Home Report Clarkston

The affluent town of Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, is found to the southern fringes of Greater Glasgow, with a population of roughly 10,000 residents. Its name derives from that of the man – John Clark – who looked after the former toll house on the Glasgow to Kilmarnock Road. It directly adjoins Busby and Netherlee, so much so you’d be forgiven for crossing into one or the other without realising, as well as the towns of Giffnock and Newton Mearns. It is primarily an attractive commuter suburb for residents working in the Greater Glasgow area.

Indeed, transport links for commuters are well developed, with regular buses to Glasgow City Centre and elsewhere in East Renfrewshire, and nearby South Lanarkshire. It also has its own train station with direct trains to Glasgow Central Station that take just over 20 minutes. For drivers, the Ayr Road, the M77, and A726 are all within a short distance with many connections to each for travel onwards to Glasgow city centre, Greater Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and further afield.

In times past, Clarkston was actually smaller than nearby Busby. Busby began to develop during the industrial revolution when it became a thriving small town due to the nearby river and suitability for the cotton industry. The proximity to Glasgow was also particularly advantageous for importing and exporting goods. As such it was a larger settlement than Clarkston.

The Clarkston we know today really began in the 1920s when rapid expansion of suburban housing developments began, and housebuilding was encouraged. The expansion of the old Glasgow tram network and dedicated railway station made it particularly advantageous and attractive for would-be residents. Now, Clarkston is a very attractive place to live with many amenities and attractions within the town boundary itself, as well as many others in nearby towns, all within a very short drive, and then there’s Glasgow city centre too with all its offerings too. The town has a bustling main street with the usual local and independent businesses, pubs, cafes and restaurants, and a few national chains to kicking around offering residents a diversity of choices.

Greenbank Garden, a National Trust for Scotland property is situated on Flenders Road, consisting of the 18th-century Greenbank House and its lovely walled gardens. The house is a Category A listed building.

Clarkston contains two golf clubs with long histories: The Cathcart Castle Golf Club, which opened in 1895 as Merrylea Golf Club, and, Williamwood Golf Club, founded in 1906. Both clubs are very popular often with waiting lists to join and offer a challenging design around rolling parkland.

In terms of education, Clarkston has three nearby primary schools: Carolside Primary, Netherlee Primary, and Busby Primary. The local secondary school is Williamwood High School. East Renfrewshire generally is seen to have excellent quality state schooling. Williamwood High School is often high in the top 50 state schools for highers annually, being as high as in the top five across Scotland in recent years. The desire for a good education is known to be one of the primary factors increasing demand for homes in the area.