Helensburgh

Helensburgh was founded in 1776 when Sir Ian Colquhoun of Luss built spa baths on the site of Ardencaple Castle, which dated back to about 1600. He then had the seaside resort town constructed to the east of the spa on a formal layout in the style of Edinburgh New Town, and named it after his wife Helen. A ferry service he arranged across the Firth of Clyde to Greenock was successful in attracting residents who could commute from jobs there to attractive homes in the new town.

In 1808 Henry Bell bought the public baths and hotel, which his wife superintended while he continued his interest in early steamboats such as the Charlotte Dundas and the North River Steamboat which Robert Fulton had just introduced at New York City. To improve hotel trade he had the paddle steamer Comet constructed and in 1812 introduced Europe's first successful steamboat service, bringing passengers down the River Clyde from Glasgow to Greenock and Helensburgh. The Clyde steamer trade developed rapidly, and Helensburgh pier and Craigendoran pier at the east end of the town both became major departure points. From 1858 holidaymakers were brought to the resort and the steamers by the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh railway terminus built in the centre of the town, and in 1894 a second railway station was opened higher up the hill on the West Highland Railway to Fort William.

Helensburgh born coal miner Charles Harper emigrated to New South Wales (now a state of Australia) and became the first manager of the Metropolitan Coal Company before being killed in a mine accident in 1887. In that year the company took over the mining lease on an area south of Sydney known as Camp Creek. When the coal mine opened the following year, the town was named Helensburgh, possibly named after his birthplace or after his daughter Helen. The two Helensburghs are now sister cities.

Hill House, Helensburgh.

In 1903, Charles Rennie Mackintosh built the Hill House for the publishing tycoon Walter Blackie. The house, in Colquhoun Street on the north edge of town, is one of the best examples of his style, with startlingly modern interiors incorporating furniture which he designed. It is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is a popular tourist attraction.

The town is also notable as the birthplace of John Logie Baird the inventor of television and Jack Buchanan. The author A. J. Cronin lived in the town as a child as did Academy Award-nominated actress Deborah Kerr. More recently, the town was the home of the Scots comedian Jimmy Logan.

There are several hotels in or near to Helensburgh including the Commodore, the Rosslea Hall Hotel, Knockderry Hotel, Cameron House Hotel, the Cardross Inn and the Lodge on Loch Lomond. In nearby Dumbarton, the Abbotsford Hotel and Travelodge Hotel are within 8 miles of Helensburgh.

The commercial heart of Helensburgh is situated between Sinclair St and William Street, from West Clyde St to West Princes Street.

You can find a whole range of individual small shops in Helensburgh, distinguishing it from many large towns and cities where chain stores are the order of the day. For instance, you can find Urie's China Shop, The Cats Pyjamas, Lomond Tapestries, the Rowan Gallery, Clyde Whiskies, MacGillivray's Scottish Gifts and the Toy Shop.

There are several places to eat and drink along West Clyde St including Cafe 19, The Royal Bar, the Clyde Bar, the Garth, the Mira Mare Italian Restaurant, Storm Restaurant, The Upper Crust Restaurant and our own Coffee Shop at MacGillivray's The Lido and the Palace sell fish and chips and Dino's is renowned for ice cream.

When you leave Sinclair Street and walk along West Princes Street, you encounter some lovely shops including Stewarts of Helensburgh, the Flower Shop, a Party Shop, a couple of coffee shops, building society and bank - and finally come to Colquhoun Square.

The West Highland Line (Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - "Iron Road to the Isles") is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic Trans-Siberian and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. Travellers can catch the West Highland Line train services at Helensburgh Upper Station.

Passenger services on the line are operated by First ScotRail: three daily return services between Glasgow Queen Street and Mallaig/Oban, and one nightly (except Saturdays) Caledonian Sleeper service between London Euston and Fort William.

During the summer season a steam locomotive-hauled daily return service between Fort William and Mallaig known as "The Jacobite" is operated by West Coast Railways.

Onward ferry connections operated by Caledonian MacBrayne are available from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye, to the small isles of Rùm, Eigg, Muck, and Canna, and to Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula. From Oban ferries sail to the islands of Lismore, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree, Mull, Barra and South Uist.

The West Highland Line is one of two scenic railway lines which access the remote and mountainous west coast of Scotland, the other being the Kyle of Lochalsh Line which connects Inverness with Kyle of Lochalsh.