Unique Places in Glasgow

Tisso's is an Outdoor Clothing shop on Couper Street (not the one on Buchanen Street), but it has a brilliant little restaurant selling some terrific homemade food. The soup is usually exceptional, the sandwiches varied and made to choice, the specials vary from curries to cassseroles to pasta bakes. Hurry though, it's getting very busy....

Pleasant 40mins or so bus trip from the centre of Glasgow. Probably quicker than the trip to Auchentoshan (technically the closest distillery but the bus stops everywhere). Glengoyne is more picturesque than Auchentoshan, being at the edge of the Campsie fells and with a glen at the back containing a pond and waterfall. That plus the nice little shop make it the better option if you just choose the one - those personally I'd get both in if you can. Basic tour with dram is about a fiver. Video at the start and the walkaround was kept light and interesting. We opted for the tasting tour option (no one else went for this) which added in the posh glasses and armchairs of the club room as you sampled a few older drams plus getting to see the blending room (worth the moeny I felt). In short an attractive distillery a short bus ride from Glagow which puts on a good show with some good whiskies included to boot.

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Greenbank Gardens are a National Trust for Scotland property which are located off Mearns Road, Clarkston, Glasgow

Bus: No 44a, Glasgow to Newton Mearns;
Cycling: 4m from NCN 7, 75.
Train: Clarkston station, 1.25m (1/2 hourly train service from Glasgow Central Station)
Road: Flenders Road.Off M77 follow A727 (formerly A726), follow signs for East Kilbride to Clarkston Toll. 6m S of Glasgow city centre.
Ordnance Survey Ref: NS561566

NTS gift shop, plant sales, with a changing range of plants available. Telephone for shop/reception/tea-room 0141 616 5126

There is a tea room which has disabled access, dogs are welcome but only if on a lead, there is parking available.

Adult £5
Family £14
1 Parent £10
Concession £4
Free to NTS members

Opening times
Garden: all year, daily 9.30–sunset.
Shop and tearoom: 21 Mar to 31 Oct, daily 11–5; 1 Nov to 29 Mar, Sat/Sun 2–4.
House: 21 Mar to 31 Oct, Sun 2–4

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The pictures amaze me, the whole area has connections with Mary Queen of Scots and the battle between her troops and the Parliaments,the beautiful park is named after her,views from the hill being splendid,yet in the midst of this the largest building in the srea is the Queen Victoria infirmary ,somewhat of a snub to the earlier queens historic presence.

This 8/9 times daily cruise is a historical gem regarding how the river built the city and the city built the river.Braehead is an amazing complex in itself but getting there on this smooth yaght is a real mustdo if you want to see how Glasgow becane sooo great.John Browns shipyards birthplace of the Queens and many other shipyards have all their history detailed as well as the new exhibitionansd conference centres which are an interesting walk about in themselves.
Pity thiere was not a midway stop here

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Greenbank House is a National Trust for Scotland property at Clarkston, on the outskirts of the city. Its best known for its garden but the house is also open to visitors at certain times. The gardens have longer opening hours and are accessable through the gift shop. Of course there is a small tearoom as well.

Oh and a field of cute Highland cows out front!

I got there by car. Its signposted from the road that leads from the A77 to East Kilbride. Once you turn off you have to keep on that road for around 1½ miles and its signposted up a road to your right.

See my travelogue for more pics

Get out of Glasgow and head for Glencoe for a 2-3 hour hillwalk.
A walk through stunning scenery to a valley hidden high among the mountains of Glencoe. Coire Gabhail, or the Hidden Valley, was reputedly used by the MacDonalds of Glencoe in times of trouble and for hiding stolen cattle.

From the South drive into Glencoe on the A82, and park in first large parking area on the left, near the top of the Glen. Here you have fine views of the mountains known as the Three Sisters, and of the path which will take you up between two of them. Head down and left from the car park to a path running along the base of Gearr Aonach, following this path as it leads to steep wooden steps and a wooden bridge high above the river. The rocky path now leads steeply upwards, crossing a stile at the deer fence, and continuing up the narrow path between Gearr Aonach and Beinn Fhada with a deep gully on your left-hand side.
The path levels out for a while, continuing upwards besides a series of delightful waterfalls and clear, deep rock pools, then crosses the river. This part of the walk can be extremely wet if there has been a lot of rain and the river is in spate. Cross the river and climb up the steep rocky path to reach the edge of the valley. From here the views of Coire Gabhail are stunning. A large valley with steep, snow-capped mountains on three sides - Beinn Fhada on your left, Gearr Aonach on your right, and Bidean nam Bian at the far end of the valley. The bottom of the valley is remarkably flat and grassy, the path leading down to the valley floor and continuing onwards to the back of the valley and Bidean nam Bian. This is an ideal place for a picnic and rest before heading back to the car. Return by the same route.

There is a path that continues up following the stream but this can get a bit tricky and is not recommended unless you are an experienced hillwalker.

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If you are a whisky lover, a visit to the Glengoyne distillery is highly recommended. A standard guided tour is about 5£ and includes a sip. Try to get John as your guide. Very professional and entertaining fellow.

You get there by taking the no. 10 bus from stance 34 at Buchanan bus station. Trip time is about 45 minutes and the bus stops right outside the distillery gates.

After the tour of the distillery there is a very nice countryside pub where you can relax and have lunch. When you come out the main gate from the distillery, turn right and walk up the small hill. You will see the pub on the left side of the road about 400 meters away. Just remember that you have to walk back to the distillery to catch the bus back to Glasgow again.