Tarbert Castle – A Short Climb above the Fishing Boats
Tarbert is a fishing village wrapped round one of the best natural harbours in Scotland, and its castle sits on the hill straight above the boats.
The climb is short and steep, and the reward is a broken tower with the whole of East Loch Tarbert laid out below it and Cowal across Loch Fyne. A longer trail carries on over the heath to a cairn if you want to make a morning of it.
- Time
- About three quarters of an hour: Forestry and Land Scotland's Tarbert Castle Trail, 1.2 km, strenuous. The Corranbuie Trail to the Millennium Cairn is 4 km and about an hour and three quarters. A walk, steep.
- The path
- Steep slopes on an uneven grassy path that may be muddy, with a narrow kissing gate.
- Where to start
- No car park at the castle: park in Tarbert village. The car park on Harbour Street is free.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off by 2.30pm for the castle, or 1.30pm for the Corranbuie Trail.
- Dogs
- Under close control: sheep and goats graze the castle mound.
- Children
- Short and steep; fine to the castle for children who walk well.
- Toilets
- Public toilets by the harbour in Tarbert.
- Before you set out
- The Corranbuie Trail shares a section of forest road with forest traffic.
The walk
There's no car park for the castle itself, so park in Tarbert village, where the car park on Harbour Street is free and the public toilets are beside it. The path up starts about 100 yards beyond the Visitor Information Centre on Harbour Street. Forestry and Land Scotland's Tarbert Castle Trail is 1.2 km and takes about three quarters of an hour. It's graded strenuous for its steep slopes, on a wide, uneven grassy path that can be muddy, with a narrow kissing gate. What's left of the castle is a broken tower house on a green knoll, with a viewing platform at its foot.
From it you look down on the fishing boats in the harbour, out along East Loch Tarbert and over Loch Fyne to Cowal. The village's story goes back to Norse times, and both Robert the Bruce and James IV came here. Sheep and goats sometimes graze the castle mound, so keep dogs under close control. For a longer walk, the Corranbuie Trail carries on from the castle over craggy heath to Barr Reamhar and the Millennium Cairn. It's 4 km and about an hour and three quarters, with long and very steep slopes and a stretch of forest road shared with forest traffic.
Roe and sika deer live among the trees, and golden eagles are sometimes seen overhead. The Kintyre Way starts in Tarbert too and comes up past the castle. From November to January set off by 2.30pm for the castle, or by 1.30pm for Corranbuie. There are plenty of places to eat and drink round the harbour afterwards.
If it rains
The grass path is steep and slippery when wet and the view goes in low cloud. On a wet day keep to the harbour and its cafés, and climb when it clears.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Hollies, 7 miles away. Sleeps 18.
Then Glenstriven House, 15 miles away. next free Sun 25 Oct to Tue 27 Oct.
For further reading, before you go.