Welcome to Scotland, a country of varied and beautiful landscapes, of mountains and lochs and of dramatic coasts. And welcome to Argyll and Bute and to Helensburgh in particular.

There is plenty to see and do here. Helensburgh, gateway to the new Loch Lomond National Park, is a lively place with broad avenues, a promenade, pier and parks. It offers convenience and ease of travel whether you're city bound or heading for the hills.

Helensburgh is only 40 minutes drive from Glasgow airport and there is a mainline railway station in the centre with a half hourly service to Glasgow. Helensburgh Upper Station offers a direct service to Oban and Fort William. A sleeper service to London Euston operates from Helensburgh every night except Saturday.

Rosyth/Zeebrugge Ferry Outbound, With the Forth Rail and Road Bridges in the Background (Image: Colin Sanders)

Building the Forth Rail Bridge (Image: University of Aberdeen)

There is a direct passenger ferry service from Helensburgh Pier to Kilcreggan and Gourock with onward connections to Caledonian McBrayne Western Isles services. Pleasure cruises also operate during the summer months.

There is much to see and do within an hour's drive of your base in Helensburgh.

• Luss, on Loch Lomond, is a pretty village and one of pilgrimage to fans of the long-running BBC series 'High Road'.
• Inveraray, with its Castle and Town Jail visitor centre, provides a varied day out.
• Balloch, with its marina, is a bustling place from where you can catch a sightseeing trip round Loch Lomond or organise a day's fishing.
• Loch Lomond Shores Visitor Centre offers an alternative day at the Loch. This 'must visit' attraction combines a viewing gallery, interactive displays and an educational information centre with a range of exciting shopping and dining experiences.
• Visit the Trossachs and take a trip back in time on the steam vessel Sir Walter Scott as it circles Loch Katrine,
• Drop into Stirling, a city steeped in history.

Further afield, yet still within a couple of hours drive, are even more Scottish gems. Take a trip to the nation's capital city, Edinburgh, visit the castle and do some shopping on Princes Street. Visit Oban in the west taking in Kilmartin en-route, head up to Perth, take the ferries to the Isle of Bute or go to Ayr for the racing and visit the Robert Burns Centre there.

Glasgow, easily accessible by rail or road, has a wealth of things to do and see. The new Science Discovery Centre has exhibitions to amaze both young and old. There are galleries to visit, for example the Burrell Collection, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Hunterian Gallery of Glasgow University with its Mackintosh flat and Whistler paintings. The SECC, Royal Concert Hall and Theatre Royal offer a range of dramatic and musical productions.

Closer to home, Helensburgh has much to offer in its own right. There are cafes and restaurants, a good range of shops and some pleasing architecture. At the top of the town, and close to the Upper Station, is Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House, considered to be the finest of his domestic creations. The unique, well-preserved interior and the gardens have been restored to their former glory. Hill House is maintained by the National Trust for Scotland and is usually open from end March to end October, from 1.30-5.30pm daily.

At the end of a busy day take a stroll down the promenade, view the yachts, submarines, naval vessels and maybe see a visiting cruise liner passing by. Watch out for spectacular sunsets down the Clyde estuary. Finally, return to the comfort of Pier View. Stay awhile and appreciate just a little of what Scotland and Helensburgh has to offer.