Plans for a new business park at Oban Airport have taken a step forward with the announcement that Argyll and Bute Council has appointed hub North Scotland to oversee the project and Robertson Construction as the main contractor The Oban Airport project is part of the council’s Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Pilot Project for the Lorn Arc Area and enables the council to retain a proportion of Non-Domestic Rates in a defined area to finance investment in local infrastructure Planning permission has been granted for one of two commercial buildings for lease at the site The buildings are subject to a funding application for £7.68m from the Community Regeneration Partnership Fund Councillors have also already agreed to invest £7.25 million to develop additional roads and utilities at the site from the TIF fund with £1.6 million already approved for development costs to help meet the project timescales the development will also support development of a West Coast UAV Logistics and Training Hub project with an investment of up to £4 million from the UK Government as part of the Argyll and Bute Rural Growth Deal.This will enable the airport to become a leading research and development centre for UAV technologies building on the success of recent pioneering trials using drone technology to provide essential services to some of Scotland’s most fragile rural and island communities The investment will support proposals for Scotland’s first specialised drone training and research centre It will also provide state-of-the-art hangars with maintenance facilities for UAVs and general aviation aircraft said: “I’m delighted to announce the appointment of hub North Scotland and Robertson Construction on this project Both organisations have long history of successful community projects and I am excited to see this innovative project progress and help put the area on the aviation map.” said: “We have had an excellent long-term working relationship with Argyll and Bute Council and the Oban Airport development is a further demonstration of that commitment This will be a transformational project which will create great opportunities for the airport and the local communities.” said: "This project represents a significant investment in Oban’s future and an opportunity to deliver the infrastructure needed to support business growth It builds on the ongoing collaboration between Robertson and we look forward to helping bring these plans to life." 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about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines Diageo-owned coastal distillery Oban has released a 15-year-old cask strength whisky finished in Sherry casks exclusively for the US market Created by Diageo master blender Dr Stuart Morrison Oban 15-Year-Old Cask Strength Sherry Cask Finish is a limited edition single malt finished in Andalusian Sherry casks Initially matured in European oak butts and American oak hogshead barrels the whisky was finished four years in oloroso and Palo Cortado Sherry casks The expression displays aromas of dried raisins Morrison said: “After years of development and refinement we are proud to welcome Oban 15 Cask Strength Sherry Cask Finish The whisky is born of deliberate care and the passion of Oban’s dedicated distillers.” The 15-year-old cask strength is offered at 55.3% ABV and is only available in the US at select spirits retailers nationwide as well as from Reserve Bar and The Bar websites for delivery The expression has a suggested retail price of US$150 for a 750ml bottle Oban is one of the oldest and smallest single malt whisky distilleries in Scotland Last year, Oban 10-Year-Old Coastal Orchard was released as part of Diageo’s 2024 Special Editions, Spirited Xchange Second Edition We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again In a dramatic turn of events at UFC Des Moines Bo Nickal faced his first professional MMA defeat suffering a knockout against two-weight ONE FC champion Reinier De Ridder This loss has drawn significant criticism from fans who have taken to social media to label Nickal as ‘fraud-checked.’ However fellow fighter Oban Elliott has come to Nickal’s defence emphasizing that facing a seasoned competitor like De Ridder after just eight bouts is a huge challenge Elliott’s support underscores the complexity of transitioning to MMA and the high stakes involved in elite-level competition In the wake of Bo Nickal’s defeat at UFC Des Moines his coach and fellow fighter Oban Elliott has taken to social media to defend him against a wave of criticism a distinguished wrestler who has transitioned to mixed martial arts faced a formidable opponent in Reinier De Ridder This loss represents a significant turning point in Nickal’s burgeoning MMA career Elliott’s response underscores the challenges inherent in moving up the competitive ladder and the unrealistic expectations that can be placed on athletes new to the sport Elliott expressed his frustrations with fans who quickly labelled Nickal’s loss as a sign of inadequacy “Everyone is criticizing Bo Nickal as if he hasn’t just fought the now 20-2 RDR,” Elliott tweeted He further emphasized how unfair it is to judge Nickal’s abilities based on such a high-level competition this early in his MMA career Elliott’s advocacy for Nickal stands as a reminder that an athlete’s journey is beset with ups and downs and it is paramount to recognize the courage it takes to step into the ring against top-tier opponents Nickal’s loss to De Ridder has ignited debate regarding the timing of his step up in competition Many supporters believed that while Nickal has shown great potential who has experienced only two losses in his professional career Critics have noted that this significant step may have come too soon while fans have speculated that fighting to a decision against Paul Craig in his last bout raised doubts about his readiness for elite competition enough!” Illustrating that Nickal faced a highly skilled opponent in Craig as well The broader implications of this defeat suggest that while Nickal possesses immense talent continual improvement and experience are necessary to compete effectively at the highest levels of MMA particularly in the competitive middleweight division Fighters like Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis represent the elite of the sport and after his stark revelation against De Ridder Nickal’s aspirations to face them aren’t merely ambitious but reflect a raw ambition to elevate his skills the dialogue shifts towards what Nickal can learn from this experience moving forward Bo Nickal broke his silence through a poignant Instagram post conveying gratitude for both his victories and defeats His choice of a black-and-white image was symbolic reflecting the duel nature of triumph and defeat in an athlete’s journey I’ll be back,” Nickal emphasizes resilience and determination to bounce back stronger from this experience This message resonates with many fans who find solace in athletes’ ability to overcome setbacks and continue pursuing greatness Nickal has hinted at potentially exciting matchups against top fighters in the middleweight rankings that could lay the groundwork for his comeback His aspirations to face formidable opponents such as Khamzat Chimaev are ambitious and indicate his desire to rapidly ascend to the upper echelons of the sport While last night’s fight proved to be a challenging lesson it also catalyzed Nickal’s growth within the competitive landscape of MMA as he continues to refine his skills and adapt strategies necessary for success in the octagon Bo Nickal’s first UFC defeat sparked harsh criticism yet Oban Elliott’s defence highlights the significant challenge of facing top-tier opponents like Reinier De Ridder This setback serves as a reminder of the hurdles in an athlete’s journey How will Nickal bounce back in his pursuit of greatness Bo Nickal suffered his first professional MMA defeat against Reinier De Ridder at UFC Des Moines where he was knocked out in the co-main event Fans have expressed harsh criticism towards Bo Nickal suggesting he was ‘fraud checked’ due to his loss to De Ridder a two-weight champion with an impressive record Oban Elliott defended Nickal by emphasizing that he was facing a significantly tougher opponent in De Ridder who has an impressive 20-2 record and is a noted champion Bo Nickal shared a post on Instagram expressing gratitude for both highs and lows in his career Bo Nickal hinted at future matchups with top fighters like Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis demonstrating his determination to compete at the highest levels in MMA Subscribe«Prev1 /797Next»Body Shot… and It Folded Him Instantly 🥶🥊 #Boxing #LiverShotKhamzat Chimaev Putting in Work 👊 #KhamzatChimaev #MMAFans Roasting Michael Bisping Never Gets Old 😂 #UFC #BispingAlex Pereira and Yousri Belgaroui Sharpen Each Other in Sparring 💥🥊 #MMA #Kickboxing«Prev1 /797Next» A man who pled guilty to assaulting his mother’s ex-partner to his permanent severe injury narrowly escaped jail confirmed his plea at Oban Sheriff Court on Monday after a previous hearing had called for reports Morrison admitted to assaulting the man on August 12 the accused attended the locus and punched the complainer in the head “The complainer was unable to defend himself it was found that he had a fracture on his left cheek and various cuts and lacerations to his face He had stitches on his face and was treated with antibiotics It was the opinion of the doctor that there was permanent damage “The complainer has ongoing numbness in his face.” Solicitor Derek Buchanan said: “He is only too well aware of the serious situation that he finds himself in due to his mother having been in a relationship with the complainer there have been texts sent between the men he would never follow the same course of action.” The court heard that prior to attending the complainer’s home His reaction was influenced by intoxication.” Sheriff Euan Cameron said: “This was a serious offence “You may not have intended to harm the complainer But he said Morrison should have considered that the situation “would take a turn for the worse” “You did not continue when he was down on the ground but you caused him serious permanent disfigurement,” the sheriff continued “These injuries are serious and have increased the gravity of this charge That shows remarkable strength of character and the court has had considerable references in your defence “I am narrowly persuaded that there is a direct alternative to jail in your case.” Morrison was sentenced to a restriction of liberty order between the hours of 9pm and 6am The Sunday TimesI hadn’t realised that we’d joined the ranks of the super-rich until we stepped ashore for the first time The Glen Rosa had set out from Oban on a sparkling Saturday afternoon to cruise southwards across a silvery sea hemmed in by hazy shoulders of land we ended up watching the swirling and dimpling of the tide as it barged between the islands of Lunga and Luing did the nautical equivalent of a handbrake turn and headed nor’nor’east to where Argyll and Bute waggles its long On our port bow we passed the private island of Shuna followed by the remote but lavish Kilchoan estate where the Chilean multimillionaire Nicolás Ibáñez Scott had his helicopter parked on the lawn After this we “dropped the hook” — that’s anchoring to you landlubbers — in Loch Melfort where the water came to an end in a forested natural amphitheatre filled with birdsong Chef Damien conjured up a venison tagliatelle and the rest of the evening was lost in a gentle haze of wine with the enticing prospect of a late show from the northern lights It was next morning that we stepped ashore off Glen Rosa’s tender into an armpit-shaped stretch of land at the head of the loch and wandered up to where Melfort House — pink-walled in Arts and Crafts style — and the adjacent Melfort Village were secreted among the trees At the Village welcome desk — the estate cottages have been turned into an upmarket retreat with swimming pool and tennis courts — the receptionist became very effusive when she realised we were “off that boat in the bay” offering to open the restaurant in a minute or two if we cared to wait I can only surmise that she thought that we were the Glen Rosa’s owners; possibly oligarchs looking to add to our assets I regularly count myself among the super-rich — albeit in experience rather than in cash • Read our full travel guide to Scotland here I also know what I like and until now I’ve shied away from mainstream cruising inveigling ourselves into narrow inlets and shallow bays unannounced and (virtually) unnoticed in a part of the world that has always felt like a spiritual home Andrew Eames and his wife aboard the Glen RosaThe Majestic Line the largest of which carries just 12 passengers Most of the fleet tends to head for the northern Hebrides which is why I opted to drop south on a lesser-known “Southern Hebrides and Sea Lochs of Argyll” itinerary to explore the lands of the lairds and their ladies my wife and a handful of like-minded others Greaves turned our bows south again with the glad tidings that the overnight swarm of jellyfish “hasn’t been sucked into the generator inlet George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four on the wildnerness of JuraGETTY IMAGESAlmost every peninsula in Argyll seems to be castle-defended and Duntrune opposite Crinan where the canal of the same name begins The partly 12th-century tower stands high and austere on a rock supervising the bay still privately owned and supposedly haunted by a ghost of a handless bagpiper • 14 of the most beautiful places in Scotland but there was definitely a presence in the abundant castle gardens reached through a couple of stag-topped gateposts and announced by a sign saying “You found us Well done!” The invisible hand had also secreted figures of naked satyrs and nymphs among the azaleas A seafood dish served on the Glen RosaReturning to the rock below the castle “And you have a chef?” We acknowledged we did and when Damien came to pick us up with the tender Jim dug into his bag and produced a fresh sea trout • I love Scotland more than anywhere else. These are my 25 top stays From Crinan we moved across to the island of Jura a famously trackless wilderness where George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four whose tattered rags of green make a poor attempt to hide naked bog and rock This is one of the least populated places in the UK and so savage were the various Jura clans that there was a human skull guarding the entry of one of its caves well into the 20th century The fertile isle of ColonsayGETTY IMAGESThe sea was rough that night so Greaves moved Glen Rosa to an anchorage on Jura’s Loch Tarbert where the former prime minister David Cameron used to take his holidays as a guest of Lord Astor • Read our full guide to cruises This is Baron Strathcona’s demesne and the island shop was well stocked with fine wines so we were told that the gardens of Colonsay House were open to the public and the family were away bump into the baron’s nephew’s elegant Australian fiancée Kiloran Bay on ColonsayALAMYIt looked like the Macleans of Lochbuie were away because there were no lights on in their baronial property when we arrived offshore that night after crossing the Sound of Mull In the morning we landed on Lochbuie’s unblemished beach where the Maclean mausoleum stood on a small knoll surrounded by trees inscriptions honoured a long line of military men and “distinguished country gentlemen” Our last stop before heading back to Oban was Iona but whose metaphysical laird is (in some people’s eyes) the ultimate aristocrat The island is a little green chip off Mull’s southwestern corner a place of pilgrimage ever since Saint Columba sailed over from Ireland in 563 and founded a monastery that would become a key hub in the spread of Christianity That day was one of those perfect moments when the Hebrides impersonates the Caribbean We joined the flood of pedestrians coming off the Mull ferry wove our way through all the temptations of tartans and woollens did the obligatory tour of the (admirable) abbey church and its cloisters