Visitor Gateway Partnership
A Visitor Gateway Partnership has been established to work collaboratively on the delivery of the 2020 Dumbarton Visitor Gateway Strategy and Action Plan. The partnership aims to define a positive new narrative for Dumbarton by connecting its main attractions along the new ‘Rock and Rivers Route’.
It involves:
- West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC)
- Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- Dumbarton Football Club (DFC)
- Scottish Maritime Museum (SMM)
Background
In 2020, West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) jointly undertook a strategic review to assess viable opportunities to enhance the visitor offer in Dumbarton, with a particular focus on the Castle and Rock.
The review proposed a new ‘gateway’ approach, which pulls the three main attractions in the town together in an ‘Arc of Attraction’. These are Glencairn House, the Scottish Maritime Museum, and Dumbarton Castle (and Rock), which are linked by a new waterfront path and signposted routes.
Objectives
The main objectives of the partnership are to improve the Dumbarton visitor experience, positively contribute to Dumbarton’s continuing regeneration, and create opportunities for enhanced sustainable tourism. The partners have recognised that to achieve these, they need to define a positive narrative of Dumbarton into a captivating and accessible tourist destination.
As a starting point, a Dumbarton Wayfinding & Intervention Action Plan was produced in 2025. The action plan is designed to be a comprehensive approach that not only boosts tourism but also enhances the quality of life for residents and contributes to the sustainable development of Dumbarton. It considers Dumbarton’s wider visitor offer and connects these along a ‘Rock and Rivers route’. As the Rock and Castle is the most recognisable of Dumbarton’s attractions, the journey begins here – ‘It starts with the Rock’.
