Home Report Milngavie

Milngavie is a thriving and affluent town in East Dunbartonshire of roughly 13,500 residents. It is on the Allander Water, at the northwestern edge of Greater Glasgow, about 8 miles from Glasgow city centre. It shares a border with the similarly affluent town of Bearsden to the south. In the 19th century, the town and area had several active industries including milling and textiles. However, it was in 1863 when the railway arrived that Milngavie as we know it today began to take shape. Many more people began to come to the town over time, including many wealthier citizens, who began to build stone villas and semi-detached homes to the east of the town centre and around Tannoch Loch. The town saw growth again with the building of many private housing developments of bungalows and semi-detached homes to the south of the town centre and to the west in the 1950s and 1960s.

Milngavie today then is a desirable commuter town, with much of its working population travelling to Glasgow for work or study. It is an ideal location for this, as travel times are relatively short and transport links well established. This along with the attractive housing stock throughout the area, and excellent schools, compound together to create a highly sought-after residential town.

As mentioned, transport links are excellent. The town has its own railway station – Milngavie station – with regular daily services to and from Glasgow Queen Street station in about 25 minutes. The A81 Glasgow/Milngavie/Maryhill Road is one of the main trunk roads for commuters travelling by road and is easily accessible. Bus services are also frequent for local travel and further into Glasgow again for example.

In terms of amenities and things to do, Milngavie has a plethora of things to enjoy. The pedestrianised town centre is known locally as ‘Milngavie Precinct’ and has a range of shops and restaurants as well as a local bookshop. Indeed, the town is not lacking in quality eateries of all kinds. The town is also the starting point of the West Highland Way and nearby Mugdock Country Park is an excellent park for woodland walks and wildlife spotting. Avid golfers are spoilt for choice with no fewer than five 18-hole courses in the immediate area. Residents can also take advantage of the various amenities in Bearsden too with the town being so close.

In terms of local schooling, primary education is provided by Clober Primary, Craigdhu Primary and Milngavie Primary schools. The local secondary school is Douglas Academy which includes a music school for gifted children who gain entry through audition and board in Glasgow’s West End. Douglas Academy has been ranked as Scotland’s best state school in the past, and most years it is among the highest in the country. There is a private nursery and primary school that forms part of the Glasgow Academy, whose senior school and other departments are located at Colebrooke Street in the West End of Glasgow.