Oban and nearby villages were cut off from the rest of Scotland last weekend when floods and landslides closed all major roads into Argyll.
A month’s worth of rain fell over 36 hours, causing landslips on the A85, the A816 near Ardfern and the A83 between Inveraray and Tarbet.
The flooding of the A828 at Benderloch Straights, plus train cancellations, made travel to Oban near impossible. This situation was worsened by an overturned lorry on the A82 near Glencoe, with flood restrictions near Glencoe Visitor Centre.
Police also shut the A85 on Saturday morning, closing Oban’s main route to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scotland’s east coast.
Oban Mountain Rescue Team’s deputy team leader Andy Ravenhill said: “We had a vehicle, with two rescuers at the Pass of Brander. There was a flood that blocked the road and a landslide at Lochawe.
“There were a few people cut off by it. We helped a couple and a wee dog get out. Their electric car did not like the floodwater. They got driven out through the floodwater in our 4×4.”
Further east, the River Orchy flooded a vast area of farmland near Dalmally, which hosted the village’s agricultural show six weeks ago.
The Stronmilchan road was also severely flooded. At least one motorist became trapped between floods near the A819 junction.
Many motorists aiming for Oban and onward ferries were stranded, with venues including Brander Lodge at Inverawe and Strathfillan Wigwams near Crianlarich offering them accommodation.
In Crianlarich, deep water overwhelmed the road through the village, with footage showing cars stuck fast. Tyndrum’s Green Welly restaurant also sheltered motorists with a skeleton staff – but some couldn’t even make it that far.
The A82 briefly closed near the southern tip of Loch Lomond and Loch Iubhair burst its banks between Glen Ogle and Crianlarich, with Lix Toll Garage coming to the rescue.
It all led to long detours. “There were two hours of detouring around road and low bridge closures,” commented one motorist on social media.
Another said: “We should be in Newton Mearns tonight to celebrate my cousin’s birthday, but got no further than Tyndrum.”
The A84 was also “knee-deep” in water between Lochearnhead and Callander and the A85 did not re-open near Perth until Tuesday morning.
By Sunday afternoon, the A85 and A828 had re-opened in Argyll, but by Tuesday the C30 West Loch Awe road and the B840 Eredine-Ford road remained closed after a “massive landslide”.
Ian Macadam from Loch Awe Hardwoods said: “There was 2.5 feet of water in our woodyard and the water level of Loch Awe is the highest I’ve ever seen.”
Islanders and tourists were unable to travel to CalMac’s Oban Ferry Terminal. Some were diverted via Fort William and Strontian, before arriving in Fishnish instead of Craignure.
Shona Hale described a 4.5 hour journey, which should have taken three hours, as “interesting to say the least”.
“We set off in plenty time, but made it to the ferry terminal with only 10 minutes to spare”, she added.
CalMac was praised for its flexibility, with many on the Craignure to Oban ferry hitting road closures and having to return to the island.
One passenger commented: “I would like to thank all off the hard-pressed CalMac staff who helped us change tickets to different sailings.
“We found the staff to be exceptionally courteous, helpful and understanding.”