Helensburgh

Helensburgh is a popular small town with grandeur which was a Victorian holiday resort. It has attractive buildings, parks including the historic Hermitage Park and famous tree lined streets.

If you are interested in making your money go further or in staying somewhere quieter than Glasgow before further travel on the West Highland Line, you could stay in Helensburgh.

Photo credit: “Helensburgh Town Centre 1” by Derek Rankine, CC BY 2.0

Where to visit

HILL HOUSE

This is the most famous of designer Charles Rennie MacKintosh’s creations after the Glasgow School of Art. The amazing house is sited on a spectacular position overlooking the Clyde.

It is complete with its original interiors and furniture making it highly interesting to anyone with an interest in MacKintosh or design in general. There is also a garden, shop and cafe.

Photo credit: “The Hill House, Helensburgh” by Tom Parnell, CC BY-SA 2.0

THE OUTDOOR MUSEUM

Consists of a series of granite bollards around Colquhoun Square. These display objects, images and texts of significance to the town.

Representations include John Logie Baird's first television image, a link with Australian coal mining, the John Muir Way long distance path, and one of the earliest registered scout troops.

SUBMARINE CENTRE

This is Scotland's only submarine museum, featuring the X51 Stickleback which was previously resident in the Imperial War Museum. You can discover the history of this submarine through 360 immersive projections.

HELENSBURGH BEACH AND PROMENADE

Enjoy a pleasant stroll along the promenade. About a mile out to sea you can see the MV Captayannis which was beached in 1974.

It is also known as the Sugar Boat due to its cargo. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle and has good views over the Upper Firth of Clyde.

Photo credit: “Henry Bell Monument, West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, Scotland” by David, CC BY 2.0

DISCOVER HELENSBURGH

Eight self-guided walking trails around Helensburgh and the surrounding area provided by Argyll and Bute Council through an app.

HELENSBURGH'S TREE LINED STREETS AND NOTABLE BUILDINGS MAPS

The towns is famous for its trees, in particular the cherry blossom in spring. The Helensburgh Tree Conservation Trust has produced a map of trees and buildings to follow.

NEARBY CLYDE SEA SAFARIS

Offers a range of tours along the coast on a RIB boat for wildlife spotting including seals and dolphins, as well as the Sugar Boat shipwreck and sea lochs.

They depart from Rhu Marina, which is around 2 miles' walk from the centre of Helensburgh or a 6 minute bus journey from opposite Helensburgh Central Railway Station (not Helensburgh Upper!). See Gairlochhead Coaches/Wilson's of Rhu service 316 and alight at Rhu Marina.

NEARBY GLENARN GARDEN

Around 15 minutes' walk from Rhu Marina is this private 10 acre garden which is open to the public under Scotland's Gardens Scheme. It includes collections of rhododendrons and magnolias, a rock garden, a vegetable garden, and views over the Gareloch.