978 Edinburgh – Oban

Journey Overview

This is a journey that runs in the evening to Oban and returns the next morning, or a day time service can be enjoyed on the 913 from Edinburgh, connecting with the 977 at Tyndrum.

Starting in the iconic and captivating Edinburgh, the 978 makes its way through Stirling, home to the stunning historic landmark that is Stirling Castle. There’s also, of course, the treasure that is the Wallace Monument which is a grand stone tower overlooking the wonderful city.

Crainlarich to Oban provides a mellow experience of gentle curves and beautiful scenery. Heavy wooded hillsides, exposed hill tops, rocky shores, uninhabited islands, ruined castles and charming villages – this is a trip that crams in so much Scottish heritage and scenery! The landscape is dramatic, though, with the route making its way towards the western coast, passing Loch Awe and incredible waterfalls,  before reaching Appin, with a great view of Castle Stalker and the island of Lismore in the background before arriving in Oban, a fab location for a seafood meal and browse round the charming independent shops. Characterised by heavily wooded hillsides, exposed hill tops, rocky shores, uninhabited islands, ruined castles and a handful of charming villages dotted around its shores, it is steeped in history and culture and was once regarded as a Victorian hot-spot due to the gentry and number of mansions built in the area.

A Fab Day Out!

If you are planning to spread your trip over 2-3 days, then we’d highly recommend a stop off at Cruachan and a visit to the Cruachan Experience. Here, customers can witness the cavernous machine hall a kilometre inside the solid rock of Ben Cruachan on a guided tour of the power station. There’s a bus from the Visitor Centre, which runs close to the dark solid granite of the mountains as it guides its way to the centre of the poor station and a viewing gallery, overlooking the machine hall and four huge turbines.  Cruachan Visitor Centre allows children and adults to learn all about how electricity can be quickly generated using the power of water. From interactive educational exhibition to the excitement of guided tours inside the Hollow Mountain, it’s sure to inspire future engineers. Hollow Mountain Café IS also an awesome place to enjoy homemade food in a lochside location. Cranachan is also the gateway to many tremendous walks that last 2-3 hours, including to Kilchurn Castle and Ben Cranachan’s Lower Slopes, which is not too strenuous past beautiful falls, pools and open slopes.

There are some good places to stay in Cranachan before maybe a morning walk the next day and the bus towards Oban, looking at the incredible scenery in daylight and maybe stopping off in Stirling for a visit to the Castle, the gruesome Old Town Jail and iconic Wallace Monument or a browse round the great shops.