Tradespeople in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire

Bishopbriggs is a large suburban town immediately north of Glasgow, with a population of around 23,000 and a direct train service to Glasgow Queen Street in under 10 minutes.

The town grew from a small village into a substantial commuter settlement during the 20th century and today it serves as a busy local centre with a good range of shops, supermarkets and leisure facilities including the Leisuredrome swimming pool and sports complex.

Bishopbriggs is home to the campus of City of Glasgow College's school of engineering and the town sits on the Forth and Clyde Canal, which provides a traffic-free walking and cycling route through the area.

The Wilderness Plantation and the open farmland to the north give the town a green edge and the combination of affordable housing, good schools and fast city access makes it one of the most practical places to live in the Glasgow commuter belt.

(opens in new tab)

East Dunbartonshire is a council area on the northern fringe of Glasgow, stretching from the suburbs of Bearsden and Bishopbriggs in the south across the Campsie Fells and Kilsyth Hills to the edge of the Stirling council area in the north.

The area is one of the most affluent in Scotland, consistently ranking at or near the top of national tables for school attainment, life expectancy and quality of life. Bearsden, Milngavie and Lenzie are particularly sought after by families drawn to the schools, green spaces and easy access to Glasgow city centre.

Kirkintilloch, the administrative centre, sits on the line of the Antonine Wall and the Forth and Clyde Canal, both of which run east-west through the heart of the council area. The canal has been restored as a leisure route and the wall is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that extends across the central belt.

Transport links are strong: the A803 and A807 connect the area's towns, railway services from Bearsden, Milngavie, Bishopbriggs and Lenzie reach Glasgow Queen Street in under 20 minutes and the Campsie Fells and Mugdock Country Park provide immediate access to open countryside without leaving the council area.

The smaller communities of Lennoxtown, Torrance and Twechar add to the area's variety - sitting closer to the hills and the canal than the suburban south - and give East Dunbartonshire a mix of rural and suburban character that few council areas of its size can match.