This short walk to the White Shores (also known as Port Ban) skirts the northern side of Tarbert harbour with lovely views back over the boats and then reaches the small secluded pebble beach, from where you can watch the ferries heading across to Cowal.
Bog Factor
Minor road, then good path.
Tarbert.
Tarbert is served by a good bus service.
NR863686
The walk is described from the centre of Tarbert at the junction with Campbeltown Road and Harbour Road, opposite the Co-op; there is harbour parking. Tarbert is still a fairly busy fishing port with a number of small boats landing fish and shellfish most days. The harbour walls that can be seen today were designed by Thomas Telford. Begin by walking north, heading up the hill on the pavement beside the main road towards Lochgilphead for a short while.
Take the next right to pass the fire station and skirt the north side of the harbour. There is a further parking area off to the right. Here the marina, which has made Tarbert popular with Clyde yachtsmen, can be seen. Keep following the road which also has good views across to Tarbert Castle, a 13th century stronghold once used by Robert the Bruce to hold the Scottish Parliament. At the end of the road curve to the right into another parking area (ideal to shorten the walk) and follow the signed path that begins past the garden of the end house, close by the sea.
The path now undulates through the woods that line this part of the coastline. There are a number of small sheds belonging to the moorings in the deep inlet alongside the path. This is a good place to spot seabirds and the occasional seal. Keep on the main path, which can be muddy, ignoring a small path to the left, and eventually crossing the end of the inlet on a boardwalk.
The path now climbs through the woods, at a fork keep right to descend to Port Ban where there is a picnic bench. Depending on the state of the tide it is sometimes possible to walk across to the jetty on the left which was used before the main harbour at Tarbert was constructed. Much of the sand here is actually crushed shells and many winkles, anemones, and mussels can be found clinging to the rocks at low tide. This is also a good point to watch the Calmac ferry as it departs or arrives on its regular sailings to Portavadie in Cowal across Loch Fyne.
Retrace your steps to the road end and then back to the harbour at Tarbert.
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