"Dumbarton Castle #1" At the TIC in Balloch I asked how to get to Arden House and Dumbarton Castle. Arden House is a 3-mile walk and to get Dumbarton Castle you have to a take train to Dumbarton East and walk for 15 minutes. I chose the latter. The castle was built on rock and has twin peaks. I could see the beautiful estuary of the Firth of Clyde and the city of Glasgow in the distance.