Dunbartonshire ( gd, Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann) or the County of Dumbarton is a
historic county,
lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily coterminate with, the co ...
and
registration county in the west
central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands, sometimes called the Midland Valley or Central Valley, is a geologically defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland. It consists of a rift valley between the Highland Boundary Fault to the north and ...
of
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
lying to the north of the
River Clyde
The River Clyde ( gd, Abhainn Chluaidh, , sco, Clyde Watter, or ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. It is the ninth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third-longest in Scotland. It runs through the major cit ...
. Dunbartonshire borders
Perthshire
Perthshire ( locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the nor ...
to the north,
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling, gd, Siorrachd Sruighlea) is a historic county and registration countyRegisters of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties. of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.
It borders Perth ...
to the east,
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scot ...
and
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.
Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Re ...
to the south, and
Argyllshire
Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland.
Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...
to the west. The boundaries with Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire are split in two owing to the existence of an
exclave
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
around Cumbernauld (''see below'').
The area had previously been part of the historic district of
Lennox, which was a
duchy in the
Peerage of Scotland related to the
Duke of Lennox.
Name
The town name "
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
" comes from the
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well a ...
meaning "fort of the
Britons
British people or Britons, also known colloquially as Brits, are the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the British Overseas Territories, and the Crown dependencies.: British nationality law governs m ...
". Historically, the spelling of the county town and the county were not standardised. By the 18th century the names "County of Dunbarton" and "County of Dumbarton" were used interchangeably. The n in "Dunbarton" represents the etymology "fort"; the "m" in "Dumbarton" reflects a pronunciation with
assimilation
Assimilation may refer to:
Culture
*Cultural assimilation, the process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture and customs
**Language shift, also known as language assimilation, the progre ...
of to the labial , due to the influence of the neighbouring labial sound.
Different county bodies used the two spellings: the Dunbarton County Constabulary were formed in 1857 by the
Commissioners of Supply for the County of Dunbarton.
Dumbartonshire County Council, set up under the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 50) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which was passed on 26 August 1889. The main effect of the act was to establish elected county councils in Scotland. In this it foll ...
, adopted the spelling "Dunbartonshire" by 1914, a fact recognised by the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947.
The correct spelling remains a source of contention. Current practice uses Dumbarton for the town and Dunbarton for the former county and subsequent local authority areas.
History

The
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 50) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which was passed on 26 August 1889. The main effect of the act was to establish elected county councils in Scotland. In this it foll ...
established a uniform system of
county council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.
Ireland
The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Irel ...
s in Scotland and realigned the boundaries of many of Scotland's counties. Subsequently, Dunbarton County Council was created in 1890.
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
, accompanied by the
Duke of Edinburgh, visited the area to open the new
County Buildings in Dumbarton on 28 June 1965.
The administrative arm, but not the placename of
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
used for "local government" purposes was dis-established in 1975 by the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered local government in Scotland on 16 May 1975.
The Act followed and largely implemented the report of the Royal Commission on Local Gove ...
, when the Administrative Section became part of the large Council of
Strathclyde
Strathclyde ( in Gaelic, meaning "strath (valley) of the River Clyde") was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government ...
Region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
.
Strathclyde was divided into nineteen districts, with the area being divided between
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
,
Bearsden and Milngavie
Bearsden and Milngavie ( gd, Cille Phàdraig Ùr agus Muileann Dhaibhidh) was, from 1975 to 1996, one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, covering an area north of the City of Glasgow.
History
The distr ...
,
Clydebank
Clydebank ( gd, Bruach Chluaidh) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, it borders the village of Old Kilpatrick (with Bowling and Milton beyond) to the west, and the Yoker and Drumchapel areas ...
,
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and
Strathkelvin Districts, the latter also containing a small part of the former
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scot ...
.
The regional identity, the "place-name" was retained for some major functions such as fire service and police at the next reorganisation of local government in 1996.
The county then was administered by three new unitary councils:
*
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 202 ...
Council (which took over the
Helensburgh and Lomond part of Dumbarton District)
*
East Dunbartonshire
East Dunbartonshire ( sco, Aest Dunbartanshire; gd, Siorrachd Dhùn Bhreatainn an Ear) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders the north of Glasgow and contains many of the affluent areas to the north of the city, including Bear ...
