Tarbert, United Kingdom

The coast of Tarbert Bay is rocky and the cliffs are fringed with young firs, the village itself being an extremely tranquil and beautiful place. Tarbert boasts several beaches, accessible either through forested walks or over seaside rocks. One such beach, known locally as the Shell Beach, is composed entirely of broken seashells that have washed ashore following offshore processing of queenies and clams.

The Church of Scotland parish church occupies a fine situation on high ground and has a crown spire. Overlooking the harbour are the ruins of a castle built by Robert I of Scotland in 1326. The isthmus connecting the districts of Knapdale and Kintyre is little more than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and boats once used to be dragged across to the head of West Loch Tarbert, a narrow sea loch nearly 10 miles (16 km) long. A proposal to cut a canal across to shorten the sail to Islay and Jura in the late 19th century did not progress further.

Tarbert is famous for its seafood and hosts a seafood festival every year. In addition to the Seafood Festival, Tarbert also plays host to the Scottish Series, which usually takes place in the last weeks of May every year. This yacht race is the second biggest in Britain and is surpassed only by the Cowes Week. At its peak, the village is swelled by visiting yachtsmen and their yachts.

Tarbert also hosts an annual amusement fair at the end of July. Begun in the early 1800s, Tarbert Fair was originally a place where farmers and crofters would barter cattle, wool, and other goods. Today, however, the Fair is all about entertainment, with a suite of fairground rides, arcades, and fast food outlets that stretch along the harbour walls.