The view of Mull from IonaALAMYIona’s northern tip is springy machair — wildflower-rich grassland — lined with white sand Here Traigh Bhan Nam Monach (White Strand of the Monks) is one of those places with aquamarine water so inviting you just have to strip off I am a cold-water wuss — and somebody had to hold my wife’s towel The Route3 mins readThe Clipper Race is returning to Oban as the Scottish West Coast town has been announced as a Host Port on the 2025-26 edition route Following a successful first stopover last year which saw Race Crew embrace the town’s ‘Festival of Sea’ celebrations the Clipper Race fleet will once again sail into Oban in the summer of 2026 an even bigger festival of culture is planned for the next realm of ocean racers Oban will form part of Leg 8: The Atlantic Homecoming where Race Crew will take on a furious downwind battle from North America towards the Race Finish port of Portsmouth As one of the last stops on the global route and warm hospitality provided from the town’s locals – it’s the perfect place for warm up celebrations Stirling born Clipper Race Deputy Race Director had the chance to sail into his home country last year when he was a Skipper on the Our Isles and Oceans yacht Max says: “The West Coast of Scotland has some of the best sailing in the world and it was an honour to share the most gorgeous parts of the nation with my global crew Having grown up sailing in and around Oban I relished the opportunity to sail there again with the Clipper Race “Our arrival and departure in the Firth of Lorn didn't disappoint with its amazing wind and scenery making it truly one of the most memorable sailing locations in the world And to top it off the town was an amazing host with brilliant events and spectacular hospitality and I am delighted that our next intake of international crew will get to enjoy all that the town has to offer in 2026.”   The town quickly became a firm crew favourite on the last edition crew immersed themselves in all that the town has to offer whisky tastings at Oban Distillery and even fitting in a trip to nearby Lismore They also took part in Gaelic lessons and a shinty taster session With such a diverse offering of activities it was no wonder that the town was awarded Scotland’s Town of the Year in October 2024 Building on the successes of the 2023-24 edition the town is hoping to put on an even bigger festival of culture for Race Crew and their families and supporters next year Leader of Argyll and Bute Council said: “It’s fantastic news that the Clipper Race is returning to Oban international event and so is a welcome opportunity to attract people to Oban and to bring global focus on the area as a great place to visit and invest.”  Joining forces with the council to host what is set to be another community showstopper of an event said: “Bid4Oban Ltd is delighted that once again the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has chosen Oban to be a Host Port on its 2025-26 edition "Following a successful visit in 2024 Oban demonstrated its expertise in hosting such a prestigious event The welcome afforded by Oban and its residents was second to none and we look forward to welcoming all the crews from around the world We will once again showcase Scotland at its best with numerous events and activities planned.”  added: “This partnership with Oban means we will once again see this Scottish ‘Town of the Year’ sit alongside major international cities on our race route with its rich maritime history and warm hospitality is the perfect destination to welcome our adventurous crew after a tough ocean crossing.”   other ports that have been announced so far for the Clipper 2025-26 Race are Portsmouth (UK - the event’s Race Start and Finish location) Further port announcements are due over the few weeks Follow our Social Media for all the latest The Oban Airport Business Park development is set to deliver essential infrastructure The development of a new business park at Oban Airport has progressed with the appointment of Robertson Construction Northern as the main contractor is part of Argyll and Bute Council’s Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Pilot Project for the Lorn Arc Area boosting the local economy by fostering an aviation This initiative is also aimed at reversing population decline in the area by creating higher-paid jobs for residents Planning permission has been secured for one of two commercial buildings intended for lease within the business park These buildings are contingent on a £7.68m ($10.3m) funding application from the Community Regeneration Partnership Fund Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis The council has committed £7.25m from the TIF fund for additional roads with £1.6m already sanctioned for development costs to maintain the project timeline the business park will facilitate the West Coast UAV Logistics and Training Hub project which has received up to £4m from the UK government as part of the Argyll and Bute Rural Growth Deal This investment is expected to transform the airport into a hub for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology research and development leveraging recent drone trials in Scotland’s rural and island areas The funding will also support the establishment of Scotland’s first specialised drone training and research centre complete with hangars and maintenance facilities for UAVs and general aviation aircraft Robertson Construction Northern regional managing director Ian Phillips said: “This project represents a significant investment in Oban’s future and an opportunity to deliver the infrastructure needed to support business growth and we look forward to helping bring these plans to life.” North Scotland hub chief executive Richard Park said: “We have had an excellent long-term working relationship with Argyll and Bute Council and the Oban Airport development is a further demonstration of that commitment In February 2025, Clackmannanshire Council’s well-being hub and new school project in west Alloa received full planning approval with Robertson Construction Central East set to lead the delivery of the community and educational facilities Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network are available to provide financial support to residents in specific local areas The deadline for applications for all four funds is 16 May 2025. The criteria for each bequest can be found on the council website and all applications are treated in the strictest confidence The Archibald Dow Bequest is for people aged 16 and over living in Taynuilt Individuals who fulfil the criteria for support will receive £50 and families can claim £100.  The Mackinnon Ledigham Bequest is aimed at people who are of state pension age and live within the Ross of Mull Applicants can receive £50 and a maximum of one award per calendar year.  Coals for the Poor Oban offers awards of £50 to individuals and £100 to families To be eligible you should be over 16-years-of-age in receipt of a qualifying benefit and resident in the burgh of Oban The John of Lorn Bequest provides £50 to individuals and £100 to families To be eligible you must live in the burgh of Oban and be over 16 A man is due to appear in court after more than 150 cannabis plants were discovered at a property in Oban Officers attended the property on Glenmore Road at about 4.25pm on Thursday after being made aware of “suspicious behaviour” they discovered a cannabis cultivation with around 155 plants The drugs have an estimated street value of £80,000 A 24-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection He is due to appear at Oban Sheriff Court on Monday Detective Sergeant Stuart Charnock said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and this recovery highlights our commitment to dealing with those involved in the manufacture and distribution of illegal substances “The public has a vital part to play and I would encourage them to continue to provide us with information about suspicious activity and report any concerns “Anyone who can assist should contact us on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” Have