Dunbartonshire

Scotland > West of Scotland > Dunbartonshire

On the north shore of the River Clyde, this is where the great ships of the past were built - the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were both built in Clydebank. Dunbartonshire (and notice the difference in spelling from the county and the town of DuMbarton) is a mixture of former heavy industry and mass employment and rural, picturesque tourism areas such as Helensburgh, the Rosneath peninsula and beautiful Loch Lomond.

The old county (now split into two for Political purposes) is in the shape of a crescent, 1.5 to 14 miles in breadth, and about 38 miles in length. The northernmost part is mainly mountainous with the huge mass of Ben Vorlich - not to be confused with the mountain of the same name just south of Loch Earn. The whole of the western side of Loch Lomond is in Dunbartonshire including the towns and villages of Alexandria (once a major "bleaching" town, Balloch, Luss, Tarbet and Arrochar, so close together and Ardlui. It therefore includes Cameron House (Hotel) and the recently developed Loch Lomond Country Club (Golf Club), the present home of the Scottish Open Championship played annually in July. The Loch Lomond area was, and still is, an important leisure area for the populace of the Glasgow and West of Scotland industries - a place to leave behind the pressure of work, the noise and crowds behind.

To the south of the county the land become more fertile ands the views over the Clyde estuary can be quite superb. The Rosneath peninsula, sandwiched between the Gare Loch and Loch Long is too often overlooked by visitors to the area - Linn Gardens in Cove is recommended as it has superb water gardens.

Heading east along the Clyde shore, the environment becomes much more industrialised but visits to the local museums give an insight into the heavy industry and shipbuilding heritage of the area - Clydebank was heavily damaged during the Second World War and many such stories are to be found in these museums.

Access to Dunbartonshire is very easy. Road access from Glasgow either along the A82 or A814 coastal route. Alternatively, via the M8 and across the River by way of the Erskine Bridge (toll 60p). This is also the route to follow if arriving by air to Glasgow or Prestwick airports. Rail connection is excellent - the West Highland line to Fort William and Oban follows a route through Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Garelochhead, Tarbet and Ardlui.