Arrochar. Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/arrochar-west-highlands-loch-lomond-4395564/

The Hidden Heritage Trail

The Hidden Heritage Trail is a 3.5 mile (5km) circular walking route between Arrochar and Tarbet.

View from Tarbet, Loch Lomond towards Arrochar and Loch Long. Image courtesy of LuthersVolvo (Twitter)

This narrow strip of land between Loch Lomond and Loch Long (one of the Clyde Sea Lochs) has long been an important place, and has been inhabited for thousands of years. The local place names reflect the area’s history – Tarbet is from the Gaelic tairbeart meaning ‘portage’, and Arrochar is from arachor meaning ‘ploughgate’.

In 1263 before the Battle of Largs, Vikings dragged 60 ships overland from the sea loch onto Loch Lomond to raid local settlements. From the 13th Century, the area was notorious for cattle raiding, and was an important route for drovers taking their cattle to market.

In the Victorian era, tourists arrived, keen to experience the beauty of the Scottish Highlands, and the area was important in the development of Scottish climbing, with the establishment of the ‘Cobbler Club’ in the late 1800s.

The route is circular and a suggested start/end point is the Three Villages Hall in Arrochar, but the route can be joined at several locations. Part of the route is on the Three Lochs Way and there are waymarkers and interpretation panels.

You can find out more at the Heritage Trail website and you can download a leaflet from there. There is also information on Apps available for the route.