you signed up for our Oban and Hebrides newsletter Every week our Oban-based reporter Louise Glen curates the best news in the area Sign up here for local news straight to your inbox. And if you’d like to join the conversation on West Coast Chat on Facebook Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Members of the Oban Lifeboat crew are ready to pound the streets of Oban throughout May to raise funds for the RNLI Crew members are committing to run the mile from the lifeboat station on the South Pier to the North Pier and back each day – in full lifesaving kit Others will be mixing runs in Oban with doing their miles at their workplaces This year’s lifeboat runners are being organised by Jasmin Manning She said: “We’re really looking forward to joining the challenge this year though we’re not so sureabout the forecast good weather "Our kit is designed to keep us safe in the sea rather than cool in the sunshine." Jasmin added: "The Mayday Mile is a great tradition for supporters of the RNLI walking and swimming a total of 31 miles during the month of May “Please say hello to us if we run past you – and perhaps think about signing up for the challenge yourself if you feel able.” Oban Lifeboat saved the lives of two people during 2024 and aided a further 50 people Across Scotland’s 46 RNLI lifeboat stations saving 36 lives – twice as many people as the previous year The Mayday Mile campaign is the biggest national fundraising campaign for the RNLI and is an important contributor to being able to operate the 24/7 lifesaving service which You can support Jasmin and the crew by visiting: fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/obanlifeboatstation SHRUB OAK – Before the jarring phone call 17 months ago He thrived in three sports at Lakeland High School where the daily grind typically included school Family time often came in the car on the way to the perpetual string of practices and games that marked the passing of time in the household And the 17-year-old was a dedicated athlete Coaches loved the old school lead-by-example captain who paid attention to details in the classroom and between the lines Teammates did all they could to keep up with the versatile athlete who always ranked among the best players on the field or in the gym It wasn't a whistle that put the brakes on his athletic success Rader began to experience some discomfort following a travel lacrosse tournament in the fall of 2023 It was persistent enough that he didn’t balk when his mother “I was experiencing back pain at first and I didn’t really know what it was Rader once came home from middle school with a stomach issue an emergency room visit revealed appendicitis An urgent care visit was the first stop and the doctor there agreed it could be a strain “We got in the next day,” Aristea recalled “We had the soccer team dinner that night so it was a busy day and I’m thinking ‘No big deal.’ I know from being pregnant the ultrasound tech can’t really say anything explaining that they wanted her to go over different areas she told us we’d be hearing from the doctor.” “We were literally walking in the door and our pediatrician calls us,” Aristea said what’s going on?’ She began to ask whether Oban had ever complained or indicated he was not feeling well what are you telling me here?’ " Aristea continued "She was surprised he just started complaining because there were numerous masses on his spleen “It was devastating,” Rader said of his initial reaction ‘We need to go to the hospital' and then after several days of tests Rader was in the emergency room at Westchester Medical Center the day after the phone call and was at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital from Nov A biopsy followed and Rader was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system Paul Fitzgerald has been a sidekick and lacrosse teammate since elementary school He was among the first outside the family to get the soul-crushing news “I never thought about somebody I know having to deal with cancer I never expected to hear something like that.” Making sense of the situation was impossible ‘How could this be happening to us?’ Aristea explained As word began to spread throughout a close-knit community school officials brought all of his many teammates in “It was pretty gut wrenching,” Lakeland/Panas lacrosse coach Joe Macchi said We’re talking about probably the best athlete in the school when you hear that in combination with the C word that doesn't make any sense.' I remember the kids shuffling into the auditorium that day knowing it’s tough for a high school kid to kind of conceptualize that kind of information He’s going to be out for a while.' … It showed us all how vulnerable we really are Rader no doubt ranks sharing thoughts and emotions somewhere below undergoing chemotherapy “I never really sensed Oban was scared,” Lakeland soccer coach Tim Hourahan said ‘What's next?’ It’s kind of like how he is playing sports and it was just ‘What’s next?’ He shows up ready to compete and there's never a thought of it not going the way he wants it to go.” Teammates checked in early and often and were unsurprised by his approach “He never mentioned being scared,” Fitzgerald said “Oban is very focused on whatever he's doing in the moment the family opted for chemotherapy and over the next six months Rader had a port installed and went to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan for a dozen treatments Just the feeling of being there drained me Rader was usually accompanied by his father a teacher at Yonkers Middle School whose schedule allowed him to flex and be a chemo buddy Nobody with a front-row seat to real suffering escapes without scars like he knew what was about to happen to his body and what he was going to go through And there was a certain anti-nausea medicine that he had to take before the chemo but that made him throw up more and then little by little Several friends shaved their heads in support Oban seemed to be handling it well,” Aristea said you started to see that not only was it killing the cancer And I don't know what he was doing in his room by himself he was so brave and so strong in front of us all the time we kept it together too and wanted to show him that we were strong but I was really scared and was crying a lot.” Support during the longest days and months came from every direction in the community Rader was unable to be in school during his six months of treatment He did somehow maintain a GPA that is unsurprisingly within four points of perfection he would show up for a game or a practice to be around teammates “Every two weeks I would go there for eight hours and then recover for two weeks and then get treatment again,” Rader said It wasn’t easy to stand by and witness the side effects of healing classmates and coaches made their presence felt the entire time There were fundraisers and organized efforts to make sure the family was free to be available for Oban who got to see Hawaii compliments of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and ski in Colorado via an invite from the Sunshine Kids Foundation “We are so grateful for the community that rallied around us,” Aristea said but people around town heard and were dropping food at the house after we’d get back from chemo People were sending Chipotle and Grubhub cards so when Oban was home alone And everything was a tribute to the person Oban is.” they told us Oban was responding well and the tumors were gone,” Aristea added it doesn’t work like that.' He lost his hair the sixth one came and you could see he was breaking down.” Rader would sneak in a quick workout believing he would in time return to playing the games he grew up with “I visited him at the hospital and it was hard to see a kid that age dealing with this,” Macchi said “I was checking in with his dad periodically and when he told me Oban was in the garage I knew right then he was going to be fine when he got back following the final cycle of chemotherapy and more tests and more scans He will be closely monitored over the next five years Rader went back to