Home Report Kilsyth

Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, is a small town of about 10,000 residents that sits roughly halfway between Glasgow and Stirling, in a narrow strip of land between the Kilsyth Hills and River Kelvin. The area the town sits in has always had some form of habitation, with evidence of human settlement as far back as 12,000 years ago. In more recent history, the Romans saw the strategic importance of the area, and built two Antonine Wall forts nearby, at Bar Hill and Croy Hill, evidence of which is still visible to this day. The Battle of Kilsyth, in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, took place on hillsides between Kilsyth and Banton in 1645. Later, Kilsyth played several roles with the various attempts by Jacobite’s to regain the crown for the House of Stuart.

In the present day, things are a bit less exciting, and the town of Kilsyth serves predominantly as a commuter settlement for workers in Glasgow and other larger nearby towns. Being a commuter town, transport links are well established. While there’s no dedicated train station Croy Station is just a 10-minute drive away, with trains running regularly to Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverly stations.

Regular bus services connect the town to Glasgow, and the wider North Lanarkshire area, as well as Falkirk and other nearby towns in East Dunbartonshire. The M73 motorway can be found to the south of the town, past Cumbernauld, and allows for travel to Glasgow or connections elsewhere via the M8 motorway.

As for local amenities and things to do Kilsyth has all the usual elements you would expect in a small town, and, more still. The pedestrianised main street offers locals access to an array of independent shops and typical chains, and a decent choice of local restaurants and takeaways too. There are the typical recreational facilities such as a public pool, library, tennis courts and bowling clubs. There are a number of picturesque parks and gardens, like Burngreen and Colzium Parks, perfect for walking and families. Banton Loch – the site of the Battle of Kilsyth – is the main reservoir for the Forth and Clyde canal, and also offers scenic walking opportunities. Auchinstarry Marina can be found nearby too and is a 50-berth marina and is an ideal base for a wander along the canal. Additionally, there are plenty of outdoor activities to do here from mountain bikes, canoe or kayak hire, or even rock climbing and abseiling in the closeby quarry. Bar and Croy Hill Fort’s also offer excellent opportunities for scenic walks and stunning views of the area, as well as the chance to learn more about how the Romans built and operated in the area, as well as the Antonine Wall.

For golfers, Kilsyth Lennox Golf Club offers an 18-hole Heathland course, with stunning views over the nearby area, and additionally, the club hosts a popular Festival of Golf in the first week in July.

Residents also benefit from amenities and attractions in Cumbernauld due to the proximity of the towns to one another.

In terms of local schooling, Kilsyth has three primary schools. Kilsyth Primary and Balmalloch Primary, and St Patrick’s Primary School. Children from each school can progress to Kilsyth Academy or, on to St. Maurice’s High School which is in Cumbernauld.