2
WEEKS IN GLASGOW
Glasgow has a huge amount to offer, places to eat, culture
to absorb as well as shops for retail therapy. In view of its location
and excellent communications Brough Hall is an ideal centre to visit
the south west Highlands of Scotland and Robbie Burns Country to the
south.
In
order to whet your appetite, and encourage you to stay at Brough
Hall the following is some suggestions for holiday activities.
The flat is equipped with maps, road atlas and a welcome folder
containing additional information for visitors.
Kelvingrove
Museum
On 30 June 2003, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum closed its doors for a
three-year, £25.5 million refurbishment. Watch this space!
Mitchell
Library
Burrell
Collection
Sir William Burrell's personal treasure trove is just wonderful, only 8000
items to browse through, and all set in a country park only 4 miles from the
centre of town.
Visit their website here for more
information.
Museum
Of Modern Art
The second most visited contemporary art museum outside London.
Visit their website here for
more information.
Retail
Therapy In Glasgow
Buchanan
Galleries Shopping Centre
It's impossible to leave empty handed when you visit Buchanan Galleries Shopping
Centre situated in the heart of the city, it has over 80 of the best high street
stores, including John Lewis, Mango, H&M, and GAP as well as Warner Brothers
Studio Store, The Whisky Shop, Virgin Cosmetics and Ottaker's Bookstore.
Visit their website here for
more information.
Open
Top Bus Tour
All of the vehicles used In the Glasgow City Tour (Vintage
Open Top Bus Tour) are part of Glasgow who are dedicated to preserving
the heritage of local transport for the public. All of our vehicles
have been decoratively restored in the local Glasgow Livery of Green,
Cream and Orange.
Visit here for
more information.
House
for an Art Lover
The House was completed in 1996 inspired by CRM's portfolio of drawings of
1901 which were submitted as a competition entry to a German design magazine.
A permanent exhibition of decorative furnished rooms have been realised by
contemporary artists and craftspeople.
Visit their website here for
more information.
Willow
Tea Rooms www.willowtearooms.co.uk
Step inside the world-famous Willow Tea Rooms, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh
in 1903, for entrepreneur Miss Kate Cranston. The Willow name comes from Sauchiehall,
the street where it is situated, which in Scottish Gaelic means alley of the
willows. The Willow remains open today to welcome visitors keen to experience
the splendour of a bygone era and take tea just as they did in the same rooms
and interiors 100 years ago.
Visit
their website here for
more information.
McLellan
Galleries
On 30 June 2003, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum closed its doors for a
three-year, £25.5 million refurbishment. During the closure the highlights
of the fine and decorative arts collections are being brought to The McLellan
Galleries in the city centre. Art Treasures of Kelvingrove will showcase some
of the highlights from Kelvingrove's collection as well as those favourites
chosen by the public and museum staff.
Visit
their website here for
more information.
The
Glasgow School of Art
The history of the Glasgow School of Art is inextricably linked to Charles
Rennie Mackintosh. A graduate of the School, Mackintosh's 1896 design for a
new School of Art building heralded the birth of a new style in 20th century
European architecture and remains at the centre of the campus. But Mackintosh
was more than just an architect. He was also an outstanding international artist
and designer. Today, over one hundred years later, The Glasgow School of Art
is still a hardworking art school and the Mackintosh Building continues to
be admired and respected and has taken its place as one of the most influential
and significant structures of the twentieth century.
Visit
their website here for more information.
The
Hill House in Helensborough
Commissioned in 1902 by the Glasgow publisher Walter Blackie, the house still
makes a striking statement today. Blackie wanted an individual feel to his
home and he asked Mackintosh to design not only the house and gardens, but
much of the furniture and interiors. Margaret Macdonald, Mackintosh's wife
contributed fabric designs and a panel over the fireplace in the drawing room.
The result is a daring design with an air of restrained elegance, which still
appeals to modern-day tastes.
Visit
their website here for more information.
Science
Mall
Titanium-clad like the IMAX the Science Mall is the hands-on building presenting
over 300 interactive exhibits on science and technology and their relationship
to everyday life. Featuring subject areas from the local to the international
and out of this world into space, the Mall takes an interactive approach and
fun is the key throughout a brilliant day out for ages 3-103. Also includes
the IMAX cinema and The Glasgow Tower (the tallest structure in Scotland).
Visit
their website here for
more information.
Museum
of Transport www.glasgowmuseums.com
The Museum of Transport uses its collection of vehicles and models to tell
the story of transport by land and sea. The breadth of the collection is impressive,
featuring all forms of transport from horse-drawn carriages to fire engines,
from motorcycles to caravans. Even prams and toy cars are represented. The
huge contribution of the River Clyde and its shipbuilders and engineers to
maritime history is reflected in the fascinating Clyde Room which houses 250
model ships. Glasgow's railway heritage is also celebrated through its impressive
collection of locomotives.
Visit
their website here for
more information.
