Arrochar, Argyll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arrochar
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 Arrochar with Ben Lomond behind, taken from the path to The Cobbler. |
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 Arrochar
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| OS grid reference | NN 29700 04300 |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Arrochar |
| Postcode district | G83 |
| Dialling code | 01301 |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Arrochar is a small village in the Scottish Highlands. It sits at the top of a long, narrow lake called Loch Long. This area is part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The village is famous for the mountains around it, known as the Arrochar Alps. One of the most well-known peaks is the Cobbler, which has a very unique rocky top. Arrochar is easy to reach because important roads meet here. It also has a train station called Arrochar and Tarbet railway station.
For more than 500 years, the area around Arrochar was controlled by the chiefs of Clan MacFarlane. Their family has lived in this part of Scotland for a very long time. They are known for their strong connection to the Highlands, with its tall mountains and deep lochs.
This village was once a target for Viking raiders. These Vikings would pull their boats two miles overland to a place called Tarbet. From there, they could attack villages on Loch Lomond. However, the Vikings were defeated in 1263 at the battle of Largs.
The western edge of Arrochar used to be the border between two regions: Argyll and Dunbartonshire. In 1996, the borders changed. Now, the entire area of Arrochar is part of Argyll and Bute.
What Was the Arrochar Torpedo Testing Facility?
Nov2007.jpg)
At the head of Loch Long, there was once a special place for testing torpedoes. This facility was closed down in 1980. Today, parts of it have been taken apart, but demolition stopped after a fire in 2007.
Torpedoes were launched into Loch Long from tubes at the front of the building. A boat would then collect the unarmed torpedoes. They were brought back for scientists to study how they worked. The building had tracks inside where torpedoes were stored and prepared. Hoists on the first floor would lower them into the launch tubes.
The control room at the top of the building had a camera. It looked straight down the loch to watch the torpedoes. Behind the control room were offices. Other parts of the facility, like housing and workshops, have since been sold off.
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