Bowling Harbour

Welcome to Bowling Harbour, where you can enjoy a bite to eat or peruse the various shops located in the refurbished arches - all just a 30-minute drive from Glasgow!

There’s also a peaceful little beach and woodland, providing a wonderful spot for fun family days out with a picnic. Bowling Harbour is located at the foot of Kilpatrick Hills which offer stunning views of the River Clyde and beyond. The Old Kilpatrick, Bowling and Milton Heritage Trail takes in these charming villages, stretching approximately three miles along the north bank of the River Clyde and westwards from the Erskine Bridge.

Bowling Harbour also sits on the National Cycle Route 7 and is the perfect place to start your journey north towards Loch Lomond.

Our story so far…

Over the past few years we have been breathing new life into Bowling Harbour, developing a new tourism and leisure destination fitting of the western gateway to the Forth & Clyde Canal. This regeneration programme has been created on the basis of a shared, collective vision for the area, which was formulated with the local community and partner stakeholders as part of our award-winning charrette programme. The approved masterplan forms the blueprint for the area’s development plans going forward – safeguarding Bowling Harbour’s rich heritage and building for its future.

To date we have collectively invested more than £5.5 million in the area, which has included the transformation of disused railway arches into commercial business space and public realm improvements to the lower basin area. The iconic, 120-year-old swing bridge at Bowling Harbour in West Dunbartonshire has also been lovingly restored as part of the latest stage – and could pave the way for a new linear park inspired by New York City’s Highline at the western gateway to the Forth & Clyde Canal.

With particular thanks to our funders at Coastal Communities Fund, Sustrans and West Dumbartonshire Council we are very pleased to see the completion of the latest phase of this work and look forward to welcoming more new businesses into the area, strengthening Bowling Harbour as a vibrant tourism destination.

More information can be found in our downloadable pdf.