Tarbert Harbor

Tarbert, Scotland, UK... more

by Marcia Colelli

Title

Tarbert Harbor

Artist

Marcia Colelli

Medium

Photograph - Photographs-digital Art

Description

Tarbert, Scotland, UK
Tarbert is a name from Gaelic for a small neck of land joining two larger pieces; an isthmus, at which Tarbert lies.
Tarbert was anciently part of the Gaelic overkingdom of Dál Riata. It has been suggested as a scene of an action during a conflict for the kingdom's rule between Dúngal mac Selbaig and Eochaid mac Echdach. The Annals of Ulster attest that in 731, Dúngal burnt a "Tairpert Boitir", which was most probably Tarbert and was at the time in the lands of the Cenél nGabráin.
Around the year 1098 Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway, had his longship carried across the isthmus at Tarbert to signify his possession of the Western Isles.
A fortified structure was built in Tarbert during the 13th century. It was reinforced with the addition of an outer bailey and towers in the 1320s by Robert the Bruce, to protect it against the Lords of the Isles. A towerhouse was added in the 16th century, which is the most noticeable part of the remains. The castle occupies high land above Loch Fyne, providing views up East Loch Tarbert and beyond to the Firth of Clyde. This castle was captured from John MacDonald by James IV of Scotland as part of his campaign to destroy the power of the Lords of the Isles. In 1685 the castle was involved in another skirmish when Walter Campbell of Skipness Castle seized it as a stronghold for the Clan Campbell.
There are only a couple of standing walls left which have been stabilized, allowing removal of fencing and closer access for visitors. The castle is on top of a hill in Tarbert overlooking the bay. The castle has a very commanding view of the water approaches.
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. The parish church occupies a fine situation. 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 wide, and boats once used to be dragged across to the head of West Loch Tarbert, a narrow sea loch nearly 10 miles long. A proposal to cut a canal across to shorten the sail to Islay and Jura has never progressed further.
The A83 road runs 37.8 miles southwest from Tarbert to Campbeltown. The village is served by a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service, which connects Tarbert with Portavadie in the Cowal peninsula during the summer, and Lochranza on Arran in winter.
watercolor

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Uploaded

December 10th, 2015