Formakin House, photo by Brian Moyes, clydesideimages.co.uk
A Love Letter to
BISHOPTON
Writer Kirsteen Paterson is your field guide to a little village with lots to offer.
A
ccessible, friendly and safe, it’s not hard to see why more and more people are choosing to live in Bishopton. That’s thanks in no small part to the Dargavel Village development, which is still under construction and promises to bring new amenities, including a school and supermarket, to this Renfrewshire community. But there’s no need to wait for future facilities, there’s already plenty to do in and around the village, which can trace its history back to Roman times. BISHOPTON TENNIS CLUB Dating back to the 1920s, this family-friendly club has been part of the fabric of the village for almost 100 years. The best way to find it for the uninitiated can be to listen out for the action taking place on its three all-weather courts. The club caters for even pre-school children, and if Dunblane can deliver two Wimbledon champions in the form of Andy and Jamie Murray, maybe Bishopton will be the training ground for Scotland’s next tennis aces. Poplar Avenue, PA7 5AD. 07790 782 645. bishoptontennisclub.co.uk.
50 MILL
INGLISTON COUNTRY CLUB & HOTEL This family-owned destination offers dining with a difference in its Palomino’s restaurant, where you can tuck into Italian and Scottish cuisine while watching the canters and capers in its equestrian facilities. Competitions here draw a sizeable crowd, as do regular weddings in its stylish function rooms – I often visit with the kids for lunch at weekends, and I’m struggling to remember a recent trip which didn’t include the sights and sounds of skirling pipes and sparkling gowns. No visit is complete without a stroll into the stables and a wheech round the swing park. You can pick up a copy of Mill there too. Old Greenock Road, PA7 5PA. 01505 864 333. ingliston.com. MAR HALL This A-list celebrity haunt has welcomed the likes of Kylie, Ricky Gervais and Martin Compston, who got married there. Dating back to 1828, the five-star hotel and spa is certainly impressive, but it’s the extensive grounds that my family loves. The 240-acre estate includes peaceful woodlands that are
