Welcome to Helensburgh. Last updated Dec 2024
Helensburgh is one of our favourite Sunday-- day trips. We love to walk from the car park <at the pier> to the Ardencaple Hotel. Nip in for a quick refreshment then back to the town.
The Commodore Hotel has good food and Dino`s is the place for icecream.
Helensburgh is the Birthplace of John Logie Baird .The inventor of the Television.
Helensburgh is one of our favourite Sunday-- day trips. We love to walk from the car park <at the pier> to the Ardencaple Hotel. Nip in for a quick refreshment then back to the town.
The Commodore Hotel has good food and Dino`s is the place for icecream.
Helensburgh is the Birthplace of John Logie Baird .The inventor of the Television.
The town was founded in 1776 when Sir James 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.
John Logie Baird -Inventor of the television Born in Helensburgh
Famous people born in Helensburgh
John Logie Baird: Inventor of the television was born in the town on 13 August 1888.
Deborah Kerr: Hollywood actress, most notable in The King and I (1956)
Bob McGregor: Olympic Silver medalist in the 100m freestyle at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He was also captain of GB Olympic squad for Mexico in 1968.
Walter Smith: Former manager of the Scotland national football team, Rangers F.C. and Everton F.C.
Kenny Hyslop: drummer in Slik and Simple Minds. With each band, he recorded a hit single: with the first band, "Forever And Ever" in 1975, and with the latter, the New Wave song "Promised You a Miracle" in 1982.
Tom Vaughan: Film and television director (Starter for 10, What Happens in Vegas) grew up in the town and produced his first amateur films there.
Robbie Coltrane: actor has residence just above the town
John Logie Baird: Inventor of the television was born in the town on 13 August 1888.
Deborah Kerr: Hollywood actress, most notable in The King and I (1956)
Bob McGregor: Olympic Silver medalist in the 100m freestyle at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He was also captain of GB Olympic squad for Mexico in 1968.
Walter Smith: Former manager of the Scotland national football team, Rangers F.C. and Everton F.C.
Kenny Hyslop: drummer in Slik and Simple Minds. With each band, he recorded a hit single: with the first band, "Forever And Ever" in 1975, and with the latter, the New Wave song "Promised You a Miracle" in 1982.
Tom Vaughan: Film and television director (Starter for 10, What Happens in Vegas) grew up in the town and produced his first amateur films there.
Robbie Coltrane: actor has residence just above the town
1808, Henry Bell bought the public baths and hotel, which his wife superintended while he continued his interest in early steamboats such as the nearby 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.
Helensburgh became a favourite place of residence for shipping tycoons and tobacco merchants from Glasgow. At one point the small town had one quarter of Britain's millionaires living there.
From 1858 holidaymakers were brought to the resort and the steamers.Also by the train from Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh. Railway terminus was built in the centre of the town, and in 1894 a second railway station was opened higher up the hill for the West Highland Railway to Fort William.
If in Helensburgh [at night] look out for the Grey Heron.There are loads of them flying along the shore. Wingspan of 195cm
I scream for Ice cream
Great to see the town has been given a facelift. What a good job has been done. Saturday is market day.
Town centre
16th Aug 2015
Another day trip to the seaside. Watched some football in the Royal bar. This time we had dinner in the Commodore. Lovely Sunny Sunday afternoon.
Another day trip to the seaside. Watched some football in the Royal bar. This time we had dinner in the Commodore. Lovely Sunny Sunday afternoon.
20th Dec 2015
We went to Ardardan Estate [Cardross]for lunch. Great place for something to eat or just a cup of tea. I had great fun talking to the locals.
We went to Ardardan Estate [Cardross]for lunch. Great place for something to eat or just a cup of tea. I had great fun talking to the locals.
Have you ever wondered was the shipwreck that you can see from Helensburgh. The sugar boat.=The Captayannis was a Greek sugar-carrying vessel that sank in the River Clyde in 1974.
