Tarbet

This article is about The village on the shores of Loch Lomond.
For the Town and port on the Isle of Harris called Tarbert in English, see An Tairbeart.
For the Town and port in Knapdale, Argyll, see Tarbert (Loch Fyne).

Tarbet lies approximately half way up the west side of Loch Lomond, and is a small village based around the hotel and lochside facilities for tourists. The history of the village dates back to the Viking era when boats were dragged across the narrow valley from Arrochar on Loch Long to Loch Lomond, so it is perhaps fitting that it is still an important point in the modern transport network.

The village is where the A82 is forced to TOTSO at the start of the A83. The junction is a simple give-way in front of the Tarbet Hotel, with the mainline being the A83 - Glasgow bound A82, while the north bound A82 turns off. Turning traffic has a turning bay in the centre of the mainline, and traffic coming out of the A82 has a pair of lanes for left or right turns. It is more than just a junction for many travellers, however, as Tarbet marks the end of the wide fast highway from Glasgow, and the start of the twisty section up Loch Lomond and onto the Highlands. Many visitors consider Tarbet to be the start of the Highlands!

The reason for the TOTSO at this junction seems to be entirely down to the alignment of the roads. Casual observance suggests that the majority of traffic is continuing along the A82, with very little traffic turning between the A83 and northbound A82.

History

In addition to the main junction, a quiet lane, now partially closed up to vehicles, runs behind the Hotel. This dates back to the construction of the military road by Major Caulfeild in the 1750s. The lane connected the Rannoch Moor and Inveraray roads. Whether this is actually the only original alignment, or whether a triangle junction existed is unclear, although when the hotel was built it clearly faced onto the existing line of the A82, which may have been newly built with the hotel.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A82	A' Chrìon Làraich/Crianlarich, An Gearasdan/Fort William, An t-Òban/Oban (A85)
A82	Glaschu/Glasgow, Dumbarton
A83	Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain/Campbeltown, Inveraray	16'0" height limit in 1 mile