Discover Johnstone: History, Culture and Nature

Johnstone brings together natural landscapes, architectural history and culture, with clear traces of its industrial past. Bluebell Wood, the town’s churches, the Johnstone History Museum and a year-round cultural programme give the town a range of points of interest. There are also historical and current route connections. If you are looking for a hotel in Johnstone, consider which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay most.

Woodland and Castle History

Bluebell Wood includes the peaceful Craigbog Burn and rocky outcrops. The woodland was once part of the grounds of Johnstone Castle, connecting the landscape to a specific former relationship with the castle grounds. For travellers who want to explore nature and local history together, this is a distinctive aspect of Johnstone.

Tower House and Churches

The tower house, originally called Easter Cochrane, dates from the 16th century. George Houstoun bought it in 1733 and renamed it Johnstone Castle. The name change therefore came considerably later than the building’s construction. Johnstone Castle is a three-storey rubble tower with crow-stepped gables.

The churches also offer clearly dated milestones in the town’s history. Johnstone High Parish Church was built between 1792 and 1794; it is octagonal and has a slender spire. St Margaret’s Church opened on Boxing Day 1852. The construction period is central to the story of the High Parish Church, while St Margaret’s is associated with a specific opening date. Together with the tower house’s earlier history, these landmarks provide different points of reference in time without reducing the buildings to a single era.

Industrial History and Cultural Programme

The Johnstone History Museum contains local industrial and social history artefacts, as well as memorabilia. Its exhibitions trace the town’s history from its founding, through the rise and decline of the textile industry, to its various engineering businesses. Anyone interested in how Johnstone has changed will find several connected themes here: local history, social development and different phases of local industry.

Johnstone Textile Space runs a year-round programme of exhibitions, events, films, literature, workshops, festivals and performances. Alongside the museum’s historical focus, this offers another cultural dimension to consider when planning a trip: a wide-ranging programme covering different types of events.

On Foot and by Bike

The “Wandering the Bluebell Woods” walk starts at Johnstone railway station. Check the route details locally before setting out. For cyclists, National Cycle Network Route 7 connects Lochwinnoch, Johnstone and Paisley in Renfrewshire with Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. This places Johnstone on a route linking several places; conditions can change, so it is advisable to check before setting off.

Another explicitly historical route connection is the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. The first completed section reached Thorn Brae in Johnstone and was finished in 1811. This detail relates to the history of infrastructure and is distinct in time from the cycle route described above.

“The Rest and Be Thankful”

The shelter “The Rest and Be Thankful” is thought to have been built in the late 19th century. The Johnstone Wheelers used it as a starting point for training rides; this historical connection dates back to the club’s founding in 1928. The shelter’s construction and cycling history provide two different points of reference in time, with its construction explicitly reported as an estimate.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Newton Mearns, Clarkston, Renfrew, Lochwinnoch, Howwood, Port Glasgow, Giffnock, Elderslie

For the main travel overview: Renfrewshire.