The town of Bellingham is only a few miles from Tarset's southern boundary near Lanehead. This busy spot includes food, hardware, health, newsagents and outdoor activity shops, post office, cafes, Chinese take-away, hairdressers and a pharmacy. Two garages provide vehicle maintenance services, and one sells petrol and diesel. Local businesses include Kielder Organic Meats, Simon Fraser Photography, and Neil Denham Photographer. The Co-operative foodstore is open until late into the evening and someone manages to have a wider range of stock than larger supermarkets. The area's middle school is located in Bellingham.
Community organisations, activities and places, which Tarset residents take part in, include:
For both locals and visitors to the area, the Heritage Centre is co-located with the tourist information centre—it is well worth a visit. The annual Bellingham Agricultural Show draws crowds from a wide area.