landmark
The Kelpies
Two 30-metre steel horse-head sculptures towering over the canal at Falkirk, a striking modern landmark off the M9.
17 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Cumbernauld
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld works well as a base: 10 minutes from Banknock, 20km from Stirling Castle.
Cumbernauld is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 51,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Banknock, about 5 km away.
Cumbernauld (; Scottish Gaelic: Comar nan Allt, lit. 'meeting of the streams') is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies within the historic county of Dunbartonshire. It is the tenth most-populous locality in Scotland and the most populated town in North Lanarkshire, positioned in the centre of Scotland'sRead more
Central Belt. Geographically, Cumbernauld sits between east and west, being on the Scottish watershed between the Forth and the Clyde; however, it is culturally more weighted towards Glasgow and the New Town's planners aimed to fill 80% of its houses from Scotland's largest city to reduce housing pressure there.
For a period of time, Cumbernauld was chiefly populated around what is now called The Village with the medieval castle a short walk away surrounded by its own park grounds. The castle frequently hosted visiting royalty and the grounds were famous for their white cattle which were hunted in the oak forest. The town began to enlarge as the weaving industry of the village was supplemented by mining and quarrying as travel across Scotland became easier due to the Forth and Clyde Canal and the railways being constructed. Cumbernauld railway station, though some distance from the village, improved communications with Glasgow, Falkirk and Stirling.
Cumbernauld was designated as the site for a New Town on 9 December 1955. This led to rapid expansion and building for about 40 years until the town became established as the largest in North Lanarkshire. In 2022, the population of Cumbernauld was 50,498 inhabitants, housed in more than a dozen residential areas. Cumbernauld's economy is a mixture of some manufacturing, mainly on its industrial estates, as well as service industries in the town centre and in sites close to the M80. It was featured in Our World, the first live multinational multi-satellite television production.
Where to Stay in Cumbernauld
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Cumbernauld.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Cumbernauld.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Cumbernauld?
Within an hour or so of Cumbernauld: The Kelpies (17 km), The Dunmore Pineapple (19 km), Stirling Castle (20 km), Riverside Museum (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Cumbernauld?
The nearest famous roads are The Royal Mile, Rest and Be Thankful (A83) and Glen Lyon.
Where is Cumbernauld?
Cumbernauld is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Banknock.
Road trip
Drive to Cumbernauld
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Cumbernauld. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 50,530
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.9468, -3.9905
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Cumbernauld
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
The Dunmore Pineapple
An outrageous 14m stone pineapple crowns this 1761 walled-garden folly, built for the Earl of Dunmore and rated among Britain's most eccentric buildings. Free to visit, hidden down a lane near Airth.
19 km · about 20 min drive
castle
Stirling Castle
One of Scotland's largest and most important castles, sitting atop Castle Hill and closely associated with Scottish independence.
20 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Riverside Museum
Glasgow's Zaha Hadid-designed transport museum on the Clyde, packed with classic cars, a recreated cobbled street of vintage vehicles, and the tall ship Glenlee moored outside.
22 km · about 25 min drive
film location
National Wallace Monument, Stirling (Braveheart)
The Victorian tower commemorating William Wallace overlooks the Stirling battlefield central to Braveheart's story; the film itself shot largely in Ireland.
22 km · about 25 min drive
photogenic
Culross
Scotland's most complete 17th-century burgh: ochre-coloured Culross Palace, cobbled wynds and white-harled cottages on the Firth of Forth, preserved by the National Trust. Doubles as Cranesmuir in Outlander.
25 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Doune Castle
A well-preserved 14th-century courtyard castle near Stirling, filmed for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander.
27 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Doune Castle (Monty Python, Outlander, Game of Thrones)
The 14th-century keep is Castle Anthrax in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Castle Leoch in Outlander and Winterfell in the GoT pilot.
27 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Cumbernauld
7 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 36 kmQueensferry CrossingThe world's longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2017, carrying the M90 high over the Firth of Forth alongside its famous Victorian and 1960s neighbours: three centuries of bridges in one view.
- 50 kmThe Royal MileEdinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
- 50 kmCalton HillAn accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
- 52 kmArthur's Seat, EdinburghAncient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.
- 60 kmRest and Be Thankful (A83)The famous climb out of Glen Croe in Argyll with the old military road beside it; landslide-prone but a spectacular gateway to the west coast.
- 62 kmRest and Be ThankfulA famous viewpoint at the top of Glen Croe where 18th-century soldiers carved the name into a stone after completing the military road.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Cumbernauld.
Plan a trip around Cumbernauld
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Cumbernauld.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.