Oban Hydropathic Sanatorium

Nestled in the hills overlooking Oban and no longer visible from the town, is the Oban Hills Hydropathic Sanatorium which has been left to decay. Whilst its title 'Hydropathic Sanatorium' sounds like it might be a foreboding medical facility, it was actually intended to be a fancy hotel with means to provide treatments to visitors by using alternative medicine and water, but the building was never completed.

The idea of hydrotherapy gained popularity amongst the Victorians, and hydropathic hotels were built throughout Scotland in the 1870s including those at Dunblane and Crieff which still stand today. They found that the properties of water such as buoyancy, warmth and resistance could provide a unique and effective form of pain relief, increase strength, improve balance and enhance circulation and 'hydros' became big business. The development of the railways in Victorian times meant access to Oban became much easier too, and Oban Railway Station opened in June 1880. It was expected that the new hotel would prove very popular due to it's stunning location overlooking the harbour and easier access to the town.

In the 1870s, Oban had already put its place on the map as a health resort and the acorn of an idea to build a Hydro there began in 1876. A board of wealthy businessmen formed the 'Oban Hills Hydropathic Sanatorium Ltd' in 1881 and architect J Ford MacKenzie worked on ideas for the hotel with Robert McApline and Co heading the construction work. There were big ideas for the Hydro when it was first imagined and plans showed a grand Scots Baronial style building with 137 bedrooms. There were also plans for an indoor gym, croquet lawns, bowling green, woodlands and garden walks which never came to fruition. Financial constraints meant the ambitious project was halted altogether by 1897.

If it had been built, it would have had spectacular views over the bay at Oban. Now sadly it is completely reclaimed by nature and no longer visible from the town. The path heading up to the abandoned building is pretty precarious - it is narrow, steep and rocky and has tree roots sticking up everywhere so take care on your travels. As with other abandoned places, it's a bit on the creepy side and I can imagine Danny Boyle has this earmarked as his next film location.

Not as pretty as it's neighbour McCaigs Tower, this is still an interesting part of the history of Oban and one which might not have appeared on many people's radar. Definitely worth a quick visit if you're in the area.