Dumbarton

Founded in the fifth century, Dumbarton was once the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde. The key to the town’s original success was the volcanic rock, which is now home to Dumbarton Castle. This dramatic volcanic plug, Dumbarton Rock, in-filled the crater of a volcano that was active 350 million years ago. The rock is well exposed and inaccessible on all sides. Click here if you want to learn more about this fascinating geological feature.

To the west of the town lies the ever popular Overtoun Estate. This splendid mansion house dates back to 1859. The grounds have a variety of landscapes, from wooded glens and gorges to rolling parkland and exotic gardens, with colourful species collected in the Himalayas. Superb views of the surrounding Kilpatrick Hills can be enjoyed from the estate.

One of the town’s most popular visitor attractions is the fascinating Denny Tank Museum. The displays hark back to the glorious days of Clyde shipbuilding, offering a unique opportunity to step back in time to the days of the Victorian ship design, with displays of hull models and the working ship model testing tank.