McCaigs Folly
Oban, Argyllshire
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Featured Location Guide |
McCaigs Folly - A view from the harbour
| McCaigs Folly or Tower as it's sometimes
referred to is a prominent feature of Oban in Argyllshire, Scotland. When you
get to the centre of Oban you cannot overlook it as it is a prominent feature on
the skyline up above the main harbour in the town. Today it is a major feature
of Oban and sits on top the hill overlooking the town, harbour and gives great
views of the islands of Kerrera, Lismore and Mull with the ferries arriving and
leaving below. From the town it is a trek up the hill around the narrow roads
with a car park nearby. Once parked you walk up a little to the interior of it
where there is a public garden and through the many archways is where you get
the magnificent view. So where did it come from. Well it was the idea
of an Oban banker, John Sturt McCaig, who had an interest in Roman and
Greek architecture and had travelled widely in Italy. He decided to spend £5000
of his own money to build his own coliseum and work began in 1897. It is round
instead of the customary oval and his original idea was to incorporate a museum,
central tower and statues of himself and his family in the windows overlooking
the city. However before it could be completed McCaig died and the funds dried
up as his surviving sister challenged his will. So the folly which took three
years to build with only the outer walls completed stood as an empty shell and a
folly.
It is 200 metres in circumference with
two-tiers of 94 lancet arches standing forty feet high, (44 are on the bottom
and 50 on the top). It is built of Bonawe granite and the walls are two feet
thick.
After a ten minute uphill walk from the centre
of the town you arrive at a peaceful walled garden and it is a great place from
which to take the sea/island/sunset/aerial views of the Oban and panoramic
photographs that feature on all the postcards you'll see for sale in Oban, apart
from those that feature the tower of course. For those who cannot manage the
walk there you can drive up to it and park in the car park and the path to the
centre is suitable for people who may have walking difficulties.
It is illuminated by night.
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A view from the Car Park
From the folly the harbour and islands
The Folly Garden |
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McCaigs Folly above Oban
Click on the smaller
images
to see larger versions |
| Further information Grid
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Location: |
McCaigs Folly, Oban, Argyllshire |
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Ceremonial County: |
Argyllshire |
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Grid Reference: |
NM861302 |
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Map Link: |
Multimap
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Aerial photo: |
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Route(s):
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Best Times to Visit: |
Any time different views and perspectives will
be seen on different visits. |
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E-mail: |
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Website: |
Wiki
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Other useful
websites: |
FT
www.oban.org.uk
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Nearby Locations: |
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Other Relevant pages: |
List of Follies in
the UK
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Classification: |
Follies |
Date Updated: 10/2008 |
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Planning Grid
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Location: |
McCaigs Folly, Oban, Argyllshire |
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Grid Reference: |
NM861302 |
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Getting there: |
From the centre of Oban follow the road on
foot up the hill towards the folly, you can't miss is. |
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Access: |
From the car park the path is slightly up hill
into the centre of the folly |
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Parking: |
Car park right outside |
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Facilities: |
Seats to admire the garden. |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
Fabulous views of Oban, the harbour, railway,
islands including the Isle of Mull in the distance and the ferries
continually leaving the and arriving in the harbour below. |
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What to take: |
Long lenses and wide angle, grads might be
useful for the skyline. |
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Nature highlights: |
butterflies and plants within the garden |
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Address: |
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Postcode: |
PA34 |
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Telephone: |
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Opening times: |
All year round, its now a walled garden with
fantastic views |
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Charges: |
None |
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Photo Restrictions: |
None |
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Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
The path from the car park is uphill, but is
suitable for wheelchair users |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
Yes |
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Page Ref: |
mccaigs_folly |
Date Updated: 10/2008 |
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Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of
course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have
any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page
then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you
quote both the Page Ref and Classification from the Grids above. To print the
planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.
Please submit information on locations you discover so
that this system continues to grow.
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