BEYOND GLASGOW
While you could potentially spend months in Glasgow and never discover all of its hidden treasures and secrets, there are a wealth of sights to be seen beyond the city limits. Here are a few of our favourite highlights.
LOCH LOMOND
45 minute drive from Glasgow
The largest stretch of water in Great Britain was made famous by the song The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond, popular at weddings. It and its sixty islands are part of the Trossachs National Park, and it remains a popular destination for watersports, hiking, or just wandering along the sands.
STIRLING CASTLE and WALLACE MONUMENT
45 minute drive from Glasgow
This castle keep is teeming in history, having been the setting for many sieges and battles, as well as the crowning of Scottish monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots. As well as a popular tourist destination, it is occasionally used as an open area concert arena.
FALKIRK WHEEL
40 minute drive from Glasgow
This modern marvel, completed in 2002, connects the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, replacing an 11-lock system with its unique design by architect Tony Kettle and Dundee firm Nicoll Russell Studios. Stretching up almost 80 feet, it takes its inspiration from a Celtic double headed axe.
THE KELPIES
40 minute drive from Glasgow
The main attraction of The Helix eco park between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Sculptor Andy Scott originally designed miniature versions of the Kelpies in 2008, although the full-scale versions that greet you as you enter the park were not constructed until 2013. The Kelpies are powerful, shape-changing aquatic spirits from Scottish legend. They were seen as the perfect symbol for the transformation of Scotland’s waterways.
NEW LANARK
50 minute drive from Glasgow
Founded in the 18th Century, harnessing the flow of the River Clyde to power a string of cotton mills, it fell out of use in the 1960s. It was saved from demolition by a conservation trust, and is now UNESCO World Heritage Site, teaching visitors of the history of mills and the local area.
WHITELEE WIND FARM
30 minute drive from Glasgow
Whitelee is home to the largest wind farm in all of Europe, the visitor centre pushes Scotland’s promise for renewable energy, while there is a network of trekking and cycling paths in the surrounding forests that span just under 100km.
THE WEST COAST
45 minute drive from Glasgow
Scotland’s West coast offers a network of beaches known for their long stretches of golden sand and wild beauty. Many tend to be rocky, with exploration offering up rock pools and hidden coves teeming with birds and sea creatures.
EDINBURGH
60 minute drive from Glasgow
Scotland’s capital is best known for its castle that rests on Arthur’s Seat, as well as its UNESCO listed Old Town and New Town. It also plays home to the world renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August of each year.