A popular Loch Lomond visitor site is to be closed for two months from the start of next week.

Improvement works at the Tarbet Pier Picnic Site will begin on Monday, January 29 and run throughout the summer.

The site will be closed from Monday until late March, with no access for pedestrians, cyclists, campervans or motorists.

The car park, toilets, motorhome facilities and café will all be closed during this initial period.

READ MORE: Minister visits Tarbet site to see area's green potential

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority says it expects to partially re-open the site in time for Easter weekend at the end of March.

At this stage, it says, the site and facilities will re-open but access for parking, coaches and motorhomes will be limited and further short closures may be required.

A masterplan developed in collaboration with the local community and businesses will see the area improved by adding a new shelter and viewpoint, additional native woodland, improvements to motorhome facilities, internal paths, roads and car parking.

It will also include a range of measures to establish the site as a sustainable travel hub: a cycle hub with repair station, charging points for electric vehicles and e-bikes, more accessible pedestrian facilities and improved cycling routes. 

READ MORE: Much-loved hotel in Tarbet sold to Scottish hospitality chain

More than £2m is being invested at the popular visitor site, transforming it into a sustainable low-carbon destination with expanded facilities for the community and visitors.  

The project is supported by a £750,000 grant from VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF).

The works are due to be complete by late summer and the National Park Authority will provide regular updates about facilities to visitors and the local community between now and then.

Stuart Mearns, director of place at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “Tarbet is a gateway to the National Park and the ambitious transformation of this site will benefit all those who use it, from day visitors and campers to the local community and businesses.

READ MORE: Former Tarbet guest house set to be revived by new owners

“We have worked closely with local stakeholders throughout this project, including discussions about the impacts of the upcoming construction work.  While there will be disruption over the coming months, the benefits for those who enjoy the site will be felt for decades to come.

“The focus on establishing a more sustainable, inclusive and nature-positive site at Tarbet aligns closely with the future vision for the National Park set out in the upcoming National Park Partnership Plan.”

More information about the improvements can be found on the National Park Authority's website at lochlomond-trossachs.org/tarbet.