Pulpit Hill and Gallanach, Oban

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Beginning with a climb to the fine viewpoint of Pulpit Hill above Oban, this walk explores the countryside immediately to the south of the town. It can either be walked as an approach to Kerrera, as a one-way walk with the bus back (school times/dates only so careful planning needed), or as described here, as a circuit in its own right.

Terrain

Minor road and paths with one very boggy section

Public Transport

Buses/trains to Oban. Traveline Scotland.

Start

Oban town centre. Map and directions.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 7km / 4.5 miles
Time: 2 hours
Ascent: 180m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NM858298

Maps / GPS

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Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the centre of Oban. From the main roundabout at the southern end of the seafront, close to the train station, take Albany Road, which is signed for Gallanach and the Kerrera ferry. Pass the library and fork left when signed for 'Pulpit Hill'. Go up the steep 'Haggarts Brae' path beside the blue-painted Maridon bed and breakfast. When this emerges on a tarmac road, take the next right which short-cuts a wide zig-zag in the road to rejoin further up. When it rejoins immediately turn right onto a footpath, signed for 'Pulpit Hill'. The footpath leads up steps - ignore a turning on the right and continue ahead, emerging in a grassy park-like area. Continue up this to reach the viewpoint and benches of Pulpit Hill, a fine viewpoint over the town and harbour of Oban, with ferry boats endlessly coming and going down below.

Stage 2

Leave the viewpoint via the car parking and following the lane to the right of the toilets. Walk down the street passing the bungalows, ignoring the turn on the left. Turn left at the next junction and then right; finally take a footpath off to the left up a track signed for 'Kerrera Ferry'. The track runs through some woods and becomes a muddy lane behind the houses, and then goes through a gate beside an old metal pen. Continue along the track; there is a good view over the mill pond down to the right with the islands beyond.

Stage 3

The lane now runs alongside the bottom edge of some deciduous woodland to another gate, and then becomes a path through the more open countryside beyond. It becomes very boggy as it crosses a knobbly area; as it improves beyond it forks but this isn't clear on the ground. The main path slopes downhill to head to the Kerrera Ferry and provides a fine approach from Oban to the walks on that island, but to continue to Gallanach leave the clearer path and continue across the bottom of the grassy hill to the left; soon a track becomes clearer again.

Stage 4

Continue along the track which is now clear once more; there are good views over to the Isle of Kerrera through a gap in the hills, with the mountains of Mull rising behind it if the weather is clear. The track now descends alongside a fence with Gallanach campsite visible beyond. The track then meets a minor road. To walk to Gallanach, where there is a jetty (perhaps taking a bus (school times/dates only) back to Oban), turn right. Otherwise, turn left. The minor road is gated at one point and has little traffic. Follow it all the way back to Oban.

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