This is not just a blog, it is a lifestyle!  Oban & Mull.

By Paul McLean of MCLEANSCOTLAND

Being hatched just along the road fae Oban in Connel, I have a great understanding of the west coast, especially Oban and Mull. Born Connel, babynapped at an early age, I have always had a pull to drag me home. This trip was just one of many.

Setting out from Perth where I now hang out, it is a very scenic two hour or so drive, through wonderful glens, passing lochs, coast and the occasional pub (he laughs), it is very hard not to stop every half hour or so, but – I venture on, all for the sake of tourism you understand. Passing through Crieff, I know of a very good grocer, who also sells cheeses and a bloomin grand selection of whiskies. From here passing by Glenturret Distillery – no calling in today folks, en route to a wee stop for a butty or burger in one of my favourites stops. He also sells banjo burgers (burger with a fried egg, when you bite it, it runs doon your shirt and your hand immediately does the banjo thing!) and a cuppa tea. Rested, fed and watered on I go, doon the glens to my next stop, The Green Welly Shop.  Gifts, food, drinks etc etc and, a good whisky shop with samples given oot, not me, am still driving. But, I do leave with a bottle of Tamdhu 10 year old single malt, a lovely dram and one you should try if not had before, it excells! Wonderful scenery as I turn left at the Glencoe fork in the road, along the Beatles road – it’s long and winding. This takes me to Connel, a stop here at the Falls of Laura, the Oyster Bar, before a few more miles to Oban. Park up and donder aboot on foot. There are two good whisky shops here and aye, both are well known to me and me to them, plus of course the Oban Distillery. A few pubs I regularly haunt – a dram or two in The Tartan Bar, a pint and a dram in Auley’s; even had Charlies home dram here – a JW Black, no bad, check into my accoms and set out for food, usually seafood, one or three places I know well. A good night is assured.

Next morning after breakfast I catch to ferry to Mull – the Isle of. A 45 minute sail, passing my castle; Duart and landing at Craignure. From here along the road towards Tobermory.

I have a date here with Macgochans pub, owned by a friend, great plates of food and a serious collection of whiskies. Of course as you would expect, he has a selection of Tob drams, many bottles of Tobermory and a few Ledaig peaty drams, standing at the bar you get this urge to try em all, but alas, this Budda shaped body cannee take em all, so lets have a Masala finish Tob, heaven in a glass, sorry angels, beat you to it this time – sorry dad. Neil usually has live music on and a special darts board, it calculates the score for you! Great for numpty’s like me. A wander over to the Distillery (two minutes) and chat with the staff, what’s new? Normally I cannee come away without a bottle! Today was no different; Ledaig 18  A wonderfully smoky Single Malt sweet and floral aromas with a richness and warmth of sea salt and smoke, it cuddles me so I had to have it. Un-chillfiltered @ 46.3% ABV.  The one I wanted but couldnee afford was the Tobermory 42yo. This rare, and heavily sherried dark chocolate and coffee liqueur flavours, with a spicy, salty tail astounds the pallet. Distilled in the 1970s, when the distillery’s 41 year closure had finally come to an end, this beautiful 42 Year Old Tobermory Single Malt is the oldest and rarest Tobermory ever released with only 1 cask bottled only 1 cask – oh please someone give me this! Some shopping, in my favourite shop, you can buy a bottle of whisky, a banjo, a book, maps, toys, hammers, nails etc etc even a dinosaur bone! Drinkies then bed. Day three, a drive around the island starting with Calgary, fab driving on wee roads/tracks. A good day out on Mull, a few stops for photos, well many actually, then back to Tobermory for another night, tonight into CafeFish for ma tea, fabulous seafood. That was a good day, rounded off by drinkies in the Mishnish. Day four, away home, same road but going the other way – as you do, still great scenery, home, bags in, cuppa tea, some work then to Christies pub. Now that is what I call a grand weekend!

PAUL  www.mcleanscotland.com