Isle of Kerrera
Scotland's Island CoastKerrera is a small island community close to Oban and is the perfect island-hopping and walking experience.
The island is best known for the ruined Gylen Castle, which boasts breathtaking views of the many islands dotting the horizon. This captured the attention of famous artist William Turner, who made 25 sketches of the castle, which are now showcased in the Tate Gallery, London.
The island is very accessible. A Caledonian MacBrayne passenger ferry is best used for exploring the south of the island, with its circular walking loop, which passes Kerrera Tea Garden & Bunkhouse at the south end near Gylen Castle.
A separate marina ferry service operates from North Pier in the centre of Oban to access the northern end of the island.
Kerrera's population is growing, and its Development Trust has purchased the old primary school building to restore it into a multi-functional centre.
How to get to the Isle of Kerrera?
The perfect day trip from ObanThe Isle of Kerrera is located directly opposite the town of Oban and is a small, inhabited island, one of the easiest of the Argyll Isles to visit. Kerrera is excellent for a day visit from the mainland, but offers several accommodation options. You can explore the whole island on foot or by bike. The ferry port is a short 5 to 10 minutes’ drive down a single-track road from Oban.
The ferry to the island of Kerrera takes only 5 minutes over beautiful, clear waters. Walking or cycling to the ferry is encouraged to reduce traffic on this road. There is a second option to reach the island at the North end—the Waypoint Marina offers a water taxi that can be booked in advance via their website. This 10–15-minute crossing departs from the centre of Oban at the North Pier.
Rugged Gem of an Island
An ideal day trip from Oban. Photos by Katy Runacres, Kelpie Media
Good to know!
Plan ahead to make the most of your visit.- Style: A casual walker's dream, very few hills, good paths. Take your walking boots and a wet-weather coat.
- Ferry: The ferry runs regularly, usually every half an hour. It is a turn-up-and-go service, with no booking a specific time slot required. However, tickets must be booked in advance via the CalMac website before embarking.
- Parking: The ferry terminal has only 20 parking spaces, so ensure that you find parking on arrival before your ferry departs.
- Driving on Kerrera: No visitor cars are allowed on Kerrera.
- Toilets: There are no public toilets on Kerrera or at the ferry terminals, but visitors can use these toilets.
- A compost loo is situated between Kerrera tearooms and gardens and Gylen Castle. It is free; however, donations help maintain it.
- At the island's North end, the Waypoint Marina has toilets, which are for customers only.
- The Tea Rooms have toilets for customers.
- Eat & Drink: Food can be purchased at The Waypoint Marina, which also has a bar, and The Kerrera Tearooms and Gardens. There are some local farm honesty boxes and sheds.
- Stay: Limited accommodation is available; it is recommended to book in advance.
Kerrera Tearooms & Garden
The scenic walk to the tearooms and the castle is about an hour and 15 minutes from the ferry terminal at the island's south end. You will pass Balliemore Farm on your right, the island's East coast. The road loops back around to the ferry. The famous Kerrera Tearooms and Garden are located just before Gylen Castle. A perfect place to stop for elevenses with a cup of hot tea or coffee and a fresh, homemade cake, such as Lemon Drizzle, Chocolate Brownie, or the seasonal Rhubarb and Custard slice!
Alternatively, time your journey to stop for lunch if you're ravenous. There is a quaint, renovated barn that you can sit in if you encounter bad weather. The tearooms also advocate for ethical consumption. They have a fantastic recycling and compost scheme within the barn. The building is decorated with cheerful, bright bunting and various old teapots and plants, making it a lovely, kooky, and welcoming area.
Outside, you'll find stunning scenery and a working farm beneath the tearooms. This is a delightfully quirky tea room — you order at the gate of the little white building, and they bring your order to the garden.
The tearooms also have a bunkhouse and accommodation onsite—an excellent choice for staying longer on Kerrera for a short break or holiday in Scotland. These tearooms are situated within a working farm with sheep below them, and it is lovely in the springtime to see lambing and the ewes with their young lambs nearby. Please ensure dogs are on leads and keep a reasonable distance from livestock during your visit.
Gylen Castle
Gylen Castle is a key place to visit and marks a nice, convenient halfway point on the island's Southern end, making it a good spot to walk to and back from the ferry. The castle is now a ruin, but you can still look around and explore it. This is a free entry site. Although there is no livestock within the castle, a colony of breeding Ravens and sheep are around it on the working farmland.
Gylen Castle is a key historical site on the island's west coast, overlooking the sea. Below the castle lies a beautiful bay and beach area, making it a great spot for a picnic, lunch, a swim, or a paddle in the crystal-clear water. The views from this side of the island are incredible on a sunny or stormy day.
Gylen Castle has a fascinating and torrid history. In Gaelic, Gylen translates to ‘the castle of fountains’, although there is no running water there now in the present day. It was built in 1582 by the MacDougall clan. They also built the nearby castle of Dunollie, located just outside Oban. Gylen Castle was believed to be built as a second fortress on the Isle of Kerrera to help defend the area and its surrounding waters. The castle did not even manage to last 100 years of occupation, as another neighbouring clan attacked it.
If you continued this walking circuit, the wide track would continue to the eastern shore and back to the CalMac ferry port, but it would take about four hours.
Wildlife on Kerrera
The wildlife on the Isle of Kerrera is vast and abundant. Taking your binoculars with you and a good camera to record your findings is a great idea. In addition to the Sheep and Cattle, a group of wild feral Goats can be spotted often near the woodlands. These are a sight to see, and many other smaller islands, such as Luing and Scarba, also have feral goats. Sika Deer also live on the island.
The waters surrounding Kerrera are clear, and wildlife sightings are common. Otters, Harbour and Grey Seals, Porpoises, Whales, and Dolphins have all been spotted—even a basking shark! Please ensure that you maintain a safe distance from wildlife and working animals.
The Isle of Kerrera is also an excellent spot for bird watchers. The island is home to birds such as Hen Harriers, Kestrels, Buzzards and even white-tailed and Golden Sea Eagles.
Other birds you may see closer to the coast or along the Kerrera coastline include the brightly marked black and white Oystercatchers, characterised by bright red feet and beaks. They appear as little men in smart suits waddling around the beach in red wellies! Oystercatchers have a very distinctive call, which is lovely to hear when they are gathered on the shoreline in a group or passing by you in flight. Kerrera has visiting migratory birds, including Swallow, Greylag Geese and Canada Geese. Cuckoos often stop off on Kerrera in the spring.
Hutcheson Monument
At the North end of Kerrera, another key place to visit is Hutcheson's monument. This granite memorial on the East Coast was erected in 1883. The monument was erected to commemorate David Hutcheson, a forward-thinking shipowner who pushed the boundaries of steamship travel on the West Coast of Scotland and around the Hebrides. His company, David Hutcheson and Co, oversaw operating boats and steamers connecting the West Highlands area in the 1850s. This was a very progressive challenge at the time. They were the first people to do this in the area. Many consider him the founder of Inner Island Ferries and Steam Travel.
The monument is a Category C listed building due to its historic significance and importance. It can be accessed on foot at any time of the year.
LOCH AWE
Visit Scotland's longest freshwater loch on your way to or from Oban, or by rail on the West Highland Line.
APPIN
Make a day or two of it to nearby Appin featuring Castle Stalker, just North from Oban to Fort William on A828 road.
SLATE ISLANDS
Take the road south of Oban, cross the Bridge over the Atlantic to Seil, Easdale and Luing.
ISLE OF LISMORE
Take a short ferry journey from Oban or Port Appin, for wildlife, fascinating historical sites and glorious views.
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