Captayannis has become 'home' to marine life and birds. She has never been removed as confusion surrounds the identity of her owners and insurers - no-one accepts responsibility for her removal. Plans to have her blown up were shelved as there were fears about damage to nearby bird sanctuary, Ardmore Point
Captayannis has become 'home' to marine life and birds. She has never been removed as confusion surrounds the identity of her owners and insurers - no-one accepts responsibility for her removal. Plans to have her blown up were shelved as there were fears about damage to nearby bird sanctuary, Ardmore Point
Captayannis 1999
Rhu Jan 2018
I took this image in 1999. We took a tour to see the Sugar boat and over to Greenock to see the Queen Elizabeth 2. Great memories.
April 2020
The town is nearly back to normality after the terrible Corona Virus.Still facemasks in shops and social distance in the bars and restaurants.
We had a lovely lunch in the Ardencaple hotel and a few drinks in the beer garden of the Clyde bar. Another great day in one of our favourite places.
The town is nearly back to normality after the terrible Corona Virus.Still facemasks in shops and social distance in the bars and restaurants.
We had a lovely lunch in the Ardencaple hotel and a few drinks in the beer garden of the Clyde bar. Another great day in one of our favourite places.
April 2020 New Lockdown rules.vYoure only allowed to drink outside
23 May 2021
Wet day in the Helensburgh today.Lunch in the Ardencaple and a couple of beers in the Clyde bar.
Wet day in the Helensburgh today.Lunch in the Ardencaple and a couple of beers in the Clyde bar.
18TH June 2021
Nov 2021
When Mrs B retired she got a present [from her workmates] of a voucher for dinner in the Adencaple hotel. They knew how much we love Helensburgh and the surrounding area. Great meal--Great place.
We even got a great sunset.
When Mrs B retired she got a present [from her workmates] of a voucher for dinner in the Adencaple hotel. They knew how much we love Helensburgh and the surrounding area. Great meal--Great place.
We even got a great sunset.
Sun down over Roseneath Gareloch
First day trip of 2022. Helensburgh
Royal Navy Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine outbound from Faslane, Scotland -Fun day .Met up with Garry,Yvonne and the kids. Couple of drinks in Ardencaple.
Royal Navy Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine outbound from Faslane, Scotland -Fun day .Met up with Garry,Yvonne and the kids. Couple of drinks in Ardencaple.
Jan 1 2022
March 2022
Walking along the beach in Rhu .Great views up the Gareloch
10th August 2022
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ArdencapleFeb 2022
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October 2022
July 2023
Hermitage park March 2023
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Blake enjoying Helensburgh main park
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Rhu --Gareloch
Rhu-Firth of Clyde
Rhu Feb 2024
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Today we took our annual visit to Rhu parish church to see the spring colours.
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Might have been a few weeks early. Have a look out for the grave stone of Henry Bell (7 April 1767 – 14 March 1830) He was a Scottish engineer who helped to pioneer the development of the steamship. He is mostly widely known for introducing the first successful passenger steamboat service on earth in 1812.
March 2024
I returned from a trip to Germany with a heavy cold. After a visit to the docs. I received meds to help my cough. The next day we decided to return to our second hame. Try and get some fresh air.
Certainly got that. A gale-
I returned from a trip to Germany with a heavy cold. After a visit to the docs. I received meds to help my cough. The next day we decided to return to our second hame. Try and get some fresh air.
Certainly got that. A gale-
October 2024
Another great time down the burgh. Autumn pictures
Another great time down the burgh. Autumn pictures
November 2024
Christmas festival 2024
December 2024
Doon to the burgh again. This time for some exercise and lunch in the Rhu inn. For winter the weather was super. Bit cold but sunny. The walk was super. Around 18000 steps. Clear skies all round.
Doon to the burgh again. This time for some exercise and lunch in the Rhu inn. For winter the weather was super. Bit cold but sunny. The walk was super. Around 18000 steps. Clear skies all round.
We started by walking to the end of Helensburgh pier. Great view down the esplanade and the rolling hills.
After that we walked along the front. Passed the Commadore hotel.
Ardencaple and on to Rhu. We walked down the beach to the lighthouse. Great views up the Gareloch and Arrocher mountains.
After that we had lunch in the Rhu inn. Excellent
Ardencaple and on to Rhu. We walked down the beach to the lighthouse. Great views up the Gareloch and Arrocher mountains.
After that we had lunch in the Rhu inn. Excellent
After that back into the town and drive home.
