Arrochar is situated at the head of the sea-arm of Loch Long, only a mile (1.5 km) west of Tarbet on Loch Lomond. With a railway station on the West Highland Line and easily accessible by road and water, it has developed into a focal point for climbers heading for Ben Arthur, known as the Cobbler, Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ime, all situated to the northwest.
For many years the most significant local employer was RNTR Arrochar, a Royal Navy Torpedo Range and test facility located to the west of the village, on the north shore of Loch Long. Built in 1912 by contractor Robert McAlpine, this facility operated until 1986. Initially torpedoes were supplied by a factory in Greenock, but between 1936 and 1971, they came from the RN Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. During World War II 50 torpedoes per day were regularly fired down the loch. Navy submarines would dock here to receive practice torpedoes, although live weapons were handled by RNAD Coulport.
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