towards Oban. Two stops planned, both in search of wildlife. The first was a bird hide at a nature reserve near Bellanoch. Apparently otters could be found here. We spent a little while in the hide, didn’t see a lot, then an otter appeared in the distance. It spent a while hunting, then disappeared, then reappeared on land.
We waited a bit longer, then the otter reappeared and spent a while fishing, but it wasn’t that close by so keeping track was difficult.
As we arrived back at the car, we saw another otter playing in the water just beside the road – far closer!
Next stop, lunch. After a bit of messing around trying to find somewhere open, we found a big but deserted hotel overlooking Loch Melfort. Some excellent soup for lunch, overlooking the loch and some bored looking Highland cattle (“coos” according to the locals).
The second stop of the day was the Kilchoan estate, for a walk to a high viewpoint in the hope of seeing some birds of prey. A 3-mile walk and we were in luck – a kestrel.
Onto Oban, we found our accommodation – a room in a guest house – and out for dinner at a very nice seafood restaurant, for wine, langoustines, lobster, cheese and a local whiskey!
Breakfast – self catering
Lunch – Loch Melfort Hotel, Arduaine
Dinner – Ee-usk, Oban
Hotel – Dalrigh House, Oban