Winter is coming – but that is no reason to rule out the Scottish Highlands as a holiday destination.
In a fresh push to encourage winter tourism, the general manager of one of Oban’s best-loved hotels has put together a calendar of events to attract guests to the town outwith the summer season.
Marc Gardner of Oban Bay Hotel, part of the Crerar Hotels Collection, said: “Oban is a vibrant, busy tourist hub in the summer with guests visiting the Inner and Outer Hebrides from around the globe, as well as being an ideal base for those exploring the west coast.
“The town benefits from both Scottish and domestic tourism during the nicer months however as the colder, darker nights begin to draw in, the town gets quieter, and we see a dip in visitors.”
Marc insisted that despite the change in seasons, Oban still had much to offer those looking for an authentic Scottish getaway, including the weather.
“Very often Scottish tourism is regarded to be seasonal centric to the summer months, but it is vital that hoteliers such as ourselves play our part in ensuring tourism in some of Scotland’s most iconic locations can sustain all year round and visitors can continue to enjoy the very best experience available.”
To that end, Marc and the team at Oban Bay Hotel have revealed a series of winter events and offerings at the four-star property on the Corran Esplanade, including winter wellness breaks, murder mystery weekends and limited-edition packages such as the Sea Safari package.
Marc continued: “We’re aiming to boost visitor numbers by creating exclusive experiences where guests can cosy up in the hotel while enjoying everything Oban and the surrounding area offers. It’s also important to work hand in hand with other local businesses so our guests can take full advantage of everything Oban has to offer.
“We work closely with Oban Distillery which now remains open all year long too, it’s one of the many attractions we recommend to our guests who are visiting for the first time.
“This year, we’re launching our winter experience breaks and an exciting calendar of Christmas and New Year offers to entice people to visit our small corner of the world. After all, Oban is such a special place. It feels like a world away from everyday life, no matter what month it is.
“At Crerar Hotels, we take pride in embracing the season by offering our ‘Coorie In’ package, which you can book at Oban Bay Hotel or one of our sister properties, it’s all about making the most of Scotland’s great outdoors during the colder months before returning to the hotel to ‘coorie in’ by a roaring fire.”
