Northern lights in Oban tonight

McCaig's Tower is the circular granite monument on the hill directly above Oban town centre, visible from much of the bay. The tower itself is unlit at night and the hill gives an open northern view across the Sound of Kerrera toward the Lynn of Lorn. Pulpit Hill, 200 m south of the tower on the same ridge, has marginally less sky glow from the town below and a slightly better arc to the north. Both positions are reached by footpath from Laurel Road; the walk takes 10 minutes on a steep but maintained path. Bortle Class 3 from both hilltop positions. The nearest significant light pollution to the north is the Connel area 5 km away.

Ganavan Sands is a beach 3 km north of Oban with a car park at the end of the Ganavan Road. The beach faces north across the Firth of Lorn toward the island of Lismore and the Lynn of Morvern. The bay is wide and the northern horizon extends without obstruction over the open water. Oban's lights are behind to the south, and the northern view is considerably darker than from the town. The car park is free and open throughout the night. Bortle Class 3 from the beach. On calm nights the Sound of Kerrera reflects the sky, though the reflection band is narrow due to the bay geometry. The beach is sandy with a level surface accessible from the car park in 50 m.

Loch Etive is a 30 km sea loch running northeast from Connel through Glen Etive under the northern slopes of Cruachan. The north shore road from Taynuilt reaches the loch at Inverawe and then follows the water east to Inverliever and Bonawe. Beyond Bonawe, the road narrows to single-track and the loch is flanked by steep hillsides that create a narrow but open slot of northern sky. The Glen Etive road off the A82 near Glencoe gives access to the upper loch through completely uninhabited glen. Bortle Class 2 throughout from Taynuilt eastward. The drive from Oban takes 30 minutes via the A85; the upper loch is 45-60 minutes.