Tarbert Kintyre Tourist Information

Tarbert Attractions

Tarbert is a pretty harbour town that greets warmly you as you cross the thin isthmus connecting the Kintyre Peninsula with mainland Scotland. Tourism is developing and Tarbert is embracing this as a major source of income since the local fishing industry has been in decline. Tarbert has been a centre for herring fishing since 836 AD when it is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster. However, the fishermen of Tarbert were ironically credited with the development of the trawling method of fishing for herring which led to the practical collapse of fish stocks in Loch Fyne.

Today Tarbert is a colourful, attractive town with a few sights, lots of bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation, several cafes and restaurants that are proud to serve local Scottish food. The Corner House Bistro has a French chef that cooks up exciting evening meals. There is also the Loch Fyne Gallery on the harbour front with a range of paintings, prints by Scottish artists and jewellery - excellent for gift ideas.

Seafood is still a local speciality and the first weekend in July sees the Tarbert Seafood Festival hit town. This is the last known seafood festival on the west coast of Scotland. Cookery demonstrations by well known and TV chefs, raft races and sampling locally caught fresh seafood is all part of the fun. This coincides nicely with the Scottish Series yacht race which pulls into port around the same time.

There is a friendly and helpful Tourist Information Centre in Tarbert on Harbour Street, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29. Tel: 08707 200624. Open Apr-Oct. Nov-March, open weekends only.

• Kintyre Hotels
• Kintyre B&B

Tarbert's Tourist Sights

The two most distinguishing landmarks are the rocket like spire on the church to the north of the town and the ruins of Robert the Bruce's castle to the south.

The walk up to Tarbert Castle from Harbour Street is a popular one and worth it for the views alone. The ruins date from the 13th century and you can find a full history on the Tarbert, Loch Fyne link right.

The harbour itself is a peaceful place to while away some time. Many of the buildings are brightly painted which perks up the town. It's also where you'll fairs and fun rides during the summer festivals.

• Kintyre Accommodation
• Holiday Cottages in Kintyre

Tarbert Ferries

A range of ferries run from West Loch Tarbert or nearby to the islands of Gigha, Arran, Islay and Jura.

Check our Kintyre page for more information.

• Bed and Breakfast in Kintyre
• Hotels in Kintyre

The Kintyre Way - Walking Around Tarbert

Tarbert is the starting point for The Kintyre Way. The Kintyre Way is a long distance circular walking route that covers the majority of the Kintyre Peninsula. It is 89 miles in total and to do the whole route can take between four to seven days.

It was opened in 2006 and comprises serious hiking as well as more leisurely rambles. The route stretches from Tarbert in north Kintyre all the way down to Southend. It criss-crosses the peninsula to help you explore it fully.

The route is waymarked but check the dedicated website for maps and further information. There is plenty of comfortable accommodation along the route to rest your weary legs at the end of the day.

Apart from the castle walk there are several other walks from Tarbert. If you fancy a good long hike try the Tarbert to Skipness route. It is a total of 16 kilometres and takes around 5 hours to walk. You can get a bus back but it is best to check the times before setting out as these can be infrequent. For more details of walks in the area check the Walks in Argyll link and under the sports section of the Tarbert Tourist Information link right. Leaflets of walk are also available from the Tourist Information Office.

• B&Bs in Kintyre
• Holiday Cottage in Kintyre