Council, with its administrative headquarters at
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch (; sco, Kirkintulloch; gd, Cair Cheann Tulaich) is a town and former barony burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south side of Strathkelvin, about northeast of central Glasgow. ...
*
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire ( sco, Wast Dunbairtonshire; gd, Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann an Iar, ) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. The area lies to the west of the City of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's commuter to ...
Council, with its administrative centre at
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
.
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld (; gd, Comar nan Allt, meeting of the streams) is a large town in the historic county of Dunbartonshire and council area of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the tenth most-populous locality in Scotland and the most populated ...
was not included in either of the new Dunbartonshire councils, instead being placed in the
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire ( sco, North Lanrikshire; gd, Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It als ...
area.
Geography
The northern half of the county is sparsely populated and dominated by
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond (; gd, Loch Laomainn - 'Lake of the Elms'Richens, R. J. (1984) ''Elm'', Cambridge University Press.) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the lowlands of C ...
(now part of
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park), which it shares with Stirlingshire. There are many islands in the loch which form part of the county, the most notable being
Island I Vow
Island I Vow is a wooded islet near the head of Loch Lomond in west-central Scotland. It is 10 m tall at its highest point, and 80 m long. The island contains the remains of a castle built by the chief of Clan MacFarlane in 1577. This ...
,
Tarbet Isle
Tarbet Isle is an island in Loch Lomond, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and ...
,
Inchlonaig
Inchlonaig is an island in Loch Lomond in Scotland.
Geography and geology
Inchlonaig is the most northerly of the larger islands in the Loch Lomond, just south of where it narrows into a ribbon loch, and north of Inchconnachan.
History
I ...
,
Inchconnachan,
Inchmoan
Inchmoan ( gd, Innis na Mòna or meaning 'peat island') is an island in Loch Lomond, Scotland.
Geography
It is one of an island group just south of Luss. Only a short stretch of water separates it from the island of Inchcruin. The connection b ...
,
Inchtavannach
Inchtavannach ( gd, Innis Taigh a' Mhanaich; en, Island of the Monk's House), is one of the larger islands in Loch Lomond.Garnett, T. (1800). ''Observations on a Tour of the Highlands'' ... London. V.1. p. 38.
Geography
Inchtavannach faces th ...
,
Fraoch Eilean,
Inchgalbraith
Inchgalbraith is an islet in Loch Lomond, Scotland, and is the ancestral home of Clan Galbraith.
History
Inchgalbraith, is as its name implies, connected with Clan Galbraith, and was one of their strongholds.Worsley, Harry ''Loch Lomond: The L ...
,
Torrinch,
Creinch,
Inchmurrin and
Aber Isle
Aber Isle or Aber Inch is a small island in Loch Lomond, in west central Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Endrick, by the abandoned village of Aber, and is from Clairinch. Its name derives from the Celtic word for the mouth of a rive ...
. The much smaller
Geal Loch,
Lochan Beinn Damhain
''Loch'' () is the Scottish Gaelic, Scots language, Scots and Irish language, Irish word for a lake or sea inlet. It is Cognate, cognate with the Manx language, Manx lough, Cornish language, Cornish logh, and one of the Welsh language, Welsh w ...
,
Lochan Strath Dubh-uisge and
Loch Sloy can also be found here. The area is also home to
Ben Vorlich, the highest point of Dunbartonshire at 943 m (3,094 ft) and the 229th tallest mountain in Scotland.
South-western Dunbartonshire has a long coastline along
Loch Long, culminating in the
Rosneath peninsula which is separated from the main body of the county by
Gare Loch. Both of these lead into the
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde. It is located on the west coast of Scotland and constitutes the deepest coastal waters in the British Isles (it is 164 metres deep at its deepest). The firth is sheltered from the Atlantic ...
which forms the southern border. The area east of the river Leven is dominated geographically by the
Kilpatrick Hills which also contains a number of small lochs and reservoirs. In the far south-east the county encompasses a portion of the
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area (or conurbation). It does not relate to municipal government ...
conurbation.
The Cumbernauld exclave is largely flat and heavily urbanised.
