Things To Do in Loch Lomond's Local Area | Tarbet Hotel Skip to main content Skip to footer

Things To Do in Loch Lomond
Local Area Guide

Our location

How to Find Us

The Tarbet Hotel is accessible via car, train, and bus routes that run along the west coast of Loch Lomond's shores. If travelling to us by car, you can access the hotel where the A82 and A83 connect. This provides easy access to as far south as Alexandria and Glasgow to as far north as Crianlarich and Tyndrum. By train, you can get to the Arrochar & Tarbet railway station from Glasgow Queen Street in only 1 hr and 30 minutes. If you prefer to travel by bus or coach, the 926, 917 and 976 services all stop at the hotel.

Tarbet Hotel 

Arrochar

G83 7DE

About The Local Area

About Tarbet

The Tarbet Hotel is located in the small village of Tarbet situated on the west shores of Loch Lomond. The surrounding hills, known as the Arrochar Alps, provide an alluring backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts such as cyclists, hill walkers and climbers. Nestled between Ben Lomond to the East and Beinn Ime to the north west, visitors have plenty of options to explore Tarbet and can even embark on a delightful cruise of Loch Lomond from the pier. Alternatively, if you choose to travel to us by train, Tarbet has its own railway station on the West Highland line connecting Glasgow and Mallaig – rated as one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world!

Photo: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

Village of Arrochar

The nearby village of Arrochar can be easily reached from Tarbet in just 5 minutes by rail or car. One of the main gateways to the Argyll Forest Park, the village is a popular starting point for walking and hiking, providing some of the most scenic hikes on the Cowal peninsula.

As well as a local shop, you can find several pubs, restaurants and local arts and crafts. Whether its a cosy bistro by the Loch Long waterfront or an outdoor play park for the little ones - there's something for everyone in the village.

Boat Trips

Explore stunning Loch Lomond in all its glory by boat. The pier at Tarbet is directly across the road from the hotel with regular cruises from Cruise Loch Lomond, taking you to the many islands, beaches, forests, and villages in and around the bonnie banks. Take a cruise north to wonder at Ben Vorlich, or south past Ben Lomond to see the isles of Inchtavannach, Inchcailloch, Inchlongaig and more.

With a variety of cruise options, you can hop on for a full circular cruise starting at Tarbet to discover the northern end of Loch Lomond down to the deepest area of the Loch near Ben Lomond. If you want a full day experience you can join in on the Inversnaid Explorer which sets sail from Tarbet and explores the magic of the eastern banks, or you can sail from Tarbet on the West Highland Way Rambler (either North or Sound bound) to visit Rowardennan or Inversnaid respectively. There's even the Ben Lomond Explorer cruise which allows you to combine a cruise on the Loch with a hike up Ben Lomond.

Be it staying on for a full circular cruise or hopping off to explore in your own time - with our hotel so close by to the tour operator, your choices are numerous for exploring!

Walking, Hiking, & Dog Friendly Activities

Walking & Hiking

Whether it’s a leisurely stroll or challenging hike, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has it all. From the Argyll Forest Park to popular trails including the Ben Lomond pathway and Arrochar Trail with its spectacular views of Loch Long and the Arrochar Alps.

Long distance hiking trails run through this area also, including the West Highland Way, Rob Roy Way and the Three Lochs Way. 

dog friendly hotels loch lomond

Activities For Dogs

We are delighted to welcome dogs at our dog friendly hotel in Loch Lomond. Having your furry companion with you during your stay can make every moment more unforgettable, and there are numerous dog-friendly activities for you to enjoy while exploring. From dog-friendly boat trips to the many walks and parks in the local area. We would ask that you take a moment to visit the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which offers guidance on how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly with your dog.

Cycling

The breathtaking forests of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park are perfect for a tranquil bike ride or a rigorous mountain biking adventure with tough terrain. Cycling is an excellent way to discover the park, regardless of your preference.

For the adventurous, some great, scenic mountain bike trails are: The Dukes Path and Argyll Forest Mountain loop, Loch Long and Glen Loin loop from Arrochar, Loch Long ascent out of Arrochar loop to Tarbet among others.

For the road cyclist, there's several popular road cycling routes such as: the Loch Lomond & Loch Long loop from Arrochar, the Glen Douglas Steep Climb from Arrochar, and the Tarbet, Hell's Glen and Glen Mhor loop, again, among many others.

And if you're a more leisurely cyclist, there's plenty of scenic paths in and around both Arrochar and Tarbet to go for a short cycle. So whether you bring your own bike or rent one, simply hop on the saddle, soak in the scenic views, and get a gentle dose of physical activity while you're at it.

Family-friendly Fun

There are plenty of family-friendly fun activities to do around Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. Take the kids to explore the magical Loch Lomond Faerie Trail to indulge everyone's sense of wonder in the bliss of nature (and fairies, of course!). Or take the kids to visit the Glen Finglas Play Trail to try and find the illusive shiny Roe deer, have them try their hand at the drumming bench, or exploring the secret den!

There's also a variety of fun activities for the family including adventure golf at Loch Lomond Shores as well as the popular Sea Life centre with its Aquarium and the Bird of Prey centre. For larger kids and teens, there's also plenty to do such as wake boarding, quad biking, and more challenging nature hikes.

No matter who's coming along, with plenty on the doorstep of the Tarbet Hotel, you'll be spoiled for choice as your explore one of Scotland's most famous regions.

Photo: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About The Local Area

Yes! Inside Tarbet there's the Bonnie & Ben Takeaway Cafe just down the road from the hotel before you reach Tarbet pier. Outside of Tarbet, there's the Arrochar Tea Room and The Olive Branch in Arrochar.

Other than Loch Lomond, there's various Lochs and lakes nearby worth exploring. There's Loch Restil on the other side of Ben Ime, Loch Long, Loch Goil, Loch Sloy at Ben Vorlich, and Loch Arklet near Inversnaid.

There are plenty of places to eat in and enjoy a good hearty meal near Tarbet and Arrochar. The aforementioned Olive Branch in Arrochar offers food, there's the Slanj Restaurant in Tarbet, Cù Mara Bistro in Arrochar, and a chip shop in Arrochar if fast food takes your fancy. Of course, there's also our Hotel menu to consider when peckish.

Near to Tarbet, there's an abundance of viewpoints to see for all your scenic photograph needs. Further down the A82 you'll find Firkin Point for spectacular views of Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond. Fruther North is the Inveruglas Pyramid which offers some great capture points for photography, and there's plenty of scenic spots along the coast near Tarbet or from Ben Ime.

In the local area, there's Blairannaich, Inveruglas, Ardvorlich and Iverarnan to the North of Loch Lomond along the A82. Across of the East banks there's Inversnaid, Rowchoish and Rowardennan. To the South along the A82 you'll find Stuckgowna, Inverbeg, Culag, Luss, Arden and Balloch. Finally, to the west via the A83 and A814 you'll find Ardmay, Ardgartan, Succoth, Craggan, Lochgoilhead, Clachan and Cairndow.

No, unfortunately, there's no dedicated bookstores or public libraries in and around Tarbet or Arrochar. If you are a bookworm, we'd highly recommend bringing your own books to bask in the beauty of the great outdoors while you enjoy a novel.

There are four munros in the Arrochar Alps near Tarbet and Arrochar. They are Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain, Ben Vane and Ben Vorlich. While not a munroe, there's also The Cobbler - one of the most recognised hills in the area, which is a Corbett.