Dumbarton, founded in the fifth century,
was the ancient capital of the Kingdom
of Strathclyde, although the town's
strategic importance dates from the Iron Age when Dumbarton Castle
was built on a plug of volcanic rock known as Dumbarton Rock. The castle has the longest recorded history
of any fortification in Britain. Nowadays, the mainly 18th century
fortifications are accessible by pathways and steps up the Rock, which offers
wonderful views of the Firth of Clyde.
Dumbarton is mainly a commuter town for Glasgow, but once upon a time it had a trio
of thriving industries: shipbuilding, whisky and glassmaking. These are now gone, but there is a reminder
of the shipbuilding industry in the Scottish Maritime Museum, which gives pride
of place to Denny's Ship Model Experiment Tank, Denny being the founder of
William Denny and Brothers, a Victorian shipbuilding company.
Down on the foreshore there are redshanks,
shelduck and buntings, while a launching ramp is the only reminder of a wartime
flying-boat factory which once stood here.
Overlooking the town is Overtoun House, built in 1862, which as well as
being an impressive building in its own right, lies in grounds offering
wildlife, gardens and picnic areas. The House has accommodation and a tea room and bills itself as a "Centre for Hope and Healing". Dumbarton has a prominent Football Club dating from 1872, which regained its place
in Divison One in 2012. Another claim to
fame for the town is that it was the birthplace of musician David Byrne of Talking Heads, who
was born there in 1952. One of the main
events in Dumbarton's calendar is the annual Royal Scottish Pipe Band
Championships. Dumbarton offers easy
access to the only-just-landlocked Loch Lomond,
which is reached by a short 5-mile drive along the A82.
Map of the area.
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| Dumbarton Rock. Photo by Thomas Nugent, via Wikimedia Commons |
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