Newsflash!
October 2007; Unfortunately the Oban rare breeds park has closed. As far as I can find out, all the animals were re-homed at other rare breed facilities
around the country. A wonderful asset to the area is lost. But hey! Don't let this spoil your visit - have a poke
round the site, I'm sure you'll find some useful information and plenty to entertain you.
Update August 2008;
It was my intention to remove this Oban Rare Breeds page from the site but I've had emails from
visitors who had planned a day out only to be disappointed when they arrived at the gates.
Most other websites still don't have any information about the closure
on their sites and the park still features highly on their "things to do" list.
Why not keep up to date
and subscribe to the newsletter which is sent out whenever
there's something to report or major new pages on the site. (Posibly every 6 - 8 weeks)
It's free, your inbox won't be filled with unwanted mail and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Sign up box in
the right margin of this page.
At your service
Fancy a day in the country with some hairy celebrities - Lawrence the llama, Snookie the deer, Haggis
& Neeps the shetland ponies and many more?
A visit to the Oban Rare Breeds park is an excellent family day out with lots to see and do for all.
Probably
the first thing to greet you when you arrive will be Spot the dog - I'm told that Spot is a working sheepdog but all I've ever seen him do is keep the animals in line and visitors amused - hard work I'm sure and someones got to do it.
I've been a visitor to the park since it first opened in 1987 and have been delighted to see it expand
over the years to what it is now.
While the Rare Breeds Park has a serious side to it, preserving rare breeds of domesticated animals,
my main enjoyment from my visits over the years has been the obvious enjoyment that my kids had when we
visited.
For more information on exactly what they do from a conservation veiwpoint why not take a look at the
parks website by
clicking here.
Don't forget to come back now!
I personally find the conservation and preservation aspect very interesting and there are information
signs at strategic point as you walk around and for those that require more information the park staff
are only too happy to talk to you.
For the younger ones there's lots of tame, friendly pets - I'm sure that has a lot to do with the fact
that most people have bags of feed, available at the entrance. It really is a pleasure to watch the
children (and adults!) squirm and giggle with delight as an animals rough tongue tickles the hand that
feeds it.
A new addition since the last time I was there is the
Barn where the children can handle rabbits and guinea pets. I haven't been there since this opened but heard wide-eyed, excited reports about it from my young nephews.
The park is set in 35 acres of hilly ground so it's a fairly energetic walk round but relax, take it at
your own pace, stop and enjoy the magnificent views from the top of hill, stroll round while the kids
run wild and drop into the tearoom back at the entrance for a well deserved rest and enjoy some
refeshments and home baking.
Current admission prices as I write this (Sept 06) are £6 for adults, £5 for Seniors and £4 for children.
How to get there:
The Rare Breeds Park is about 2.5 miles from the town centre
From the Royal Hotel, Argyll Square (roundabout in the town centre) take the A816 (Lochgilphead) along
Combie Street for 250m
When you come to The Parish Church turn left onto Glencruitten Road and keep going.
After about three quarters of a mile you'll pass the golf course, carry on up the hill, at the next
junction you find a signpost for the park.
Enjoy ........
Search this site
Search this site
on the tin. Got something to say?
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y! MyWeb