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Introduction

Overview

Oban is a small town with around 8000 people but due to its tourist industry provides a variety of facilities and services that allow students, staff, delegates and short-term visitors to enjoy an active social life. The town has a modern leisure centre, a public library, and many pubs, shops and restaurants. The Corran Halls put on a variety of shows, plays, music performances, ballet events etc, and the community has recently bought up the two-screen Phoenix Cinema. The stunning scenery offers access to nearly all outdoor pursuits and ferries can take you to many Hebridean destinations. Students usually find it relatively easy to gain temporary or permanent part-time jobs.

Look at the following websites for information about Oban as a tourist destination:


The Argyll & Bute Council website has information on services such as schools, transport and leisure.

Click here for information of how to get to SAMS from further afield.

Accommodation

Accommodation

Students and delegates are responsible to arrange their own accommodation unless explicitly stated otherwise.

 

SAMS offers a number of accommodation options for students and visitors

  • small student hostel at SAMS with en-suite rooms: These are rented out on a first-come basis at a cost of £10-12 a night
  • Ardtornish Place: a five-bedroom student house close to the centre of Oban
  • Kirk Road, Dunbeg: two five-bedroom student houses - built for completion at the beginning of September 2012 - about 5 minutes walk away from SAMS

Please discuss the different options and check for availability with our registry officer - currently Fiona Wallace.

 

For delegates on short courses or conferences and term-time visitors

Previous visitors and course participants have stayed in the following accommodation providers in the area:


For new staff relocating to the area

A letting agency / property management business has opened in Oban in 2011 - see www.westlettings.co.uk

Here are further some links to local estate agents who sell and rent out properties in and around Oban:

 Our local newspaper, The Oban Times, also carries regular adverts for properties available to rent.

 

Shopping

Shopping

Oban has a range of supermarkets including Tesco, Co-op, Farmfoods, Lidl and Aldi alongside a multitude of small independent shops.  Boots, New Look, Waterstones, Superdrug and WHSmith are all in the centre of town.
 Argos, Homebase and Pets at Home are just behind Tesco. Also an M&Co shop and various clothes and shoe shops are spread across town. There are also several garden centres in the area. Charity Shops run by Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research and the local charity that has gone international, Mary's Meals, are there to tempt all those bargain-hunters! There are also a health food shop and a deli in town. And most importantly, there are the Oban Distillery and the Oban Chocolate Company!

Oban is proud to be a fairtrade town since 2006. And SAMS is a fairtrade organisations!

Sport

Sports activities

Sport: you will most likely be able to do any kind of sport in Oban you never dreamt of doing, as this is "the great outdoors". At the institute there are pretty much daily lunchtime fitness classes and many students and staff go running, swimming or even sailing during their lunch break. Below are just a few clubs in the area; if you are after anything else, locate one of the more fit looking people at SAMS and ask who to get in contact with for doing your particular sport.

Clubs

Other clubs

Entertainment

Entertainment

Oban's two-screen Phoenix Cinema is in community ownership and SAMS held a number of fundraising events to contribute to having this great resource in town. We also have a mobile cinema visiting the area.

  • The Skipinnish Ceilidh House, 34-38 George Street, Oban T: 01631 569599
  • Blockbuster (film and game rental), 123 George St , Oban T: 01631 565771
  • 
Corran Halls (theatre, panto, music, ballet, conferences etc), Box office 01631 567333
  • Mull Theatre, Royal Buildings , Main St , Tobermory, Mull T: 01688 302828

  • Oban 
Tralee Rally Karting – 18 Keil Crofts, Benderloch T: 01631 720297
  • 
Vertical Descents (canyoning, archery, fun yakking, mountain biking, abseiling): Inchree Falls , Inchree, Onich T: 01855 821593

Transport

Transport

Most students and delegates for short courses or conferences stay in Oban. There is a regular bus service - operated by West Coast Motors - from Oban to Dunbeg, the village adjacent to SAMS. Just catch the 405 from Oban and it will take you to us! Many students and staff choose to cycle to the institute and a new cycle track from Oban's Ganavan beach is a pleasant and safe way to make the three mile journey.

If you would like to hire a bus for transporting larger groups around the area, this can be arranged through West Coast Motors.

There is easy access to the islands through Oban’s Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal. There are also regular buses and trains running to Fort William and Glasgow, and connections from there to the rest of the country.

For general public transport information for Scotland visit the Traveline Scotland website.

There is also a small airport in North Connel, owned by Argyll and Bute Council, with scheduled flights to the the islands of Coll, Colonsay and Tiree. The nearest international airport is Glasgow International, which is two hours by car away from the institute. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick are three hours car journey away from Oban.

Well-being

Medical and welfare

Provisions at SAMS

  • There are regular visits by an occupational health nurse who tends to staff and sudents during regular drop-in sessions
  • Two members of staff are trained as welfare officers: Dr David Hughes and Miss Nicola Longman
  • Fiona Wallace acts as our dedicated student support and disability officer
  • Several members of staff are trained in first aid and basic firefighting
  • A dedicated Health and Safety Officer ensures the safest possible working environment

 

Emergency services

  • Lorn & Islands District General Hospital, Glengallen Rd , Oban T: 01631 567500

  • Oban Police: 01631 562213
  • Oban Coastguard HM: 01631 562685
  • Oban Mountain Rescue: in emergency 999 ask for police

 

General practitioners and dentists

  • Lorn Medical Centre, Soroba Road, Oban, PA34 4HE. T: 01631 563175
  • Taynuilt Medical Practice, Taynuilt, PA35 1JE T: 01866 822684 (surgeries in Taynuilt, Connel & Dalmally)
  • Shore Street Dental Surgery, Oban T: 01631 563006
  • Argyll Square Dental Practice, Oban T: 01631 562791
  • West Highland Dental Studio, Oban T: 01631 565050

 

Animals

 

Religion

  • Scottish Episcopal Church: Oban Cathedral Church of St John T: 01631 562323
  • Roman Catholic: Oban St Columba’s Cathedral T: 01631 562123
  • Church of Scotland Centre, Glencruitten Rd , Oban T: 01631 562405
  • Lorn Christian Fellowship T: 01631 710208
  • Oban Free High Church , Rockfield Rd , Oban T: 01631 562154

 

Other support services

  • Lorn Counselling Service, Albany Chambers, Albany Street, Oban T: 01631 566666 - free confidential person-centred counselling
  • Relate Argyll, Market St, Oban T: 01631 563297 - offering appointments in Oban for counselling. Relate also offer a telephone counselling service.
  • Oban Council on Alcohol: Market St Centre, Market St, Oban T: 01631 566090
  • Samaritans: T: 0845 790 9090/9192
  • HOPELineUK: provides support, information and practical advice for young people - and their friends, families and professionals - who may be at risk of harming themselves. T: 0800 068 4141 or visit their website www.papyrus-uk.org

Trips

Tours and trips around Oban

The area provides opportunities for many exciting weekends, days or half-days out. Here is a small selection of possible tours: