Arrochar on Loch Long in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Arrochar -Lomond and Trossachs National Park (West) North, South, East

Arrochar sits at the top of Loch Long, a fjord type sea loch which has its mouth on the Clyde estuary. This is a popular spot for fishing, walking and climbing. The mountains in the area are known as the Arrochar alps and provide great hill walking as well as some challenging rope climbing. There are four Munros (mountains above 3000ft) in the immediate area with many more easily accessible from Arrochar. However the most spectacular of all the mountains is Ben Arthur which is more commonly referred to as the Cobbler due to the outline of the summit as seen from the village. The Cobbler however is not quite a Munro but is the most majestic of the Corbetts.

There are numerous walks that you can enjoy without going to the summit of a mountain, as well as mountain bike trails. In short, if you like outdoor activities, this is a great place to be based.

During the 12th and 13th century the Vikings visited this area and even dragged a long boat across the valley floor between Arrochar and Tarbet on Loch Lomond where they then plundered the communities on the Lomond Shores.

Arrochar is easy to travel too as it is on the main Glasgow to Argyll road. There is also a train station serving both Arrochar and Tarbet on Loch Lomond.

Photographs Courtesy of Photographscotland.com

At the early part of the last century up until the 70,s, many climbers would find there way from the city of Glasgow to be in the great outdoors. Arrochar was a popular place as it was near enough to Glasgow to be easily reached even in harsh winter weather and also because of the choices of howfs to sleep in. There are numerous boulders with enough space under one side or other where two or more climbers could bed down for the night. There are even a series of caves with a small subterranean loch that was very popular and as many as 20 or more would be found sleeping there on a cold Friday or Saturday winters night.

If you are travelling further west into the Argyll Coastal area visit our Argyll Coast website.

Arrochar Loch Long in the West of the National Park