At the invitation of VisitScotland, I was down in Oban today doing a presentation on destination management to Argyll & Isles Strategic Tourism Partnership. It was an excellent day and I was delighted that what I said was well received. Equally I was really taken by the obvious commitment of those present to promoting tourism in their own local areas. For the most part they are all volunteers who do it unpaid and it is often a thankless task but without these individuals, and it is the same here on Loch Ness, local tourism would not be nearly so robust and able to weather recession so effectively.

And... it was simply good being back in Oban. I used to go there for holidays as a child and still have fond memories of the town. It is a great bustling small west coast town with great coastal scenery as well as being a gateway to the Isles of Mull and the Inner Hebredies. Could not resist taking a couple of photos of the Cal Mac ferry as it made it's way out to sea!