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Dumbarton

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Dumbarton is a Royal Burgh (town) in West Dunbartonshire, Clydeside, Scotland.

"Dumbarton is a brutal concrete sprawl, fulfilling every last hellish cliche about post-war planning and architecture" - so says the 1994 edition of The Rough Guide to Scotland. However the town does has some attractions, notably the castle, which is on a districtive hill like Edinburgh and Stirling castles. The Denny Tank Museum is also worth a visit, but there is not a great deal to be seen in the modern town centre. The town could be comfortably explored as a day trip from Glasgow.

The population is just over 20,000. You may have seen the town on BBC television in Scotland as the set for the Soap River City, a northern version of Eastenders. Whisky blending and bonded storage is a major industry in the town. The bonded warehouses can be seen as you enter the town from the East.

Travel to Dumbarton & Visa Requirements

By Train

Electric Trains serve the three stations in Dumbarton, from Queen Street station (low level) in Glasgow, with about four trains per hour. Dumbarton Central is the station nearest the town centre, and also has occasional West Highland Line trains on the Glasgow - Oban / Fort William Route. Dumbarton East is the nearest station for the castle. Dalreoch is really only for fans of 1970 municipal housing.

Tours & Getting around Dumbarton

Dumbarton attractions and sightseeing

  • Dumbarton Castle, Dumbarton (take the A82 south), 01389 732167. It features a castle on top of a rock, overlooking the Firth of Clyde. It was an important royal refuge. Historic Scotland information
  • Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank [1] Castle Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QS +44 (0)1389 763 444 A shipyard model test tank built in 1882. Now part of the scottish martime museum, but still used occasionally for real tests. Open Mon to Sat 10:00am - 4:00pm Adults £2.00
  • Geilston Gardens. A National Trust for Scotland Garden in Cardross.
  • Overtoun House and Gardens

Dumbarton city tours

Dumbarton souvenirs & shopping

Dumbarton Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Dumbarton nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Dumbarton cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Bed And Breakfasts

Hotels

  • Dumbuck Hotel, Glasgow Road, Dumbarton.
  • Travelodge Dumbarton, A82 Stirling Road Milton, Dumbarton

Get out

Nearby attactions: Helensburgh, Loch Lomond, Glasgow.

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This page was last edited at 22:37, on 3 April 2008 by Wikitravel user AlasdairW.

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