school last May and when the final bell rang he was playing summer lacrosse with his Lakeland teammates “I have a new perspective on what it really means to be out here with your friends every day … Having normal worries is better than what I was dealing with last year.” “I do end of summer fitness testing,” Hourahan said “There are five segments and he was first or second in each one And he wasn’t far removed from six months of chemotherapy He competed to show everyone he was back and ready to go It was one of the most inspiring weeks I’ve ever had as a coach." Just showing up in a uniform would’ve been a win worthy of celebration “Coming back just brightened me up,” he said “For most of the previous school year I was stuck inside The rangy goalkeeper was named all-section and all-state in soccer And the comeback story had no influence on those honors “We scored one goal a dozen times and went 11-1 in those games,” Hourahan said we were going to win because we had Oban.” Rader was impressive on the basketball court He was all-state honorable mention and all-section If the lacrosse season unfolds as expected he could close out a memorable year with all-section recognition in three sports where the competition is deep and talented “I never really thought I was going to get back to where I was after lying in bed for six months,” Rader said It’s just great to be back to where I was.” After getting the the all-clear from his oncologist Rader was instructed to go and live his life He’s decided to join Fitzgerald at SUNY Cortland where they will play lacrosse together at the next level It’s been a bumpy season for Lakeland/Panas which is playing a schedule with a high degree of difficulty and gaining needed experience for the newcomers on the fly Celebrating a few more big wins is the goal “I’m just looking forward to ending the year right with these boys who's played with remarkable patience and is peaking at the right time “And just taking time with my friends and family over the summer Mom is going to be an emotional mess at graduation “Oban has taught me to stop worrying and appreciate the here and now,” Aristea said I was always poking at him and making sure he was alright I hope when he goes to college it will be a good reality check and I’m going to love it when he calls me for help but it was part of his journey that he has to recognize and find some good in.” “We were constantly in the car going to practice going to see him play in tournaments,” Aristea added “This diagnosis was a punch to the gut but also a slap to the face It got us to slow down and embrace our family and our community It brought us closer together and made us stronger as a family.” The comeback is proving to be inspirational “Oban came at it the same way he approaches each game,” Hourahan said I told him early on he was going to have a great story to share when it’s over A man who waged an 18-month “grotesque” campaign of violent and psychological abuse against his ex-partner has been warned a prison sentence is “inevitable” pled guilty to a sustained course of domestic and physical abuse between July 21 2022 and February 6 2024 at various locations in Oban he admitted repeatedly sending offensive and threatening messages and voicemails kicking her in the head and repeatedly punching her on the body He admitted to posting screenshots of intimate conversations and videos between the couple on social media and threatened to do more if she did not maintain contact The course of conduct happened while Bell was on bail Fiscal depute Raeesa Ahmed said: “The complainer and the accused had known each other for seven years and were in a relationship for a year and a half the complainer asked the accused to leave her house.” saying she was “the ugliest bird he had ever been with” returning later on the pretence of packing his bags “The complainer went upstairs to her bedroom and noticed the accused had bought alcohol and was acting aggressively towards her he was crying and apologised for his behaviour.” the complainer was woken by the accused calling her names He continued the verbal abuse and said that if the relationship ended “she would not leave alive” “The accused then placed his thumb in her eyes He then threw a Yankee Candle in a glass jar at her head causing her to fall to the ground and lose consciousness.” Ms Ahmed said: “The accused then ran a bath and carried the complainer to it he became apologetic and said he would not drink again.” Ms Ahmed explained: “She thought she might not see her son again and feared for her life.” Bell was upstairs in the complainer’s house drinking Ms Ahmed said: “When a friend [who was visiting the complainer] left the accused claimed they were plotting against him He punched the complainer repeatedly in the ribs “He said he would stop if she moved,” Ms Ahmed said Bell continued to call the complainer names and left her lying on the floor She considered going to the police but did not want social workers or hospital staff involved.” while the complainer was on holiday in Tenerife with her family and at the same time said he wanted to kill her He bombarded her with messages and found other ways to contact her.” she moved to a new address to avoid further contact the accused made more threats against the woman He left voicemail messages saying: “We will see what will happen.” Police disclosed Bell’s previous domestic convictions He continued to message her via WhatsApp and text the complainer returned to the police station after more threats were made to her One message read: “We are going to see what is happening message me if you want it.” Another read: “I am going to go tonto and stab every c*** you know.” Bell said people were “looking for you” and “I am going to expose you including messages that guns “might be involved” I am going to come up and get you in your back garden “I am going to sit [outside your home] for what you have done to me I am actually going to kill you and put a knife over your body “I will catch you as you run from the front to the back [of your house] Defence agent Charles Ferguson told the court he was not disputing that Bell sent the messages Mr Ferguson said: “The accused has asked me to apologise.” He reserved mitigation for the next hearing and noted Bell’s early plea Sheriff Euan Cameron described the crimes as “quite appalling” and said they had been carried out in the “most grotesque manner” He said: “The inevitability is that of a custodial sentence.” A Criminal Justice Social Work report was ordered A non-harassment order will be considered when the case next calls on May 28 and a delay to a controversial new fish farm Make sure to buy your copy of The Oban Times this Thursday for even more stories Police in Oban have arrested and charged a man following the discovery of a cannabis farm close to the town centre A 28-year-old woman has been seriously sexually assaulted in Oban An area of Oban Bay was cordoned off overnight as police officers stood at the two entrances to the Wee Bay on George Street Officers confirmed they had received a report that a woman had been sexually assaulted A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.20am on Thursday we received a report of the serious sexual assault of a 28-year-old woman on George Street People commuting to work saw the officers stopping anyone who tried to access the beach area One witness said: “I passed at 11.30pm last night and the town was dead two police officers were on guard at the two points of entry to Oban Bay beachfront at around 8am “It looked like they were stopping people from getting onto the beach.” The beach area is popular with dog walkers and people who are catching the smaller privately owned ferry to the Isle of Kerrera with George Street running along its waterfront An unemployed Oban man was found guilty of behaving in a racist manner towards a shop manager after he was unable to upgrade two mobile phones appeared in the town’s sheriff court on Monday facing charges that on Wednesday August 7 2024 he caused fear and alarm towards the Argos worker by behaving in a racist manner The court heard