West Scotland Facts

The Titan Crane at Clydebank is one of four such cranes on the Clyde. It was used to fit heavier parts of ships, such as the engine turbines. The Titan Crane was revolutionary as it was the first crane to be electrically powered and therefore only needed one person to operate.

Greenock became a base for some of the French navy during WWII. The Free French Memorial monument on Lyle Hill in Greenock, in the shape of the Cross of Lorraine combined with an anchor, was paid for by the French sailors before their return to France.

Rouken Glen Park is one of the largest in Scotland at 143 acres. The origin of the name “Rouken” appears to come from “The Rockandmyll” – the name of a now ruined meal mill which was used by local farmers to grind their grain.

On the coast of the isle of Cumbrae, a rocky formation has been called Crocodile Rock for over 100 years. It’s thought that a local man decided the rock looked like a crocodile and took some paint to turn the rock into a crocodile. It’s been kept that way for the last 100 years.

Bridge of Weir has been a centre of producing leather for over 250 years. The tanneries have supplied leather to the UK Houses of Parliament, Concorde and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

West Scotland Featured landmarks

Antonine Wall, Arran ferry, Bridge of Weir leather, Campsie Fells, Crocodile Rock Millport, Cross of Lorraine on Lyle Hill, Dumbarton Castle and Rock, Erskine Bridge, Forth and Clyde Canal, Hillman Imp car, Ice cream by the seaside, Irvine Town House, Loch Lomond, Paisley Abbey, Paisley pattern, Rouken Glen park boating pond, Titan Crane Clydebank, West Highland Way signpost