West Dunbartonshire

Shipbuilding at Bowling began around 1800 when McGill brothers established a yard at the Forth and Clyde Canal basin.By the late 1840’s the McGill’s joined forces with James Scott to form Scott & McGill, which became Scott and Sons in 1851. Between 1851 and 1979 Scott’s built in excess of 450 vessels. Shipbuilding at Scott’s ended in 1979 and this slipway and jetty is really all that remains of the original yard

This is part of an old coffin road that people would have used to carry their dead from the Balloch area at the foot of Loch Lomond to be buried in St. Mahew's Chapel near the Village of Cardross. At nearly 7km long it is quite a distance to carry a heavy load and often coffin rests were found along the way, which were flat or raised stones for resting the coffin on. At these points the carriers could also take a rest. The path is now part of the 130mile "John Muir Way" stretching from Helensburgh in the West to Dunbar in the East.

A quick impromptu visit to this spot which I had visited last year. I was hoping to catch the sunset before the sun dropped below the horizon but I...

The “Titan” is a 150ft high cantilever crane, it was designed for lifting heavy equipment during the fitting-out of battleships and ocean liners at the World famous “John Brown’s shipyard” in Clydebank Scotland. It was the world's first electrically powered cantilever crane, and the largest crane of its type at the time of its completion. The crane was used to construct some of the largest ships of the 20th century, including the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2.

November light breaks over the 1000ft “Lang Craigs” and down through the trees to “Overtoun House” (circa 1862) on the Old Kilpatrick Hills Dumbarton. This is a splendid hill walking area especially on a good day where from the top of the 1200ft “Doughnot Hill” a 360deg panorama of the surrounding area is rewarded.

Loch Lomond from Duncryne Hill

I must apologise for posting so many photo’s of this Old Harbour in the village of Bowling, West Dunbartonshire Scotland, but it holds so many memories of the shipbuilding days that belonged here along this stretch of the River Clyde. Bowling Harbour dates back to around 1835 when a Dyke was created topped with a timber wharf and sitting 8ft above the high water mark of the River Clyde to create a Berthage for Clyde Steamers during the winter months. Today unfortunately it tells a different story as over the years the un dredged harbour has become mud ridden and now a home to unused vessels which lie partially submerged and in a decaying state. Though this to the passing Photographer is a boon with a tide change every 12 hour’s and creating an echoing of industrious times gone bye.

The Erskine Bridge is a major crossing of the River Clyde connecting Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Opened by HRH Princess Anne on the 2nd of July 1971 the bridge carries in excess of thirty thousand vehicles a day. It is one of four major crossings over the River Clyde, and acts as an alternative to the Clyde Tunnel and Kingston Bridge.

A photo looking towards the "Arrocher Alps" and the 974m "Ben Lomond" (Scotlands most southerly Munro" taken from the 375m "Doughnot Hill" near Dumbarton.

Loch Lomond from Duncryne "Dumpling" Hill