Arrochar – Mountain Trails, Loch Long and History

Arrochar brings together impressive mountain landscapes, Loch Long and Scottish history within a compact thematic area. The village is one of the main access points to Argyll Forest Park and is suitable as a base for very different days out: long hikes, wildlife watching, historical discoveries or experiences on the water. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can therefore consider whether your trip should focus more on mountain trails, culture, travelling without a car or the opportunities around Loch Long.

Hiking between forests, passes and peaks

The car park in Arrochar Forest is a starting point for long, challenging hikes to The Cobbler. The Three Lochs Way also passes through Arrochar. In Arrochar, it connects with the Loch Lomond & Cowal Way, which also passes through the village and ends at Inveruglas. The Loch Lomond & Cowal Way includes different types of paths: trails, beaches, forest roads, mountain ascents and minor roads. This creates different focuses for trip planning without turning the routes into a uniform experience.

Those choosing a summit as their destination will find the 1,011 m-high Beinn Ime to be a distinctive landmark. From its summit, the view extends over sea lochs, among other features. In the hills around Arrochar, you may be lucky enough to spot golden eagles; red deer can be seen on the slopes. For a trip involving different interests, it can be appealing to combine an active day of hiking with a more relaxed landscape experience.

Loch Long and experiences on the water

Loch Long Jetty is located at the northern end of Loch Long in the village of Arrochar. It has visitor moorings for visiting boats; two of these visitor moorings are suitable for yachts of up to 15 tonnes. In the immediate area, Loch Long offers water sports such as kayaking and diving among numerous wrecks. Loch Long also resembles a fjord. Those looking for accommodation in Arrochar can take this focus into account just as much as the mountain trails and historical sites: what matters is the desired mix of land- and water-based experiences, not a generally uniform holiday programme.

Parking areas at Loch Long include public toilets and picnic areas. The paved footpath within the Arrochar road improvement section runs along the A83 and crosses it from the southbound to the northbound side. The Arrochar-to-Tarbet Linkpath uses part of the A83 carriageway within the relevant A83 road improvement section. The Glen Loin and Coiregrograin, Arrochar route, by contrast, uses a footpath and a footbridge approximately 10 m south of the A83 carriageway.

Church, culture and historical traces

Arrochar Parish Church was built in 1847 as a Tudor-Gothic hall church with a tower. Its churchyard includes 19th-century grave monuments, a Celtic cross and urn monuments. The Hidden Heritage Trail starts and ends at the Three Villages Hall in Arrochar, providing a clear framework for exploring the village’s history.

Individual architectural and commemorative traces also add to the picture. Glenloin House was built in the 17th century; an underground icehouse is located next to Glenloin House. The Arrochar Glenloin House with Icehouse and Gate piers ensemble lies approximately 150 m north-east of the A83 carriageway. A plaque on the northern side of the new bridge at the upper end of Loch Long explains the former boundaries of the counties of Argyll and Dunbartonshire. Arrochar was also significant to the development of Scottish climbing in the late 19th century thanks to the Cobbler Club.

Getting there and choosing your base

Buses from Glasgow to Inveraray and onwards stop in the village of Arrochar. For planning a journey by public transport, the precise relationship between the forest car park and the railway is also important: Arrochar & Tarbet railway station is 1½ miles on foot from the car park in Arrochar Forest via a forest path.

Further places for your trip planning include Ardrishaig, Connel, Ardlui, Isle of Islay, Bowmore, Kingarth, Dalmally and Cairnbaan.

For the main travel overview: Argyll And Bute.