Report - Bowling harbour, West Dumbartonshire. boat graveyard May 2014

[jondoe745]

So for my 1st post here is Bowling harbour where boats come to die..
It lies on the north bank of the Firth of Clyde, between the towns of Clydebank and Dumbarton. It is at one end of the Antonine Wall and therefore represents the extreme limit of the Roman Empire on the west coast of the island of Great Britain. It is the location of the western terminus of the Forth and Clyde Canal, opened in 1790, and it is the western gateway to the Lowland canals of Scotland.
Bowling has been long associated with shipbuilding and ship repairing. The opening of the Forth and Clyde canal at Bowling in 1790 increased the number of vessels passing through the small village on their way to Glasgow. In 1851, James Scott joined the McGill brothers and set up the shipyard on land owned by Scott’s family at Littlemill at the west end of the harbour. The firm, known as Scott & McGill, increasingly specialized in the construction of tugs, trawlers and coastal steamers, building 40 of the famous Clyde puffers, which was approximately 10% of the total number built.

If your going to visit site its best to check the tide times. not much to see when the tides in. Bowling Tide Times | Tide Times

wiki page Bowling, West Dunbartonshire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Glasgow history Sailing Down the Clyde: Doon the Watter | Glasgow History

Bowling wharf and paddle steamer Isle of Cumbrae 1912

Bowling wharf may 2014

Bowling harbour 1905

Forth and Clyde canal sea lock

more photos of Bowling harbour Bowling Hi-res Photos by jondoe745 | Photobucket

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Re: Bowling harbour, West Dumbartonshire. boat graveyard

Fantastic, I do love places like this off the beaten track, great pics and a nice write up. the perfect Sunday stroll

 

[Ojay]

Good stuff, thanks for sorting it all out

 

[ACID- REFLUX]

Nice ones

Not been too Bowling since 2002 when we re-opened the F&C Canal. We built all the new Lock gates and fitted them into the Locks once we"d finally cleared 40 yrs of Crap out of them lol and i spent 4 months flitting between Falkirk & Glasgow Hotels

Good area for Diving as well

 

[catbalou]

Been a good few years since ive been round these parts...! really good read and photos there.

 

[Clarence Trumble-Lovegod]

Interesting - thanks!

 

[wormster]

my cousin used to keep his old MFV there, as I recall there was the wrecked remains of the "Vital Spark" one of the last Clyde Puffers!