A Cultural Tour of the Area

The area between Helensburgh and Dumbarton along the northern banks of the river Clyde offers some wonderful gems of local cultural significance. When visited together they will give a closer understanding of the area and how the rise in the wealth of Glasgow in the 18th and 19th centuries impacted these lower reaches of the Clyde.

The Hill House

One of the finest and most unique country houses ever built in Scotland, The Hill House, Helensburgh, was designed by Charles Rennie MacIntosh for the Blackie family in 1902. The whole house was his original concept and with his wife Margaret McDonald their plans and designs covered both the exterior and the interior including furniture and fittings.
The house and gardens are now fully open to the public and without doubt an essential stop in any tour of the local area.

Geilston House and Gardens

Geilston House and Gardens, dating from 1766, represent the style and intimate grandeur of the many small country houses and estates that were once found along the banks of the River Clyde. The history of the estate reflects the changing fortunes of the time and the history of Glasgow in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Once owned by a Glasgow merchant named James Donald who had made his money importing tobacco from Virginia and exporting manufactured goods in return. Throughout the 19th century the northern banks of the Clyde became increasingly popular with Helensburgh becoming fashionable with the Glasgow merchant classes and the railways providing easy access.
Although the house is not open to the public, the 10 acres of gardens and grounds which extend to the north and west down and over the Geilston Burn make a delightful visit to the area.

A Day Tour to Inverary

On of the best day tours to take is a trip up to Inveraray, the estate town built by the 3rd Duke of Argyll in the mid 1700’s. Here you can wander this beautiful town and main street, enjoy the cosy atmosphere of the George Hotel, visit Inveraray Jail Museum and the seat of the current Duke of Argyll, Inveraray Castle.

Dumbarton Castle

Dumbarton Castle sits spectacularly on a volcanic rock overlooking the Firth of Clyde. The site on which the castle sits is the ancient capital of Strathclyde. In constant use of almost 1500 years but latterly used by the armed forces during the last two world wars. Today it is in the care of Historic Scotland. Among its many interesting features are the 18th century artillery fortifications complete with 19th century guns, and its magnificent views across the Clyde.

Denny Tank Museum

The Denny Tank Museum is part of the Scottish Maritime Museum and preserves the world of the world’s first commercial ship model experiment tank, built in 1882 by the Denny brothers. The brothers were builders of the famous Cutty Sark and inventors of the Denny helicopter, Denny hovercraft and Denny-Brown stabilisers.

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