Tarbet visitor site will be closed for eight weeks as part of a £2.1m upgrade.
Improvement works at Tarbet Pier Picnic Site on West Loch Lomond get underway on Monday, 29th January and will run throughout the summer.
The National Park Authority site at Tarbet Pier is being improved and expanded after a masterplan was developed in collaboration with the local community and businesses.
Between Monday 29th January and late March, the site will be completely closed, with no access for pedestrians, cyclists, campervans or motorists. The car park, toilets, motorhome facilities and café will all be closed during this initial period.
The National Park Authority expects to partially re-open the site in time for Easter weekend at the end of March.
At this stage, the site and facilities will re-open but access for parking, coaches and motorhomes will be limited and further short closures may be required.
The works are due to be complete by late summer and the National Park Authority will provide regular updates about facilities to visitors and the local community between now and then.
More than £2m is being invested at the popular visitor site, transforming it into a sustainable low-carbon destination with expanded facilities for the community and for visitors. The project is supported by a £750,000 grant from VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF).
Stuart Mearns, Director of Place at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said:
“Tarbet is a gateway to the National Park and the ambitious transformation of this site will benefit all those who use it, from day visitors and campers to the local community and businesses.
“We have worked closely with local stakeholders throughout this project, including discussions about the impacts of the upcoming construction work. While there will be disruption over the coming months, the benefits for those who enjoy the site will be felt for decades to come.
“The focus on establishing a more sustainable, inclusive and nature-positive site at Tarbet aligns closely with the future vision for the National Park set out in the upcoming National Park Partnership Plan.”
Improvements being made to the visitor site at Tarbet this year include:
- a new shelter and viewpoint
- additional native woodland
- improvements to internal paths, roads and car parking to ensure easier and safer movement for all users
- a range of measures to establish the site as a sustainable travel hub: a cycle hub with repair station, charging points for electric vehicles and e-bikes, more accessible pedestrian facilities and improved cycling routes.
- improvements to motorhome facilities including better parking and waste disposal facilities.
Up-to-date information about what is available at the site can be found on the National Park Authority website at lochlomond-trossachs.org/tarbet