‘Exciting’ tourism initiative launched in Arrochar and Tarbet

A new tourism initiative was launched in Arrochar and Tarbet this week.

Visitor wardens will be on duty, while temporary public toilets have opened and information maps are being rolled out at dozens of sites throughout the villages.

The plight of the popular tourist villages has been highlighted regularly during the past year, with them suffering from the double blow of extensive A83 road closures due to landslides at the nearby Rest and Be Thankful and the devastating impact of Covid-19 lockdowns which decimated the local tourist industry.

Earlier this year a working group – local tourism businesses, the local development trust, the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, Luss Estates and the national park – came together to develop a fightback plan for the villages with a series of priority actions identified including some quick win actions for delivery in time for this summer season.

And the local Tourism Action Group worked quickly to deliver a package of early action improvements for the May holiday weekend, funded by the NatureScot Better Places Green Recovery grants scheme, the Hannah Stirling Loch Lomond Trust and the Friends of OUR park visitor giving scheme.

This includes:

• Temporary toilets at Arrochar car park with the permission of owners Luss Estates – these are due to be augmented with additional toilets shortly at the start of the popular Cobbler mountain path
• Employing three seasonal visitor wardens to provide a range of services to help visitors and improve the appearance of the village
• The design, production and installation of information and orientation map panels at key locations such as bus stops, the railway station and other busy spots for tourists

At the launch event local MSP Jackie Baillie said: “I am really impressed with what has been achieved by a small band of local volunteers working in close partnership with the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs in such a short time.

“It is refreshing to see what can be achieved by adopting a determined and positive attitude in times of adversity.

“The provision of much needed toilets and information map panels backed up by three locally recruited visitor services wardens – Robert McEwan, Walter Dey and Martin Semple – should ensure the area caters more effectively for the needs of visitors as we ease out of lockdown restrictions, and with a rapid increase in the number of people who simply want to enjoy the great outdoors in the Arrochar and Tarbet area.”

Friends trustee and chair of the local development trust Duncan MacLachlan said: “It has been a busy period preparing for the launch of this visitor welcome initiative but it marks the start of what will hopefully be a productive period of regeneration in both villages as we begin the long journey on the road to recovery after some unprecedented events outwith our control.

“I am grateful to local businesses and colleagues at the conservation charity, Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and Luss Estates, who have really stepped up to the plate in our time of need.’’

And Jane Ireland of local business group Destination Arrochar Alps added: “This has been an exciting period with a real focus on making a difference in a remarkably short timescale, and all the hard work has paid off with tangible improvements on the ground which will improve the overall quality of visitor welcome we are able to provide this summer

“I am confident we can build further on this as we try to position the area as one of Scotland’s top tourist destinations.”