Carol Ann's Guidebook - Arrochar and around
Food Scene
A fabulous bistro, newly opened in February 2023. Super stylish with a great seasonal menu. Amazing cocktails too. Pop in for a meal or just coffee +cake. Very welcoming!
Also has a great take-away cafe with benches to enjoy the Loch views. Great coffee, hot rolls, paninis and cakes during the day. Fab pizzas and burgers from 5pm.
6 locals recommend
Cù Mara Bistro & Takeaway
Shore RoadA fabulous bistro, newly opened in February 2023. Super stylish with a great seasonal menu. Amazing cocktails too. Pop in for a meal or just coffee +cake. Very welcoming!
Also has a great take-away cafe with benches to enjoy the Loch views. Great coffee, hot rolls, paninis and cakes during the day. Fab pizzas and burgers from 5pm.
Village Inn
Shore RoadHistoric pub with large beer garden and views of the Cobbler views.
Ben Arthur Bothy
Main streetLocal pub with outdoor loch-side seating. Pub grub.
An amazing little farm shop, selling everything from baked goods, cheeses and chutneys to local organic meat and ice creams. A great place to stock up en route to Arrochar.
Auchentullich Farm Shop
An amazing little farm shop, selling everything from baked goods, cheeses and chutneys to local organic meat and ice creams. A great place to stock up en route to Arrochar.
Great seafood restaurant and deli counter in a lovely setting by the Loch. The hot smoked salmon is a must!
58 locals recommend
Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd
Great seafood restaurant and deli counter in a lovely setting by the Loch. The hot smoked salmon is a must!
Has a lovely little cafe and a great gift shop. As well as lots of trees and plants!
The Tree Shop Garden Centre & Cafe
Has a lovely little cafe and a great gift shop. As well as lots of trees and plants!
Sugar Boat
30 Colquhoun SquareA Michelin recommended bistro, a 30 min drive away. Delicious!
A lovely bar/restaurant with a tasty menu and vibrant atmosphere.
23 locals recommend
Riverhill Cafe, Bar & Restaurant
26 W Princes StA lovely bar/restaurant with a tasty menu and vibrant atmosphere.
An amazing setting and a fabulous array of unusual (and delicious) toasties!
The Boat Shed Café Loch Goil
An amazing setting and a fabulous array of unusual (and delicious) toasties!
Sightseeing
Cruise Loch Lomond Ltd
A variety of daily cruises on the beautiful Loch.
The perfect spot to rent kayaks and paddle-boards, even for first timers. The calm banks of Loch Goil make it pretty idyllic. Rental costs around £25 for 2 hours, including wet suits and safety equipment.
9 locals recommend
lochgoilhead kayak hire
The perfect spot to rent kayaks and paddle-boards, even for first timers. The calm banks of Loch Goil make it pretty idyllic. Rental costs around £25 for 2 hours, including wet suits and safety equipment.
Great views over Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond. Visitor centre, coffee shop and pier.
Inveruglas Pyramid - An Ceann Mòr
A82Great views over Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond. Visitor centre, coffee shop and pier.
With swimming pools, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi; the wellbeing centre is worth a visit. An excellent location on Loch Lomond with a number of restaurants (high end, bar/bistro) and coffee shops.
A separate spa facility is located slightly further up the Loch.
24 locals recommend
Cameron House
With swimming pools, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi; the wellbeing centre is worth a visit. An excellent location on Loch Lomond with a number of restaurants (high end, bar/bistro) and coffee shops.
A separate spa facility is located slightly further up the Loch.
With a roof top infinity pool, infra red sauna, hamman steam room and hydro pool, this is a very special treat. The 20m swimming pool is always very peaceful too. Treatments and lunch packages available too.
Also a golf course.
11 locals recommend
Cameron Spa
With a roof top infinity pool, infra red sauna, hamman steam room and hydro pool, this is a very special treat. The 20m swimming pool is always very peaceful too. Treatments and lunch packages available too.
Also a golf course.
Luss
A quaint little village with a great spot on the shores of Loch Lomond.
Benmore Botanic Garden
4 UigFantastic botanic gardens
A great play area for young children! Check out their social media for activities and offers. Best to book in advance.
The Fyne Den
A great play area for young children! Check out their social media for activities and offers. Best to book in advance.
Loch Lomond Faerie Trail
School RoadAn energetic walk for the family.
The gruffalo trail and fairy trail
A great little forest walk for the family.
Inveraray Castle
Local castle.
Inveraray Jail
Local museum.
Luss
A quaint little village on the banks of Loch Lomond. Great gift shop too.
A National Trust Scotland Garden. A lovely stop off with cafe and gift shop.
21 locals recommend
Crarae Garden Argyll
A National Trust Scotland Garden. A lovely stop off with cafe and gift shop.
Newly opened leisure centre, with 2 pools, gym and sauna. Very reasonably priced.
Helensburgh Swimming Pool
9 W Clyde StNewly opened leisure centre, with 2 pools, gym and sauna. Very reasonably priced.
Traveler advice
Customs and culture
Shopping
There is a small village shop within walking distance (Braeside Stores) and another a mile or so away at Tarbet. Supermarkets can be found in Helensburgh (Morrison’s, Co-op), Alexandria (Aldi's) and Dunbarton (Asda, Morrison’s, M+S foodhall). Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and Waitrose all deliver.
The lovely Auchentulloch farm shop is en route to the accommodation (across from Cameron House Spa) and is definitely worth stockking up there for quality local produce.