Arrochar
Village at the head of Loch Long
Verdict
Go if you want serious hill walking from a village with a train station.
Skip if you want a gentle lochside stroll. Read up on Arrochar car parks and fill times.
- Village car park. Argyll and Bute Council’s Glenloin car park in Arrochar is pay and display. Check the signs for today’s charges.
- Parking per hour
- £1.20/h
- All-day parking
- £10.30
- Charging hours
- 9am–6pm
- Station
- Rail
Fine weekends and school holidays are the busy times, especially for the Cobbler. Weekdays and early starts are easier.
Arrochar in photos
Is Arrochar worth it?
Arrochar is worth it if you want hills rather than a promenade. It sits at the head of Loch Long, the Cobbler and the other Arrochar Alps rise behind it, and the West Highland line stops at Arrochar & Tarbet. Tarbet, on Loch Lomond, is a short hop away. Still choosing a base? See all places around the loch.
Go if you want
A hill day with the option of arriving by train. The village itself is small, so plan the day around the walk.
Think twice if you want
An easy lochside stroll with lots to browse. Check what the weather is like before you plan a hill day. Bringing a tent? The park’s permit season runs from 1 March to 30 September, so read a night under canvas near Arrochar first.
Parking & getting there
Arrochar Glenloin car park (Argyll and Bute Council)
- Operator
- Argyll and Bute Council, pay and display
- Spaces
- 58
- Price
- £1.20 per hour; £10.30 per day (2026/27). Check the machine for today’s rates.
- Charging hours
- Monday to Sunday 9am to 6pm
- Overnight
- Overnight stays and motorhomes are not allowed here.
- Postcode
- G83 7AL
- Tarbet Pier
- The National Park Authority runs the Tarbet Pier picnic site car park (G83 7DE). Its published tariff dates from 2022, so check the machine rather than relying on it.
Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Car-free
ScotRail’s West Highland line stops at Arrochar & Tarbet. Citylink 975 and 976 (Glasgow to Oban) and bus 302 from Helensburgh (Garelochhead Coaches) also call at Arrochar, and Ember E5 stops at Tarbet. We have not recorded times, so check Traveline Scotland on the day. For the full picture see routes in by car, train and bus.
When it is busy
Editorial estimate of a typical summer day, not measured counts. No fill times are published for these car parks.
| Day | 9:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | Quiet | Quiet | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Quiet | Quiet |
| Saturday | Quiet | Steady | Steady | Busy | Busy | Busy | Busy | Steady | Quiet |
| Sunday | Quiet | Steady | Steady | Busy | Busy | Busy | Busy | Steady | Quiet |
Q QuietS SteadyB BusyF Car park full
Tip: arrive before 10:00 on a fine weekend, or come by train. The Glenloin car park charges seven days a week from 9am.
Things to do in Arrochar
-
The Cobbler
The hill most visitors come for, and one of the Arrochar Alps. Treat it as a mountain day: check the weather, carry the right kit and leave plenty of time. The route, start and timings are in the Cobbler on foot.
-
The Arrochar Alps
The Cobbler is part of a group of steep hills around the head of Loch Long. The other hills are for experienced walkers, so plan each route carefully rather than linking summits on the day.
-
Loch Long
The shore road and the pier give the easy views, with the hills across the water. For ideas beyond the village, see a day at Loch Long.
-
Tarbet and Loch Lomond
Tarbet sits on the west shore of Loch Lomond at the junction of the A82 and A83, on the neck of land that separates Loch Lomond from Loch Long. Cruise Loch Lomond sails from Tarbet in season.
1 hour, 3 hours or a full day
1 hour
A quick stop (suggested timings)
- 0:00 Park at Glenloin. It costs £1.20 an hour.
- 0:10 Walk the shore and look at the hills across the loch.
- 0:50 Back to the car.
3 hours
Shore and Tarbet
- 0:00 Park for three hours, or arrive by train and skip the car park charge.
- 0:30 Shore walk and a drink or snack. Check opening hours first.
- 2:00 A short run to Tarbet for the Loch Lomond shore.
A full day
The Cobbler
- 8:00 Start early. All day is £10.30 at Glenloin, so the train is the cheaper start.
- 8:30 Set off on the Cobbler. Check the route and weather in the walk guide first.
- 16:00 Back in the village before the light fades, whatever the season.
Eat & drink
-
Village pub
Expect a pub and some light food near the shore. We have not verified hours, so check before you plan a meal around them. Our guide to food and drink in Arrochar has more.
-
Tea room and picnic
Hours change by season. Bring water and snacks for a hill day so you are not relying on a shop.
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Tarbet
Tarbet is a short run away if you want a second option.
Where to stay near Arrochar
Partner links: we may earn a commission
See the Cobbler first
Questions people ask
What loch is Arrochar on?
Arrochar is at the head of Loch Long, a sea loch. Tarbet, a short way east, is on Loch Lomond, and a narrow neck of land separates the two lochs.
How far is Arrochar from Glasgow?
We have no verified drive time, so check a route planner for today’s traffic. The West Highland line has a station at Arrochar & Tarbet, and Citylink 975 and 976 stop here on the Glasgow to Oban route.
Where do I park in Arrochar?
In the Argyll and Bute Council Glenloin car park (postcode G83 7AL, 58 spaces). It is £1.20 an hour or £10.30 a day, Monday to Sunday 9am to 6pm. Check the machine.
Can I stay overnight in a campervan at Glenloin?
No. Overnight stays and motorhomes are not allowed at Glenloin. The National Park Authority has talked of paid motorhome bays at Tarbet Pier, so check what is in place.
Are Arrochar and Tarbet the same place?
No. They are separate villages. Arrochar is on Loch Long and Tarbet is on the west shore of Loch Lomond at the A82 and A83 junction, but they share a railway station, Arrochar & Tarbet.
What are the current deals at the Arrochar Hotel?
We do not quote deals, because they change daily. Check the hotel’s own site and the booking sites for today’s price.
Nearby places
- A short run eastTarbetOn the west shore of Loch Lomond, at the A82 and A83 junction.
- By cruise boatInversnaidAcross Loch Lomond, reached by Cruise Loch Lomond in season.
- North on the A82InveruglasA stop on Loch Lomond’s west shore.
- RelatedWalksMore routes around the loch, from short strolls to hill days.