Bridgman had gone to the shop seeking a refund or upgrade on two phones he had previously purchased from the Lochavulin Drive store he claimed she did not have “command of the English language” to deal with his technical questions or to handle his complaint Fiscal depute Raeesa Ahmed said Bridgman only became agitated and used racist language after his refund was refused by the store manager He was heard to have said he wanted to speak to someone who “spoke English properly” and said seven or eight times: “I am not talking to someone who doesn’t speak English.” The court heard that Bridgman swore and had been agitated and angry in the Oban shop When staff left the Argos store that evening they were said to be afraid that Bridgman was still in the area Bridgman came into the shop and tried to speak to a male member of staff thinking he “looked like the manager” saying he would be “on a better footing” When he found out the male member of staff was not a manager he repeated his racist statements towards the man’s colleague and repeated them to another store manager Bridgman continued to make comments about the shop manager’s level of spoken English who was at Oban Police Station on another matter was interviewed under caution for committing a hate crime the police officer said: “Bridgman stated ‘I was speaking to a foreign accent and their English was not good enough and they could not explain my consumer rights’.” The officer continued: “Bridgman was putting on what I would describe as a foreign accent.” The officer said Bridgman was charged under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 Bridgman claimed staff in the store would not give him a refund and had sent him to “the Asians” in Oban to see if they could help Bridgman said: “I went to the store to get an upgrade on the phones I had previously bought “I did not know that it would lead to me being detained for 10 hours in a police cell The whole point was not to get arrested – I was trying to upgrade my phones.” and my godmother is Jamaican and I have many friends and family who are not from here He later added: “I wish I could buy the complainer a drink to say sorry He also said: “My bail conditions would not allow me to write a card to the complainer.” Sheriff Euan Cameron said: “Context is everything “I have no hesitation to accept the evidence of the complainer “The complainer was shaken after her encounter with you.” He said the complainer’s colleagues had heard the same comments he said: “You were simply not going to listen to someone who is not from here “Your evidence was not believable and was often rambling and incoherent.” While Bridgman’s solicitor Graeme Wright asked for the matter to be concluded on Monday Sheriff Cameron said that given “this was the racial abuse of a woman in the course of her work” The case will call for sentencing on May 12 Emergency services were alerted to a serious sexual assault on George Street in Oban on Thursday. Emergency services were alerted to a serious sexual assault on George Street in Oban at around 2.20am on Thursday. A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident. Police Scotland said enquiries into the incident are ongoing. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the serious sexual assault of a 28-year-old woman in Oban. “The incident happened around 2.20am on Thursday, April 17, 2025 on George Street. STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Updated 21 April 2025: Surfacing on the A85 Dunollie Road will now be completed by the morning of Tuesday 29 April Road users travelling on the A85 will benefit from a smoother and safer road surface as BEAR Scotland gets set to carry out overnight surfacing and road marking improvements These works are required to fix defects in the existing road surface and improve visibility making the carriageway more durable and resilient against inclement weather The surfacing improvements are due to start on Thursday 3 April until the morning of Tuesday 29 April No works will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings There will also be no works on 6 and 7 April Works will be carried out between the hours of 8pm and 6am each night Outwith these hours traffic management will be removed a reduced speed limit will remain in place as traffic will be travelling over a temporary surface To ensure the safety of the workforce and members of the travelling public this section of the A85 will operate under two-way traffic lights with a 10mph convoy Traffic management will be removed during the day Access for emergency service vehicles will be maintained at all times amnesty periods have been timed to coincide with bus timetables therefore services in and out of Oban via Dunollie Road will be unaffected said “These essential resurfacing works will upgrade the existing road surface greatly improving the quality and safety for road users “We have taken steps to minimise disruption to local residents by offering amnesty times that match with local bus services and during the works every effort will be made to keep noise levels to minimum.” “We thank local residents and road users for their patience ahead of these road improvements.” Real-time journey planning information can be obtained by visiting www.traffic.gov.scot or X @trafficscotland This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page This weekend saw the arrival of the Clipper Race fleet in Oban friends and families of the sailors lined the walls of the marina to cheer in the non-professional crew who had successfully crossed the final ocean of the eleven-month circumnavigation a wee dram of Oban Distillery whisky for each sailor and a huge welcome from Host Port Partners Bid4Oban and Argyll & Bute Council Dr Zalina Dzhatieva and Fergus Murray from Argyll & Bute Council Andy Spence from Bid4Oban and David McGilp from Visit Scotland were on the pontoon day and night ready to greet each of the teams in Gaelic and warmly welcome them to Oban A vegan bakery has opened in Oban – and thanks to a loyal legion of followers the Albany Terrace shop is selling out every day After serving superb food at The Puffer on Easdale island for many years Keren Cafferty decided she wanted to devote her time and energy to a new project And so she opened the Sorcha Bakery – the Gaelic word sorcha means light and radiance – a vegan venture with a strong emphasis on local and ethically sourced ingredients Keren said: “I have been a vegetarian for many years but I realised that I was making a compromise that did not sit with what I believed about food my husband Mike and I owned The Puffer on Easdale and during Covid we made bread and bakery items for the local community “It was very difficult for people in the area to get bread because rural and remote areas were the last in the chain to get basic food items “So I started supplying local businesses with my products – and they were very well received.” Keren and Mike made the decision to move off the island for a new life in Scammadale Glen Keren was for many years one of the co-organisers of the World Stone Skimming Championships and was immersed in island life – so it was quite the change With ideas for a new business swirling in her head Keren says she wanted to “do something lighter brighter and more compassionate” with the bakery And despite nerves over how a vegan business would be welcomed she’s been delighted by the response Keren needed space to bake and created one at the back of the couple’s house “When I made the shift from vegetarian to vegan and I was still making the same products but using plant-based products “A funny thing happened with our Sheese scones (Sheese is a vegan version of cheese) as one business owner didn’t know they were now plant-based and wondered why I was not able to spell cheese.” During the Clipper race that visited Oban in 2024 Keren noticed that there was an ideal space in the town to open a pop-up bakery She said: “There is a left luggage space on the North Pier so I asked the owner if she would let us have a pop-up and honestly we could not keep up with the demand.” the bakery has gone from