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Unfortunately the park has closed down. All the animals were re-homed at other rare breed facilities around the country.
========================================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 ........
