Loch Fyne

Tarbert | Village, Marina & Fishing Port

Tarbert is one of the few official fishing ports in Scotland registered to land herring and popular with visitors throughout the year, it is also the closest village to the Islay ferry departure.

The multicoloured buildings, shops, cafes and hotels nestle around the natural harbour much like Tobermory with parking available around the recently upgraded harbour side. Read more >>

Where To Stay In Tarbert

With seven hotels within walking distance of the village centre, a multitude of self catering in and around the village, and a great selection of bed and breakfasts, you are spoilt for choice.

Like everywhere though there is the odd bad apple, our selection of accommodation have been inspected and are recommended by us so you can book with confidence.

Browse Tarbert Accommodation or find a Late Deal bargain.

Where To Eat In Tarbert

Tarbert has a reputation for good food and with fish and shellfish landed by local fishermen that can be from the fishing boat to your plate within minutes you really cannot get fresher than that!

Many of the hotels serve food from set menus featuring locally grown vegetables, highland reared meat and of course locally caught seafood. Langoustine are in plenty. Additionally several cafes and restaurants cater for families or food lovers respectively.

Browse our Where To Eat section for Tarbert.

Tarbert Harbour, Marina and Working Fishing Quay

The harbour is a natural sheltered inlet on Loch Fyne, the innermost section protected with a dry stone wall which has links with Thomas Telford whom also worked on the Crinan Canal.

Tarbert is famous for its historic fishing industry, in particular for the herring landed here in their thousands in the early 1900s and also in recent years for the number and quality of langoustine caught. A small fishing fleet still exists today.

It is not financially viable to just have a fishing fleet so small, in recent years the addition and expansion of a marina within the harbour meets the needs of yachtsmen and women but also helps finance the harbour as leisure boats become increasingly popular.

Events, Festivals & Celebrations

The village is home to several large annual events which add colour and variety to the area aswell as country markets, community fundraisers and open days.

Each year in May the second largest yacht event in Britain comes to Tarbert and Loch Fyne, in early July the unique Seafood Festival attracts people from all across the world and in September the Music Festival fills the hotels and bars with contemporary and traditional Scottish music and celebration. Read more >>

Walking & The Great Outdoors

Tarbert is home to the start of the Kintyre Way walk from the harbour-side by Robert the Bruce's castle and then on to Skipness before finishing over a number of days at Southend.

If you like something a little more leisurely, many locals and visitors walk up and down the length of the pier road of an evening by the water of Loch Fyne which is bereft of most traffic or perhaps a little tranquil meander to the white shore takes you along by the marina to a small section of shallow beach. Read more >>

The Waverley Paddle Steamer Boat Trips

The impressive last remaining ocean going passenger paddle steamer stops at Tarbert during its west coast timetable annually. The twin funnelled vessel was restored and operates a passenger service taking people for short trips from place to place.

Stopping at Tarbert's east pier, the Waverley travels northwards to Ardrishaig and then returns to Tarbert before going to Tighnabruaich and back down the Clyde. Destinations and times are weather dependant but the trip is something to enjoy and likely to only happen a handful of times.

Read more about the Waverley , see video footage and photographs by following the link. Read more >>

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