Pollok
House
Step into the magnificent mahogany and marble hallway at Pollok House and it's
hard to believe you're only a few miles from Glasgow's city centre. The ancestral
home of the Maxwell family who lived on the site for over six centuries, the
present house was begun in the mid-18th century and extended in the Victorian
period. The interiors at Pollok House are wonderful and visitors will be delighted
by the period furnishings, silverware and ceramics on display.
Visit
their website here for more information.
Para Handy Trail
In January 1905 readers of the Glasgow Evening News first met ", Master
Mariner." Since then Neil Munro's immortal skipper and the Vital Spark
- "the smertest boat in the coastin' tred" - have won a very special
place in the hearts of those who love the West of Scotland . Munro's stories
have been continuously in print for the last 100 years and Para and the Vital
Spark sail into the 21st Century as fresh and as funny as when they first appeared
in the News.
Paisley
Museum and Art Galleries
This is a great neo-classical building with a collection of shawls, Paisley
being the centre of the Victorian Glasgow cloth trade. There is also a world
class collection of Scottish art from Raeburn and Ramsey, the Glasgow boys
and Paisley’s own John Byrne.
Visit
their website here for
more information.
Paisley
Abbey
Built in 1163, founded as a Cluniac Monastry, the abbey retains its medieval
nave with transepts and choir restored in 19th & 20th centuries. It has
royal tombs, fine woodcarving and stained glass windows.
Visit
their website here for
more information.
Coats
Observatory
This working Victorian Observatory, built in 1883 is almost opposite the apartment,
is of interest to anyone with an interest in astronomy, astronautics, seismology
and meteorology
Visit
their website here for
more information.
Edinburgh Castle
Oban,
Gateway to the Isles
Venture
out to the Highlands for a day. Oban, on a straight drive is about
2½ hours drive from the apartment or take the train. The drive
takes you out past Loch Lomond, to Inveraray where the Duke of Argyll
has his castle, but the town is perhaps just as well known for the
Loch Fyne Whisky Shop. From Inveraray drive to Tyndrum and through
Rannoch Moor, a stunningly beautiful part of Scotland, and Glen Coe
to Oban. There probably won’t be time to visit Mull, but take
the ferry out and back, about 1¾ hours sailing leaving on the
even hour, but you will need to get your ticket before boarding so
allow an extra 10 minutes. On a fine day it is stunning. Also in Oban
is the War and Peace Museum, Chocolate Factory and the Oban Distillary.
The train journey is probably the way to go, the journey is stunning
and the railway station in Oban is next to the ferry and close to the
attractions mentioned above.
The
Clyde Walk
The
Isle of Bute
Get
the train from Gilmour Street, to wemsyss bay and get the ferry to
Rothsay. Buses serve visitors well, leaving at regular intervals to
the north and to the south. There is no circular tour. Take the bus
south to the Fernary, then later to Bute House then the bus back to
Rothsay and the ferry. Bute House, home of Johnny Bute the racing driver,
is spectacular.
Loch
Lomond
A
day or two with Robbie Burns.
Ayrshire
is the birthplace of Robert Burns, the National Poet of Scotland. He
was born in the village of Alloway on 25th January 1759, in a thatched
cottage built by his father. Needless to say Ayrshire full of places
connected with the poet, so it is difficult to move without coming
into contact or being reminded of his influence and popularity in the
region.
His
birthplace in Alloway, some two miles from Ayr, is the ideal starting
point for any tour of the Land of Burns. Using the Burns National
Heritage Park as a base you can visit the thatched cottage, referred
to as the 'Auld Clay Biggin', which has been restored to its original
setting as it was in the poet's time. An adjacent museum houses a
unique collection of original manuscripts, including "Auld Lang
Syne", paintings and personal artifacts. The Kirk and the close-by
Auld Brig O'Doon are famed for their scenes in the poet's prose "Tam
O' Shanter".
The
town of Mauchline has Burns connections , like Alloway, it is a mecca
for the visitors interested in the life and works of Burns. A visit
to the Burns House and Museum in Mauchline's Back Causeway cannot
be missed. It was the first home in 1788 of Burns and his wife, Mauchline-born
'bonie Jean Armour', prior to them leaving Ayrshire for Ellisland
Farm in Dumfries. The street in which the poet's house is situated
has changed little in appearance since those early days. Adjacent
to Burns House is the historic Mauchline Churchyard, where four of
Burns' young children are buried, together with his wife's parents
and a host of his associates.
It was during this period (1785-86) that Burns sent his poems to John Wilson
(Printer) in Kilmarnock and on 31st July 1786, 612 copies of his "Poems
Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect" were published at 3/- per copy. These
sold out within two weeks. Today, a copy of these poems would fetch at auction
over £20,000. Also in Kilmarnock is Dean Castle, the home of the Robert
Burns World Federation and stages periodic Burns exhibitions.
Places To Eat
Rogano 0141 248 4055
Visit their website here for more information.
Kama Sutra Resturant 0141 332 0720
Visit their website here for
more information.
Mr Singh’s India 0141 221 1452
Visit their website here for
more information.
Arisaig (Marchant City) 0141 552 4251
Brian Maule at Le Chardon D’Or 0141 248
3801
Raeburn’s (v close to Brough Hall) 0141
889 5999