Boundaries and the Cumbernauld exclave
The county retained a large
exclave
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
situated east of the main part of the county despite the boundary changes in the 1890s elsewhere in Scotland, consisting of the
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of Parish (administrative division), administrative parish used for Local government in England, local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below district ...
es of
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch (; sco, Kirkintulloch; gd, Cair Cheann Tulaich) is a town and former barony burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south side of Strathkelvin, about northeast of central Glasgow. ...
and
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld (; gd, Comar nan Allt, meeting of the streams) is a large town in the historic county of Dunbartonshire and council area of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the tenth most-populous locality in Scotland and the most populated ...
, between
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling, gd, Siorrachd Sruighlea) is a historic county and registration countyRegisters of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties. of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.
It borders Perth ...
and
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scot ...
. This area had originally been part of Stirlingshire, but had been annexed to Dunbarton in the reign of
David II at the request of
Malcolm Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
Malcolm Fleming, Earl of Wigtown (died c. 1363) was the son of Robert Fleming, a Stewart vassal and holder of the lands of Fulwood and Cumbernauld, who died sometime before 1314. He was the "foster-father" of King David II of Scotland and became ...
, the owner of the land, who was also
Sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
of
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
.
The exclave was dealt with in 19th century legislation as greater administrative duties were given to the counties.
The
Police (Scotland) Act 1857 established police forces throughout Scotland. A section of the act allowed for the parishes to be transferred to the jurisdiction of either
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling, gd, Siorrachd Sruighlea) is a historic county and registration countyRegisters of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties. of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.
It borders Perth ...
or
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scot ...
Constabulary Constabulary may have several definitions:
*A civil, non-paramilitary (police) force consisting of police officers called constables. This is the usual definition in the United Kingdom, in which all county police forces once bore the title (and som ...
on resolution of two-thirds of the
Commissioners of Supply for the County of Dumbarton.
Similar provisions allowing for the transfer of the area for all purposes were included in the County General Assessment (Scotland) Act 1868. No such resolution was made, and the two parishes remained in Dunbartonshire.
The Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act 1878 provided that for the purposes of that act all detached parts of counties should be placed in the county by which they were surrounded, or with which they had the longest boundary. Accordingly,
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld (; gd, Comar nan Allt, meeting of the streams) is a large town in the historic county of Dunbartonshire and council area of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the tenth most-populous locality in Scotland and the most populated ...
and
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch (; sco, Kirkintulloch; gd, Cair Cheann Tulaich) is a town and former barony burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south side of Strathkelvin, about northeast of central Glasgow. ...
came under the control of the Stirlingshire Road Board. It was originally anticipated that the area would be transferred to Stirlingshire for all other purposes by the boundary commissioners proposed by the
Local Government Bill of 1889 However, a clause was inserted in the bill that stated ''"the parishes of Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, including the
burgh
A burgh is an autonomous municipal corporation in Scotland and Northern England, usually a city, town, or toun in Scots. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. ...
s and police burghs situate therein, shall for the purposes of this Act, be considered as forming part of the county of Dumbarton"''. The clause was vigorously opposed by the Stirlingshire Commissioners of Supply as they had incurred considerable expense in maintaining the roads of the two parishes. The Act as passed provided that the Dunbartonshire County Council was to financially compensate Stirlingshire on the transfer of road powers.
[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 1889 (c. 50) s.40]
Transport

The
West Highland Line
The West Highland Line ( gd, Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - "Iron Road to the Isles") is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the ...
runs through the county connecting Glasgow to
Oban
Oban ( ; ' in Scottish Gaelic meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. During the tourist season, t ...
and
Fort William and is popular with tourist due to its scenic view of the Highlands. The
North Clyde line serves the towns of the
Vale of Leven, and many suburban and commuter lines serve those parts of Dunbartonshire that form part of the Glasgow conurbation. Two lines run west–east through the Cumbernauld exclave, linking this area to Glasgow and Falkirk.
Various ferries criss-cross Loch Lomond, linking some of the towns along its banks. The Rosneath peninsula is connected by a ferry from Kilcreggan to
Gourock
Gourock ( ; gd, Guireag ) is a town in the Inverclyde council area and formerly a burgh of the County of Renfrew in the west of Scotland. It was a seaside resort on the East shore of the upper Firth of Clyde. Its main function today is ...
in Renfrewshire.
Settlements
Towns
*
Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandr ...
*
Balloch
*
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
*
Helensburgh
Helensburgh (; gd, Baile Eilidh) is an affluent coastal town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local govern ...
