Helensburgh - Promenade & Town

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Helensburgh Promenade and Town, with Detectives helping Chief Inspector Holly Wood investigate the suspicious death of film and television star Glen Herbush and catch the culprit by following clues around Helensburgh.

The investigation covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 1.5 hours to complete. You'll start underneath the clock tower at the traffic lights at the bottom of Sinclair Street, follow the promenade along West Clyde Street, inspect monuments and Victorian buildings, visit Saint Michaels and All Angels Church, explore Colquhoun Square and Colquhoun Street, then loop back to the Clock Tower and traffic lights at the bottom of Sinclair Street.

This Trail is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The route uses pavements and clear paths, including the promenade, though the case also mentions stepping stones along the way.

Take care when crossing the car park service road and the main road, and use crossings at the crossroads later in the investigation.

Getting There

By car: Begin underneath the clock tower at the traffic lights at the bottom of Sinclair Street (G84 7PA). Helensburgh Pier car park (G84 8SQ) is the recommended nearby car park.

By public transport: Make your way to underneath the clock tower at the traffic lights at the bottom of Sinclair Street (G84 7PA) to begin the case. Helensburgh Central train station is also on the route at Clue 20.

Need the Loo?

Comfort stops are available near the swimming pool just after Clue 03, and at Helensburgh Central train station at Clue 20.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome to join the investigation 🐾

The route follows pavements and clear paths around Helensburgh, including the promenade, with several street crossings, a car park service road, the main road and stepping stones along the way. Keep canine colleagues close around traffic and busier town-centre sections.

Food & Drink Stops

Evidence-gathering can work up an appetite, and there are plenty of places to pick up provisions, especially near the start and finish points.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Helensburgh Promenade

The case takes you along West Clyde Street and the town's popular promenade, giving your Detective squad a proper taste of this seaside resort. Keep an eye out for the town's monuments and Victorian buildings once you're no longer interrogating every detail for clues.

John Logie Baird Monument

Helensburgh gave the world television pioneer John Logie Baird, who was born in West Argyle Street in 1888. As a youngster, he rigged up an electrical lighting system in his family home in 1900, reportedly making it the first house in Helensburgh with electric light - not bad groundwork for a future screen legend.

Colquhoun Square and Colquhoun Street

The investigation heads into Colquhoun Square and Colquhoun Street, where several clues are found among the town-centre buildings and historic objects. It's a good spot to slow down after the culprit has been cornered and enjoy the centre of Helensburgh without treating every feature as evidence.

The Hill House

Optional extra: The Hill House is about a 20 minute walk from the route and is well worth a visit if you have the time. Further up Colquhoun Street on Upper Colquhoun Street, it was designed by Charles Rennie MacKintosh for a wealthy publisher and completed in 1904. The National Trust has begun a pioneering conservation programme here, including the Hill House Box - a steel frame structure covered in chainmail mesh designed to protect the house from rain and let the walls dry.