EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

Founded in the fifth century, today the town of DUMBARTON is a brutal concrete sprawl, fulfilling every last cliché about postwar planning and architecture. Avoid the town itself and head one mile southeast to Dumbarton Castle (April-Sept Mon-Sat 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun 2-6.30pm; Oct-March Mon-Wed & Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Thurs 9.30am-1pm, Sun 2-4.30pm; £2), which sits atop a twin outcrop of volcanic rock overlooking the Clyde. As a natural site, Dumbarton Rock could not be bettered - surrounded by water on three sides and with commanding views. First founded as a Roman fort, the structure was expanded in the fifth century by the Damnonii tribe, and remained Strathclyde's capital until its absorption into the greater kingdom of Scotland in 1034. The castle then became a royal seat, from which Mary, Queen of Scots, sailed for France to marry Henri II's son in 1548, and to which she was attempting to escape when she and her troops were defeated twenty years later at the Battle of Langside. Since the 1600s, the castle has been used as a garrison and artillery fortress to guard the approaches to Glasgow; most of the current buildings date from this period.

Regular trains run from Glasgow's Queen Street station to Dumbarton East and Dumbarton Central stations; the former gives best access to the castle and accommodation. The tourist office (daily: July & Aug 10am-7pm; June & Sept 10am-6pm; May & Oct 10am-5pm; Nov-April 10am-4pm; tel 01389/742306, ) is situated a couple of miles east of town on the A82 and mainly caters for the vast number of car-bound tourists on their way to the Highlands.