Clydebank
File:Colquhoun_Square,_showing_plinths_for_the_Outdoor_Museum.jpg, Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh
File:Dumbarton High Street - geograph.org.uk - 366277.jpg, Dumbarton town centre
Villages and hamlets
*
Aldochlay
Aldochlay is a small hamlet in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, on the shore of Loch Lomond opposite the island of Inchtavannach and just south of Luss. It was formerly part of Dunbartonshire, but is now part of Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute ...
*
Ardlui
*
Ardpeaton
*
Arrochar
*
Auchenvennel
*
Bellsmyre
Bellsmyre is a large housing estate in the town of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Located on the edge of the Kilpatrick Hills in the northeast of Dumbarton, Bellsmyre is one of five predominantly council housing schemes in Dumbarton, t ...
*
Blairglas
*
Blairvadach
*
Bonhill
*
Bowling
Bowling is a target sport and recreational activity in which a player rolls a ball toward pins (in pin bowling) or another target (in target bowling). The term ''bowling'' usually refers to pin bowling (most commonly ten-pin bowling), thoug ...
*
Caldarvan
*
Cardross
*
Clynder
*
Cove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. Coves usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are of ...
*
Craigendoran
*
Croftamie
*
Dalreoch
Dalreoch is an area of Dumbarton, to the west of the River Leven, in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
The area is served by Dalreoch railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Dalreoch 3 ...
*
Dumfin
*
Edentaggart
Edentaggart is a settlement of a few houses in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located near the town of Alexandria.
The area is made up of Sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as ...
*
Garelochhead
Garelochhead ( sco, Garelochheid,
gd, Ceann a' Gheàr ...
*
Gartocharn
*
Hardgate
*
Inverbeg
*
Inveruglas
*
Jamestown
*
Kilcreggan
*
Luss
*
Milton
*
Old Kilpatrick
Old Kilpatrick ( sco, Auld Kilpaitrick, gd, Cille Phàdraig meaning "Patrick's church"), is a village in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It has an estimated population of 4,820. It belonged to the parish of Old Kilpatrick which itself was only a ...
*
Portincaple
Portincaple is a hamlet on the shores of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It was once a fishing village sending its catch to market via the old railway station at Whistlefield.
For thirty years until his death in 1942, Portincaple was the ...
*
Portkil
Portkil is a village on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde in Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a ...
*
Rahane
Rahane is a place in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the west bank of the Gare Loch as part of the Rosneath peninsula, south of the larger settlement of Garelochhead, and by road from the town of Helensburgh which is due south-east.
Th ...
*
Renton
*
Rhu
Rhu (; gd, An Rubha ) is a village and historic parish on the east shore of the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The traditional spelling of its name was ''Row'', but it was changed in the 1920s so that outsiders would pronounce it cor ...
*
Rosneath
*
Shandon
*
Shantron
*
Stuckgowan
*
Tarbet
File:Church, Bonhill - geograph.org.uk - 1479526.jpg, Bonhill
File:Kilcreggan in winter.jpg, Kilcreggan
File:Colourful cottages at Luss - geograph.org.uk - 1358192.jpg, Luss
File:Rhu Parish Church.jpg, Rhu
Glasgow conurbation
*
Bearsden
Bearsden () is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow. Approximately from Glasgow City Centre, the town is effectively a suburb, and its housing development coincided with the 1863 introduction ...
*
Blairdardie
*
Clydebank
Clydebank ( gd, Bruach Chluaidh) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, it borders the village of Old Kilpatrick (with Bowling and Milton beyond) to the west, and the Yoker and Drumchapel areas ...
*
Dalmuir
Dalmuir (; gd, Dail Mhoire) is an area northwest of Glasgow, Scotland, on the western side of Clydebank, and part of West Dunbartonshire Council Area. The name is a lowland Scots derivation of the Gaelic meaning Big Field. The area was ...
*
Drumchapel
*
Drumry
*
Duntocher
*
Faifley
*
Kilpatrick
*
Knightswood
*
Linnvale
Clydebank ( gd, Bruach Chluaidh) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, it borders the village of Old Kilpatrick (with Bowling and Milton beyond) to the west, and the Yoker and Drumchapel areas ...
*
Milngavie
Milngavie ( ; gd, Muileann-Ghaidh) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland and a suburb of Glasgow. It is on the Allander Water, at the northwestern edge of Greater Glasgow, and about from Glasgow city centre. It neighbours Bearsden. Milnga ...
