A walk round Overtoun Estate

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Overtoun House
Overtoun House

Overtoun House was built in 1862 for James White, a wealthy industrialist, and stayed in the family until 1939 when it was bequeathed to the people of Dumbarton. In the past it has been used as a maternity hospital and a film set, but since 2001 it has been run by the Christian Centre for Hope and Healing. Since my last visit a few years ago, a weekend tea room has opened in the house and the Forestry Commission has greatly enhanced the paths around the estate.

We did a figure-of-eight walk, returning to the house in the middle for lunch. The first loop took us past the Welcome Cairn to a viewpoint where we could see Ben Lomond one way (just visible over John’s shoulder) and Dumbarton Rock and Castle the other.

Welcome cairn
Drum set bench
View of Dumbarton Castle
Looking towards Ben Lomond

Descending back towards the house, there was an area with wooden sculptures – maybe for children to play on? I don’t know: on this cold, November day there were no children around to demonstrate. The autumn colours were lovely.

Wooden sculpture
Wooden sculpture
Wooden sculpture
Wooden sculpture
Autumn colours

Overtoun Bridge, visible on the left in the first picture below, looks picturesque but has an unpleasant history. Since the 1950s or 1960s numerous dogs have leapt from the bridge at the rate of about one dog per year, falling 50 feet onto the waterfalls below. In 1994, a man threw his two-week-old son to his death from the bridge, because he believed the child was an incarnation of the Devil, and then attempted to jump himself. Well, we made it across safely and popped into the house for lunch in the beautiful Angel Room. I can report that it was very good and very cheap – the best chips / fries I’ve had in a long time. (Don’t judge me on the chips – it was a cold day and I needed fuel.)

Overtoun House and Bridge
Tea Room

The second loop was less photogenic. It took us down, allegedly, to a waterfall, but there were so many trees we could barely see it. Can you spot it lurking in the first picture below?

Waterfall (allegedly)
Overtoun Estate

Arriving back at the house again, John amused himself taking some shots of the stone ornamentation while I shivered.

It does show what a splendid pile it is though, doesn’t it? Linked to Jo’s Monday Walks. She has the most fabulous Christmas lights this week.

Scotland, UK ,

67 Comments »

  1. Is that place haunted? Seriously giving me a bad feeling and thats unusual. Not just the home, its the outdoor pics as well.
    I read about that bridge on this page it didnt shock me abt dogs but more than that something off abt that place. It’s beautifully creepy is how id put it.

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  3. It looks like a good place for a bracing walk – epecially with a tea room to provide refreshments! I wonder what makes dogs jump off that bridge? Has anyone done any research on other bridges? Maybe dogs jump off other bridges too, and so Overtoun Bridge is no worse than any other.

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  5. These pics are always great and love the ones John made. I wonder if those male faces were based on real men?? I wonder why dogs jump off that bridge or are the thrown off by wicked people like that nut job who killed his child??

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  6. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Boxing Day Blues | restlessjo

  7. I have to wonder if those stone ornaments in the final pictures were sculpted after the original owner or his children… regardless, it’s a very beautiful house! And I love that tea room. I could sit in there for hours reading.

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  8. I’m with you on the chips in cold weather.
    What a wonderful place to walk and discover. Nothing like outdoor sculptures for added fun.
    Thanks for the closeup of details – always marvel at the ornate/delicate craftsmanship
    Jingle on!

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  10. Yikes, that bridge story is certainly not very cheery. I do love that bird on a pole(?) sculpture though! And I would certainly never judge anyone for having chips…that’s pretty much what I lived off of when we were in New Zealand, because they were the cheapest food out there! Cheap as chips, you might say… 🙂

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  12. Never apologies for eating fries/chips! They are one of my favorite foods, and obviously meant to be enjoyed. Interesting post, but I was surprised to hear of the dogs jumping off the bridge. I didn’t know dogs did that. As for the poor baby who was thrown…that’s just beyond tragic.

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  13. I love the sculpture of the hare. Not so much the rather depressing history of the bridge. And I would never judge you for eating chips. Good chips are to be savoured. Thanks for sharing your walk.

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  15. The stonework was worth it…..beautiful in the cold. As are the wooden sculptures
    Not sure I like the bridge though, glad you took us back to the tea room 😊

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  19. All these places you are taking us have so much history. Albeit sometimes of the lugubrious kind… I’m glad you made it safely across, with a tasty reward. Yes, you look cold, Anabel. And the snowflakes falling across your blog make me shiver as well! 🙂

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  20. It’s interesting to see Dumbarton Rock from the other side. Normally I see it across the water when I’m on the train into Glasgow.

    Looks like a lovely place to visit. I’ve heard about the bridge, definitely not one to visit with Tara!

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  22. One of my favourite spots in Spring with new leaves on the trees when you take in the Lang Craigs horseshoe above the house. Nice to see the interior. Parts of Cloud Atlas were filmed around the estate and inside the house but the film itself was not to my taste.Far too complex to be enjoyable, away from the book.. Jo’s Christmas Light captures are excellent and very unusual.

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    • Thanks, glad you got over to Jo’s site! I read that Cloud Atlas had been partially filmed there – I enjoyed the film, but think I’d have been totally confused if I hadn’t read the book first.

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  24. Hi Anabel – that looks a fascinating walk – love the sculptures … but I’m glad John stopped for his stone photos – they’re fascinating … the story of the bridge – not so sure … but good to see you here in one piece … Have a happy festive time … cheers Hilary

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  29. Lovely: a beautiful walk and chips. I haven’t had de eat chips for ages. The shot of Dumbarton Castle is interesting. I assume the rock it sits on is an old volcano, like Edinburgh Castle?

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  30. Thanks a lot, Anabel 🙂 Funny thing about bridges… Thankfully I never have the urge to leap 🙂 Talking chips, I had the most wonderful crispy golden ones in their skins last week. Fabulous! Doesn’t happen too often. Wishing you much Christmas joy and a sackful of good things to look forward to in the New Year.

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