strength-to-strength And people know they need to get up early if they want some of Sorcha Bakery’s bread or one of its cinnamon buns Keren decided that it was time to open her own shop in town She approached the owners of the former Petals florist shop opposite the cinema building at the top of George Street Keren says 80% or more of her customers do not follow a plant-based diet on Friday and Saturday from 10am until 2.30pm with coffee and waffles available until closing along with a savoury selection of vegan haggis rolls vegan sausage and Keren’s own red onion marmalade can be found on the shelves are served up alongside their cardamom buns scones and two new offerings of sandwiches and waffles With coffee from Argyll Coffee Roasters served up with oat Mylk people can even enjoy a hot drink with their lunch Sorcha has sold out every day since it opened If steak is the answer to your “what’s for dinner” question The Cuan Hidden Steakhouse has opened up behind one of the town’s most popular restaurants The restaurant is serving everything from ribeyes to Côte de Boeuf all in a location that has long needed a new purpose The reviews over the past week have been glowing with one man telling The Press and Journal it was the “best steak I’ve ever tasted” The Cuan Hidden Steakhouse is located at the rear of Cuan Mor which sits on George Street’s wee bay area Owners describe it as a “hidden gem tucked away in the back of Cuan Mor” offering an “intimate and exclusive dining experience for those in the know” walk through the main dining area of Cuan Mor and look for a discreet wooden door near the back A small brass plaque is the only hint of what lies beyond It’s a speakeasy-style space where vintage charm meets contemporary elegance including Kentucky bourbon and Coca-Cola short ribs and a Shrimp and avocado cocktail The “Butcher Shop” steak selection includes: You can also order sauces (£4 each): peppercorn The Cuan Hidden Steakhouse is located at 60 George Street, Oban. It is open seven days a week from 5pm, with last orders at 9.30pm. Reservations can be made via the restaurant’s website. Plans for a new business park at Oban Airport are taking flight after councillors agreed to submit a full business case for funding councillors agreed to send a full business case to the Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) Executive seeking funding of £7.25m to develop roads They also agreed to submit the business case to the Community Regeneration Partnership Fund for £7.68m for the development of two commercial buildings for lease and they approved the use of previously authorised development costs of £1.6m to include early site works in addition to development fees to help meet the project timescales said: “This is an ambitious project but we know there is a demand for a business park in the area and we are already in discussions with two companies that are keen to be located at the site “Not only will a business park promote private sector investment and establish an aviation but it will also open up a host of employment opportunities and provide a welcome boost to the local economy The submission of a full business case is an important stage in the project.” An Oban woman accused of stalking a nurse sent a series of anonymous poison pen letters to her alleged victim’s bosses to “destroy” her career was told Jessie Mary MacDonald used a printer and wore gloves in an effort to cover her tracks and “absolutely hated” the Lorn and Islands Hospital worker which alleges she repeatedly contacted the woman contacted Police Scotland to report breaches of Covid regulations and monitored the woman’s home address and social media activity from September 1 2020 to July 31 2021 The jury heard evidence from a fellow hospital worker who said MacDonald “made no secret” that she did not like her alleged victim She said: “A colleague invited me for coffee and I met Jessie at her house she was quite obsessive about [the complainer] “[MacDonald] was encouraging us to join in with this negative conversation “She said she was concerned about [the complainer] working with patients after a violent incident with an ex-partner.” MacDonald’s alleged victim was “always” the topic of conversation The witness continued: “Jessie was hoping [the nurse] would be reprimanded in some way.” Texts were read out to the court from the witness’s phone it is claimed MacDonald wrote: “I’ve been watching all morning xx” regarding the complainer’s home it is claimed she refers to a gentleman caller with whom the alleged victim was romantically involved “…his car in the street now xx” Another read: “his car just come up from the port” Some of the messages had photographs of a car parked outside an Oban address Asked by fiscal depute Raeesa Ahmed why MacDonald sent texts to her about what was happening at the nurse’s home the witness replied: “She said [the complainer] was breaching Covid regulations “She was angry that a man was coming to visit from far away and believed she shouldn’t get away with it and she was going to report her to the police.” The witness also described an occasion when she went for coffee with MacDonald Jessie said she had sent a letter to the hospital “She said she had covered her tracks by using a printer to type the letter “She said she used gloves to hold the letter.” The witness told the court: “While I didn’t mention it to police at the time that everything that happened had come from her “That all the trouble that had been caused was all from her.” Asked why she didn’t tell the police the witness said: “I don’t know but I didn’t have any evidence.” Defence agent Graeme Wright said: “Why would you miss out the most important piece of evidence that you are just telling the court about now?” The witness replied: “When I was in the police station Another colleague described her shame at being involved with the accused in a “bitch fest” regarding the alleged victim She said she was asked to buy a £30 mobile phone for MacDonald from Argos – but instead of using cash the accused is alleged to have said: “You silly bitch.” The witness said: “I was very vulnerable at the time “It doesn’t excuse my involvement with the situation The victim was a friend and a colleague.” Asked if she knew who had sent malicious letters to the hospital She said: “At first I thought it was a joke.” She alleged the accused told her she sent the anonymous letters She said: “The worrying thing was what she did — she hid the fact she sent the letters “She wore gloves to write the letters and she got rid of or destroyed her printer “I was concerned because I thought it was a joke until she did it.” She continued: “[The complainer] knew about those letters and I admitted my part in “It was dangerous — what Jessie was doing to destroy [the complainer] “She wanted to destroy her career.” Sheriff Euan Cameron warned witnesses to be very careful not to speak about the case or their evidence until after the case had concluded A dad of two from Oban has said a sincere thank you to the people of the town and beyond who helped pay for a life-changing operation underwent a procedure to repair a hole in his heart at a specialist heart centre in Bristol last Wednesday His procedure came just weeks after launching a GoFundMe page to raise the money to make the operation possible With a family history of strokes and heart attacks Mr Rowan had been told he was at greater risk of stroke and heart attack until he had suffered either of these devastating effects an operation to close the hole was not available to him had thought it might be a year or so until he managed to raise the cash for the operation – but thanks to the people of Oban and beyond Amber travelled to the Bristol Heart Institute for the surgery to close the hole in his heart A 25mm device was fitted over a hole that was around 15–20mm wide While he is delighted to have had the operation saying it takes a “weight off his shoulders” he is mindful of others in similar situations He said: “The operation was straightforward and only lasted for an hour The fact that something which takes only an hour isn’t