*
Netherton
*
Old Drumchapel
*
Temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called church (building), churches), Hindui ...
*
Whitecrook
File:Clydebank Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 429807.jpg, Clydebank Town Hall
File:NewKilpatrickParishChurch.JPG, New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden
Cumbernauld exclave
*
Abronhill
Abronhill () is an area in the north-east of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It extends from Cumbernauld Town Centre. Abronhill was planned with its own shopping centre and has three primary schools, along with several churches. Abronhi ...
*
Auchinstarry
*
Balloch
*
Blackwood
Blackwood may refer to:
Botany
* African blackwood ('' Dalbergia melanoxylon''), a timber tree of Africa
* African blackwood (''Erythrophleum africanum''), ('' Peltophorum africanum'') also Rhodesian blackwood, trees from Africa
* Australian bla ...
*
Carbrain
Carbrain /kar
'bren/ is a neighbourhood in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire in Scotland. It gets a brief mention on William Roy's eighteenth century map of the Scottish Lowlands. In the nineteenth century it was no more than a farm steading. An ea ...
*
Craigmarloch
*
Croy
*
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld (; gd, Comar nan Allt, meeting of the streams) is a large town in the historic county of Dunbartonshire and council area of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the tenth most-populous locality in Scotland and the most populated ...
*
Dullatur
*
Greenfaulds
Greenfaulds ( gd, A' Bhuaile Ghlas, IPA: �ˈvuələˈɣɫ̪as̪ is an area of the town of Cumbernauld in Scotland. Greenfaulds was a half council half private estate built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The main road through the estate is a ri ...
*
Kildrum
*
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch (; sco, Kirkintulloch; gd, Cair Cheann Tulaich) is a town and former barony burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south side of Strathkelvin, about northeast of central Glasgow. ...
*
Lenzie
Lenzie () is an affluent town by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway in the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. It is about north-east of Glasgow city centre and south of Kirkintilloch. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 8,873. U ...
*
Lenziemill
*
Merkland
*
Seafar
Seafar is an area of the town of Cumbernauld. The original Seafar sand pit and farm were in the middle of what is now the A8011. Early in the new town's history Seafar was more distinct from Ravenswood and Muirhead than it now is possibly due to ...
*
Smithstone
*
Twechar
File:South Carbrain.jpg, Carbrain
File:Cumbernauld Town Centre - geograph.org.uk - 207206.jpg, Cumbernauld
File:Kirkintilloch01.jpg, Kirkintilloch
Civil Parishes

*
Arrochar
*
Bonhill
*
Cardross
*
Craigrownie
*
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld (; gd, Comar nan Allt, meeting of the streams) is a large town in the historic county of Dunbartonshire and council area of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the tenth most-populous locality in Scotland and the most populated ...
*
Dalreoch
Dalreoch is an area of Dumbarton, to the west of the River Leven, in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
The area is served by Dalreoch railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Dalreoch 3 ...
*
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
*
Kilmaronock
*
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch (; sco, Kirkintulloch; gd, Cair Cheann Tulaich) is a town and former barony burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south side of Strathkelvin, about northeast of central Glasgow. ...
*
Luss
*
New Kilpatrick
*
Old Kilpatrick
Old Kilpatrick ( sco, Auld Kilpaitrick, gd, Cille Phàdraig meaning "Patrick's church"), is a village in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It has an estimated population of 4,820. It belonged to the parish of Old Kilpatrick which itself was only a ...
*
Renton
*
Rhu
Rhu (; gd, An Rubha ) is a village and historic parish on the east shore of the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The traditional spelling of its name was ''Row'', but it was changed in the 1920s so that outsiders would pronounce it cor ...
*
Rosneath
*
Rossdhu
Military connections
During the expansion of the
Volunteer Force
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated ...
, the military presence in Dunbartonshire was widely expanded.
References
Bibliography
"The Book of Dumbartonshire" J. Scott Keltie in ''Macmillan's Magazine'', Vol. LXII, May to Oct., 1880, pp. 33–42
* ''A Short History of Dumbartonshire'' I.M.M. MacPhail
{{Scotland counties
Counties of Scotland
Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
Counties of the United Kingdom (1801–1922)