Cardross is a large village with a population of 2,351(2001) in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, on the north side of the Firth of Clyde

Firth of Clyde

The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...

, situated halfway between Dumbarton and Helensburgh

Helensburgh

Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....

. Cardross is in the historic geographical county of Dunbartonshire

Dunbartonshire

Dunbartonshire or the County of Dumbarton is a lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Until 1975 it was a county used as a primary unit of local government with its county town and administrative centre at the town...

 but the modern political local authority of Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...

. Cardross is also the name of an historic Parish where King Robert the Bruce once lived. The Parish area stretched from the west side of Dumbarton to Camus Eskan(near Helensburgh) and even as far as Loch Long and also included the village of Renton

Renton, Scotland

Renton is a small district in central Scotland. In the 2001 National Census it had a population of 2,138.Renton is particularly famous for the village's association football side. Renton F.C...

 in the Vale of Leven

Vale of Leven

The Vale of Leven is an area of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, in the valley of the River Leven.The areas name lends itself to Alexandria's local football club, Vale of Leven F.C., the secondary school, Vale of Leven Academy, and the Vale of Leven District General Hospital, as well as other local...

.

History

King Robert the Bruce purchased the portions of lands of Pillanflatt from the Earl of Lennox, lying in the parish of Cardross in 1326. He died at his manorial house that he built there in 1329, a field called the Mains of Cardross is thought to have been his Royal Manor's location.

Kilmahew Castle

Kilmahew Castle

Kilmahew Castle is a ruined castle located just north of Cardross, in the council area of Argyll and Bute. Kilmahew is named for its patron saint, Mochta .-History:...

 lies just to the north of the village.

The main road through the village goes over Moore's Bridge, dating from 1688, it is a Listed Building.

Natural History

2km north-west of Cardross is a peninsula called Ardmore Point. This privately owned area of land has a nature trail maintained by the Scottish Wildlife Trust

Scottish Wildlife Trust

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a registered charity dedicated to conserving the wildlife and natural environment of Scotland.-Description:The Scottish Wildlife Trust has over 32,800 members...

 and is a Regionally Important Geographical Site(RIGS) due to unique rock formations including an exposed sea cliff. It is also a popular fishing and bird-spotting area. Grey seals can also be seen here.

Commercial

There are a number of shops, including a post office

Post office

A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...

, newsagents, pharmacy

Pharmacy

Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...

, plumber's merchant and a café.
Ardardan Estate is a working farm with a farm shop, plant nursery and tea room and is situated just outside Cardross near Ardmore Point.

Sports

The town possesses a golf course, bowling

Bowling

Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...

, tennis

Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...

 and football clubs. Paul Lawrie won the Scottish Professional Golf Championship held at Cardross Golf Course in 1992.

Transport

Cardross railway station

Cardross railway station

Cardross railway station is a railway station serving the village of Cardross, Scotland. The station is north west of on the North Clyde Line. The station is managed by First ScotRail.-History:...

 has direct links to both and stations on the North Clyde Line

North Clyde Line

The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...

. Cardross station is operated by ScotRail

ScotRail

ScotRail was a brand name used for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004....

.

Tourist attractions

Geilston Garden

Geilston Garden

Geilston Garden is a property of the National Trust for Scotland, north-west of Cardross, Argyll and Bute.Geilston Garden was developed more than two hundred years ago, combining several features . The walled garden has a dominating 100-foot Wellingtonia in the centre of the lawn...

, a National Trust for Scotland

National Trust for Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...

 property, is located to the north west of the village.

Religion

The village has two places of worship: Cardross Parish Church (Church of Scotland

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....

) and St Mahew's Roman Catholic Church. The original Parish Church was bombed during the Second World War and its ruins are located next to the Manse

Manse

A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church...

.

Closed seminary

The former St. Peter's Seminary

St. Peter's Seminary (Cardross)

St. Peter's Seminary is a disused Roman Catholic seminary near Cardross, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Designed by the firm of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, it has been described by the international architecture conservation organisation DOCOMOMO as a modern "building of world significance"...

, designed by Gillespie, Kidd & Coia

Gillespie, Kidd & Coia

Gillespie, Kidd & Coia were a Scottish architectural firm famous for their application of modernism in churches and universities, as well as at St Peter's Seminary in Cardross. Though founded in 1927, it is for their work in the post-war period that they are best known...

, is situated to the north of the village. It is closed to the public. At the time of writing (2009) it is, and has been for many years, in a state of dilapidation, particularly internally. Its future is uncertain.

Famous residents

A. J. Cronin

A. J. Cronin

Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known works are Hatter's Castle, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years, all of which were adapted to film. He also created the Dr...

, the celebrated doctor and writer, was born in Cardross in 1896.

The BBC Sports presenter Hazel Irvine

Hazel Irvine

Hazel Irvine , is a television presenter from the United Kingdom.- Life and career :Educated at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh, she achieved an M.A. in History of Art at the University of St. Andrews, and competed in golf, netball and athletics at university level. In her final year she was...

 lived in Cardross when she was younger and attended Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh

Helensburgh

Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....

.

The rising football star Michael Curley (notable for scoring from three corners in one match of football) resides in Cardross.

Sources