Milngavie is located in the northwestern part of East Dunbartonshire, bordering the Glasgow City council area to the south and rural Stirlingshire to the north. The settlement itself is a residential town with a mix of housing types, from Victorian villas to modern developments, centred around a traditional main street with local shops and services. Its position makes it a commuter base for Glasgow, supported by a direct railway line.
The area is defined by its proximity to open countryside and the start of the West Highland Way long-distance footpath, which begins at an obelisk in the town centre. Large areas of Mugdock Country Park lie within the ward's boundaries, offering moorland, woodland, and the ruins of Mugdock Castle. The landscape includes the reservoirs of Craigmaddie and Mugdock, which form part of Glasgow's water supply system.
