Home » Things To Do » Villages, Towns & Cities » Tarbet and Arrochar

Tarbet and Arrochar

Things to do in Tarbet and Arrochar

Tarbet is a small village, located on the western shores of Loch Lomond. For guests staying with us at Loch Lomond Waterfront, it is around a 40-minute drive away. It sits beside the village of Arrochar on an isthmus between Loch Lomond and Loch Long. From these two villages, you can take in spectacular views of the Arrochar Alps, a group of mountains around the head of Loch Long, and there are some lovely walking trails in this area. Also, Tarbet Pier is the main departure point for Cruise Loch Lomond boat trips and cruises.

Viking history

The area is famous for its links with Vikings. In 1263, followers of King Haco sailed from Norway to Scotland. On the journey via Loch Long, they pulled their boats across the isthmus from Arrochar to Tarbet, then set sail to raid settlements along the shores of Loch Lomond. When the Vikings returned to Arrochar with their loot, a great storm destroyed their boats. King Haco was later defeated by the Scots at the Battle of Largs.

Walking trails

The Arrochar Trail on Cruach Tairbeirt hill offers woodland walks with amazing views of Loch Long and the Arrochar Alps. You can access the trail from the underpass at Arrochar and Tarbet Train Station.

Tarbet Isle is a tiny island in Loch Lomond, just off the shore. It is only 3 metres at its highest point and 80 metres in length. The Tarbet Isle Walk is a gentle, circular route, with views of the island. For the starting point, follow the signs for Tarbet Isle car park, a short drive north of Tarbet village.

Cruise Loch Lomond

Cruise Loch Lomond runs a choice of boat cruises from Tarbet, including circular cruises, explorer cruises and waterbuses. Explore the loch by boat, learn about the rich history of the area and look out for a variety of Scottish wildlife along the way.

Places to eat and drink

There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the area, such as pubs, tea rooms and restaurants. We love The Slanj for its home-cooked food and well-stocked bar, located in an 18th-century church building in Tarbet village.

Then, after a day of walking in the footsteps of Vikings, head back to your Loch Lomond lodge, where you can kick back and relax in the hot tub!

Book Accommodation

Testimonials

Breathtaking views
'Where to start! We chose the waterfront for our wedding because of the absolutely breathtaking views, location and surroundings. You can't put a price on a view like that. We were planning a small intimate wedding for 28, mid week at the waterfront and living all the way down in Kent, organising could have been so difficult if it wasn't for Sheena the wedding coordinators help. Everything was organised to a fabulous standard and despite my millions of emails she didn't get sick of me and was happy to email pictures and explain thoroughly. We were so lucky to have...
Couldn't ask for a better day
'We wanted to thank you so very much for all the hard work which went on behind the scenes both in the lead up to, and on the day of, our wedding. We could not have asked for a better day. Everything was exactly how we wanted it to be and a lot of that is down to all the hard work of Sheena and your staff. We have had so many compliments about how much everyone enjoyed our wedding.'
A fabulous time
'We, and all our family and friends, who stayed on site had a fabulous time and could not be more impressed with the lodges and the location! There will definitely be some returning customers.'
The staff go above and beyond
'The staff were fantastic and massive thank you to Rafal who was great checking everyone in on Friday and who also went above and beyond and took my grandparents back to their holiday cottage in Milton of Buchanan after the wedding!'
An absolutely amazing wedding day
We had an absolutely amazing wedding day at Loch Lomond Waterfront. Lloyd and I loved getting married down at the water. The sun shone the whole day which made it even more special. Our guests also loved the venue and how peaceful it was during our ceremony. It was lovely just listening to the water during the minister's prayers. Lloyd and I both loved the intimacy of the venue and the stunning scenery it had to offer. The transitions for each part of the day were so quick and smooth. Even the guests commented on how smoothly everything ran. Our...