Beautiful bustling Tarbert Harbour,Loch Fyne

Tarbert sits at northern head of the Kintyre peninsula, on the banks of Loch Fyne. The name is given to narrow strips of land, perhaps where two lochs meet – and is a popular place name in Scotland (no fewer than 13 places take this name), so make sure you’re headed for the right one! Tarbert is an attractive fishing town with plenty to do and see, places to shop and eat and with a ferry link to ‘mainland’ Argyll opposite.

As a traditional fishing town, Tarbert is the perfect place to try some fresh, locally-caught seafood. An annual Seafood Festival is hosted here every summer, and there are restaurants open year-round serving excellent food. The town is well-served by local food shops as well as a small supermarket.

The surrounding area is packed with outdoor activities, whether you want to rent a kayak and explore the coastline, mountain bike along forest tracks, take a hike up the rugged hills, go quad biking or just a stroll along a shell beach. The Kintyre Way starts here – a 161km route of ever-changing scenery ending at Machrihanish at the southwestern tip of the peninsula.

The town is increasingly popular with yachters, and from here you can explore the sheltered inlets of Loch Fyne and the coastal waters of Isle of Arran and Bute. The town hosts both the Scottish Series and the Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival annually.

In the middle ages, Tarbert was a strategic Royal stronghold and had no fewer than three castles. The only remaining of these, Tarbert Castle, sits ruined above the village today. Tarbert was the landing place of King Magnus Barefoot of Norway, who went on to lay claim to the Kintyre peninsula.

From Kennacraig, just a few miles from Tarbert, you can hop on a ferry to Islay or Jura and sample some of the whisky that the islands are most famous for. From Taylinloan, a little further down the coast, a short ferry ride takes you to Gigha, a small, peaceful island known for its delicious halibut.

Whether you arrive in Tarbert by yacht or by road, you’re sure to be treated to pretty landscapes (and seascapes!), delicious food and a lively town centred around its harbour. Kintyre attracts many outdoor enthusiasts and island hoppers, and the landscapes of this corner of the west coast never disappoint.