Now You Can Visit the Scottish Highlands on Your English Immersion in Scotland!
We are offering our English conversation guests a bonus trip to Oban – the unofficial capital of the Scottish Highlands.
In a previous blog post, I explained the pedagogy behind this decision.
This blog is to give you a taste of your day trip to Oban with your immersion English holiday with Blue Noun Language Hub.
Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride
We’re a Perthshire-based language school, so Oban is a 2 hour coach ride away.
Happily, the route passes through some of the best scenery in Scotland, including the world-famous Glen Coe, so choose your travelling tunes with care, and relax!
This stunning coach trip is just the beginning of your visit to the Scottish Highlands!
Used with permission
Start with Seafood
The ‘seafood shack’ on Oban harbour is phenomenal. Top local produce at affordable prices.
We enjoyed oysters followed by mussels, but everything looked so good it was hard to choose.
You can enjoy the sights and sounds of the ferry port as you eat.
(Sittin’ on) The Dock of The Bay
Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper knew a thing or two about relaxing, and we are taking tips from them to improve your English immersion in Scotland.
In this case, it involves a short, steep climb uphill to McCaig’s Tower, and looking over the horseshoe-shaped bay in the Firth of Lorn.
Directly ahead of you is the island of Kerrera; and beyond, the Isle of Mull. Visible to the north, is the long low island of Lismore and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour.
I can’t describe how compelling and relaxing it is to watch the ferries arrive and leave.
The day we visited was windy, so there were ripples of wind catching the flat harbour water.
Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes Watching the ships roll in Then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah…
Lyrics, Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
A Temperate Climate
The West Coast of Scotland has a climate, unlike any other part. Scotland is in the path of the Gulf Stream. This warm water current flows across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way from the Caribbean to the Arctic Ocean.
With generous rain (!) across the year and this warmth and shelter provided by the mountains, Oban has a tropical feel, with palm tress and blooming gardens.
Explore McCaig’s Tower
Built in 1897 by local banker John Stuart McCaig, the aim of the tower was to provide work for local stonemasons (and create a lasting monument to the McCaig family).
Not only is it iconic seen from the sea, its large open windows cleverly create framed views of islands and sea for tourists and locals to enjoy.
Fish and Chips
It shouldn’t be possible, but we did manage to fit in some fish and chips too!
I loved this map showing where all their fish is sourced. (Interestingly, the haddock comes from Norway where fish stocks are healthier).
Time off From Learning
We’ve introduced this mid-week visit to the Scottish highlands into our English immersion holidays to allow our English learners to see and experience Oban AND get a bit of a break from the intensity of English learning.
You can take my Oban Scavenger Challenge, which will send you a series of Whatsapp challenges if you would like help getting talking.
However, it’s okay to take a break from ‘learning’ and just absorb being in Oban.
Not all progress is visible. Bringing joy, confidence and adventure into your English learning pathway will help build a lifetime of language progress.
Enjoy Oban ‘on us’ with our complimentary bonus visit to the Scottish Highlands: available on any of our English Immersion Holidays.
Book a Zoom
If you are considering an English immersion holiday in 2025, it all starts with a no-obligation Zoom chat.
Let’s Talk!
Interested in a chat about our English coaching holidays in Scotland?
You’ll get to see our hub – and tell me (Ruth) 3 things you’d like to see/do when you are here!
Visit to Oban
How this English conversation activity helps your English and positively impacts our community:
✅ Great for mental/physical health
⭕ benefits our local community.
✅ is a good introduction to Scottish culture
⭕ preserves craft skills, historic machinery, monuments etc.
⭕ supports Scottish industry/agriculture
✅ gets you talking with a rich and diverse selection of people, or about diverse subjects.
✅ explores Scottish wildlife in non-invasive ways
⭕ supports arts & artists
⭕ financially contributes to preserving culture
✅ is for fun & feeling good in English.
Get Talking This Summer
We still have places for this year’s English Language Vacations in Scotland.
Want to bring a friend/partner? We’ll close that group, so it’s just you two.
It all starts with a video call, and let us build you a cultural immersion English course that will get you talking!
Further Information
Learn more about Oban.
Why is immersion the best way to learn a language?
Hi,
I’m hoping you might be able to help me. An old friend of mine had/has? an immersion English language school in Oban he might be retired now. I lost touch with him and his wife. Their last name is Dera. I can’t remember the name of their school but it was in their home.
Hi Jody, Idon’t knwo them, but Oban will have a Facebook group for locals, why not pop a post in there. Someone will see it and tell them.