done by the NHS…” Scott said that, having lost members of his own family to stroke, he himself was at risk of a stroke and heart attack because of the defect. He is living with a condition known as Patent Foraman Ovale (PFO) better known as a hole in the heart PFO is a hole between the left and right atria in the upper chambers of the heart but most often closes shortly after being born PFO is what the hole is called when it fails to close naturally He continued: “It cost £19,600 for the operation I had to go down twice to Bristol for appointments before the procedure “So far it has cost me around £23,000 to £24,000 and I have to go back down again in three months He added: “I just have to take it easy for at least three months so there will be no weight lifting for a wee while “Courteney will be delighted she doesn’t have to worry about me lifting weights But I could go running again in two to three weeks.” Mr Rowan’s procedure was carried out as a day patient; he arrived at the hospital at 8am where he has been recovering at home with his family although I will be taking it easy for a short while but I’ve been told that’s just the area adjusting to the device.” “I’m very grateful to the people of Oban and beyond who made this procedure possible for me “Our girls have been great and are keeping me busy.” “I hope in a few months I can get my diving ticket back and return to the work I love I haven’t been able to do it with a hole in my heart “I can’t put into words how grateful we all are Join pupils of Oban High School in a behind-the-scenes look as they make a soundscape and soundwalk around Oban - with some help from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra An Aberdeen man who was abusive to medics and police in Oban made a personal plea to a sheriff that he has turned his life around appeared via video link to plead guilty to causing fear or alarm and uttering threats on September 4 and 5 2024 Procurator fiscal depute Raasa Ahmed said Brechin had “passed out” in a venue on George Street and was then rolling about in the bar restaurant area Brechin told officers that he had taken other medications Brechin refused to enter the accident and emergency department instead lying on the grass verge near the entrance police convinced him to go into the hospital But he then sat in the ambulance bay again The medics at the hospital then said he needed to be kept in for assessment saying he was going to “smash your faces into the ground,” Miss Ahmed said “He was then taken to Oban Police Station.” Defence solicitor Graeme Wright said: “Brechin has been in custody since October last year and hoped that he would be released at the earliest date of May 6 “His memory of the night’s events is not very clear He is very regretful and has no clear recollection of what happened He extends his apologies to all those involved He has had a lot of personal issues that have been resolved in prison.” Brechin then asked to speak to Sheriff Euan Cameron He said: “I have been working with staff and I am in a much better place Sheriff Cameron said: “This is an unpleasant offence in an A&E department in Oban you threatened officers and caused distress “The location is a significant aggravation and the fact that at the time you were subject to bail orders and the multiple offences you have previously committed “In my view there is no alternative to a period of custody.” Brechin was sentenced to four months in prison reduced from six months for the timing of his plea 13-year-old Fraser Pollock has joined forces with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service this National Road Safety Week to raise awareness and share his story A school pupil from Oban in Argyll and Bute is warning other youths not to take risks when crossing the road after he was knocked down last year breaking his ankle in three places He recently took part in a talk at Oban High School alongside Community Safety Officer and Firefighter who was knocked down during his lunch break in November 2023 was taken to hospital after his friends called for an ambulance The teenager was unable to take part in many activities while he was recovering as he was put in a cast followed by a moon boot for several months I couldn’t do much and I was just sitting at home unable to do anything “I felt like an idiot because it was my fault for taking a risk and I should have just waited Colin Maclean-Fleming got in touch with the family who he knew prior to Fraser’s accident That’s when he asked Fraser to join him at the school event and pass on advice to help others stay safe when crossing the roads Fraser added: “Just be careful when crossing the roads make sure to look both ways and check and double check there are no cars coming and just keep on listening when you're crossing to make sure there's nothing coming up fast.” Colin invited Fraser and his family to Oban Community Fire Station for a ‘Firefighter for a Day’ experience where Fraser learned lots of skills and enjoyed his day said: “Fraser has understood and taken ownership for what he did wrong and in-turn has helped us to promote road safety We can now get through to these kids through Fraser’s experience “The way he’s managed to turn a really awful situation into a positive one is very admirable for a boy of his age and he has handled it in such a mature manner “We all make split second decisions in life but taking a bit more time to think before crossing the road can ensure the next decision isn’t  a fatal one.” For more information on road safety, visit our Road Safety webpage A SCOTS town has been labelled as the UK’s new must-visit gay and lesbian destination The unlikely town recently reinvented itself as a hotspot for LGBT tourists Oban, about two hours' drive from Glasgow, has 8,500 residents and little in the way of nightclubs or stylish bars Now the town has been hailed as an "unlikely queer hotspot" by Diva, the world's most popular lesbian magazine, reports the Times It's come after the town began hosting one of the country's largest lesbian events The growing popularity of the event means that all the town's seafront hotels campsite and self-catering apartments have been block booked for September's gathering OH BABY I was 20, single & pregnant - a Tinder date changed my life The magazine's founder who started the events in 2022 says this year they expect more than 350 people attending She added: "When I launched the Oban Lesbian Weekend in 2022 I expected around 30 women, but 130 turned up. "This year we expect more than 350 guests." "There are a lot of affluent professionals who are bringing their pink pounds up to Oban," "This year we have a lot of Australians coming and we've already received bookings from two groups of women from America for 2026." Gordon moved out of Oban when she went to university in Aberdeen as a teenager. She spent time in London and Brighton while working for LGBT media organisations but moved back to her hometown five years ago She added: "So many of my friends said they would love to come up and visit me in Oban - now half of Brighton is coming up here "There are not many lesbian events where people can see seals, castles, dolphins and minke whales and take part in alcoholic and non-alcoholic whisky tastings," she said "People are blown away by the beauty of the town and the area." While other LGBT events revolve around clubbing and drinking the Oban Lesbian Weekend offers wild swimming Scottish music and dancing and seafood brunches While the town has no official gay or lesbian bars LGBT visitors tend to gather in the cocktail bar of the seafront Perle Oban Hotel and the nearby Oban Bay Hotel The town has hosted an LGBT+ Pride event for the past six years In the most recent census almost one in ten of the community's 4,500 residents identified as being LGBT Oban Pride has grown with nearly 600 people in 2024 We have people from all over the world travelling to join us." chief executive of the business group Bid4Oban said: "We now have a vibrant town centre with events that benefit locals and visitors" Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here.