Tarbert (Loch Fyne)
Get in
By bus
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Tarbert and Tarbet On the 926 bus service from Glasgow to Campbeltown, there are two stops called Tarbert and Tarbet, which is next to Loch Lomond. If you don't make it clear to the driver of the bus, you could be 50 miles away from your destination before you know it! |
Tarbert is served by the Citylink bus from Glasgow to Campbeltown 3 times per day. Buses often run in West Coast Motors livery. The journey may take three and a quarter hours to get to Tarbert during peak times.
By boat
Caledonian MacBrayne runs the following car ferries which may be of interest:
- Portavadie to Tarbert every hour or so (daytime) daily in summer only. Together with the Gourock to Dunoon service, this provides a shorter route from Glasgow, or makes part of various circular routes. Buses also run from Portavadie to the Isle of Bute and Dunoon (for the ferry to Gourock and the train link there to Glasgow)
- 🌍 Kennacraig to Islay twice a day. Kennacraig is 6 miles South of Tarbert, and is served by the Citylink buses to Campbeltown.
- Claonaig to Lochranza (Arran) 1 1/4 hourly daily from March to October. Claonaig is about 10 to 11 miles south of Tarbert.
- Tayinloan to Gigha daily, roughly hourly. Tayinloan is 12 miles South of Tarbert, and is served by the Citylink and West Coast Motors buses to Campbeltown, but there is a 1/4 mile walk from the bus stop to the pier. The 449 bus from Lochgilphead to Campbeltown runs to the ferry terminal, though.
Get around
The village can be easily explored on foot.
See
- Tourist Information Office in Harbour Street open daily in summer.
- 🌍
Tarbert Castle. Ruined castle dating from the 13th century with some modern sculpture in the grounds. free.
- Yachts and fishing boats in the harbour
- Gardens of Stonefield Castle Hotel.
Do
- Seafood Festival in July
- Tarbert Fair in July
- Music Festival in September
- Scottish Series Sailing. 4 days in late May. watch or take part in this major set of yacht racing regattas. This event for cruising yachts is the largest yacht racing event in Scotland.
Buy
- Beautiful engraved glass and original artwork at the Luckenbooth Gallery
- Prints and original art at Loch Fyne Gallery
- Stuart Heard's original paintings
Eat
There is an excellent chippy in the Town Centre - I forget what it is called, but it is on the road to the Tarbert ferry terminal and it has a foreign (Italian?) name. Serves some of the best fish and chips ever!
- Anchorage Restaurant, Harbour street. Best restaurant in Tarbert great seafood
Drink
- Cafebarge. Excellent licensed cafe serving vegetarian and seafood. Oh, and it is on a big old barge moored in the harbour.
Sleep
Bed and Breakfast
- 🌍 Dunivaig B&B, Pier Road, PA29 6UG, ☎ +44 1880 820896. Dunivaig (Gaelic for 'Castle By The Sea') is a beautiful Scottish baronial style 3 room B&B situated in a quiet location with stunning views across Loch Fyne. from £27.50 per person.
Hotels
- 🌍 West Loch Hotel Tarbet, Campbeltown Road, PA29 6YF, ☎ +44 1880 820283. hotel and restaurant (mains from £15) on the quieter west loch side of the village from £59.50.
- 🌍 Stonefield Castle Hotel, PA29 6YJ. Set in 60 acres of woodland gardens 2 miles from Tarbert, 36 room hotel in a "castle" built in 1837.. from £123.
Go next
- Your next stop could be Islay, Gigha, Isle of Arran, Isle of Bute, Dunoon or Oban.
- Skipness
- Campbeltown