Cheap Hotels in West Dunbartonshire

West Dunbartonshire is roughly triangular in shape, bordered on the south by the River Clyde, on the northeast by the scenic Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Scotland, and on the west by a narrow stretch of the Firth of Clyde. Much of the county lies in the wooded Trossachs National Park and is largely hilly with a high proportion of the land given over to agriculture.

There is much evidence of prehistoric settlement in the area, but the main occupants of the region were Picts and later Celts. Like the Romans, who built their most northerly defence, the Antonine Wall, between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth, many invaders tried to conquer northern Scotland, but failed. West Dunbartonshire remained a rich agricultural area for many years, and only in the late 19th century did the southeast area of the county develop as an industrial region. The town of Clydebank, 10km (6 miles) southeast of Dumbarton, became a famous shipbuilding centre during the World Wars, but much of the shipyards have now been replaced by modern industry and technology.

Within easy reach of Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire is a popular tourist destination. The scenic valleys and hills make for excellent walking country, and there is a wide variety of wildlife to be seen in the Trossachs National Park. Loch Lomand, which is dotted with many islands, is a major tourist destination.