EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

A small council region, but home to some truly magnificent areas, East Dunbartonshire is well worth taking a closer look at

So what do you know about East Dunbartonshire? Unless youíre a resident, the answer might well be ìnot muchî, since this compact district finds itself squeezed between the rural beauty of West Dunbartonshire, the unique culture of Stirlingshire, and of course Glasgow. Then again, East Dunbartonshire comprises part of the cityís northern quarter ñ the most sought-after quarter ñ and doubtless residents of Bearsden and Milngavie would prefer to be associated with the leafy desirability of East Dunbartonshire than they would with the city of Glasgow, even though geographically they are just a few brief miles from the epicentre of Scotlandís largest city.

Somehow further removed from Glasgow than the comparable East Renfrewshire or South Lanarkshire suburbs, East Dunbartonshireís predominantly urban nature is interjected by some of Scotlandís finest scenery and tourist attractions. The West Highland Way is one example, as is Mugdock Country Park, while the Forth and Clyde canal is set for a glittering future, as we rediscover our love of these charming waterways.

And nor should the homes in East Dunbartonshire be forgotten. Kirkintilloch typifies the region, with a blend of older and more modern housing, eschewing flats and bungalows in favour of two-storey properties set in large gardens along leafy residential streets. Itís easy to forget just how close to central Glasgow this is, and the incomparable Bearsden is arguably the most sought after address in the entire city.