As the administrative centre of West Dunbartonshire Council, Dumbarton is a town on the River Clyde's northern bank where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. It forms a conurbation with the five Vale of Leven towns including Alexandria and Bonhill, with a combined estimated population of nearly 45,000.
Dumbarton is situated on the A82, linking Glasgow to the western Scottish Highlands. It is served by three railway stations along the North Clyde Line, which provides a direct link from Helensburgh in the west to Edinburgh Waverley in the east via Glasgow Queen Street.