Oban (An t-Òban as the road signs have it) is not far from Connel and is the main departure port for Mull and the Inner Hebrides.

Its most famous landmark is McCaig’s Tower sometimes known as McCaig’s Folly. Note the Gaelic on the road sign to Campbeltown at bottom of picture.

However, hidden back from the road so we were on it unexpectedly, lies a fully blown Art Deco hotel, The Regent!

Below is a stitch to get the whole frontage in.

It’s obviously seen better days but it’s still a working hotel and a delight to see.

Edited to add:- The windows look as if they might even be original.

There are not one, not two, but three photos on flickr.

As we were walking along the prom a bit earlier we noticed a seaplane taking off from the harbour area, doubtless flying to one or more of the many islands dotting Scotland’s west coast. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

The town was very busy the day we were there. I suppose it’s like that all summer.

The good lady and I took a short trip over to the west coast early in August. We travelled via the A 84 through Callander and past Loch Lubnaig up to the A 85.

Suddenly, on reaching Crianlarich, we had entered Gaeldom. The green background A-road signs displayed the English names of destinations in the usual white but in yellow there was in addition the Gaelic.* Glaschu and An t-Òban, for example for Glasgow and Oban. Fort William was easy to decipher being An Gearasdan – the garrison – how literal; as was stèisean for station.

Now, it’s years since I’ve been that far over but I don’t remember any Gaelic* road signs in Argyll and Bute back then. Up north, round Inverness and the like, yes; but not over in the west. Or had I just forgotten?

Anyway we passed through Connel. When I were a lad I’m sure it was called Connel Ferry. (Or was that just the railway station?) There’s no ferry now, of course. But there is a striking modern bridge. The photo is a stitch to get it all in.

Loch Etive, a sea loch, was running into the Firth of Lorne like a river tumbling down a slope.

The water was roiling and churning under the bridge quite fiercely.Though the water wasn’t very deep I wouldn’t have liked to be a ferrymaster dealing with that lot.

*This should, of course, be Gàidhlig.