Part 2: In pursuit of great writers, lochs, whisky, wildcats and love… Scotland

GLASGOW Sat 3 Our departure from the Lakes District is wet and dismal – it’s disappointing because we drive through some beautiful valleys and mountains – all blanketed in heavy mist.

 

On our way to Glasgow we  notice a change in landscape - gone are the hedgerows, small fields and stone fences instead large fields, wide roads and more grazing stock.

We are staying with Sheila and Gibson in their home in the West End of Glasgow. We have never met them before (Max teaches with their son, Rod, at Hillmorton) but we needn’t have worried - they are friendly, kind folk and immediately make us feel very welcome.

In the early evening, Sheila and Gibson take us for a walk around the area which helps us get our bearings – to local parks where we get views of the city, along the River Clyde, the stunning Victorian Kibble Palace glasshouse in the Botanic Gardens, and the University of Glasgow.

The River Clyde

We stop at a favourite pub where Max tries his first local Scottish beer.

We have a lovely meal, cooked by Sheila, and evening before retiring to our bedroom where we find a huge map of the UK on the wall. I locate Glasgow and give Max a pinch on the arm.

Can you believe it, I say, we are in Scotland - we’ve come all this way from England, how exciting is that? Together we trace our fingers over the towns we plan to visit – still a long way to go.

The next day we drop Gibson off at the airport – he is off to New Zealand to catch up with Rod and follow the World Cup. Sheila drives us 40 minutes out of Glasgow to Loch Lomond where we will walk up a ‘wee’ hill. Conic Hill, at Balmaha, looks like a small mountain to us at 361 metres but we are prepared with our boots and jackets.

Sheila and Gibson are avid mountain walkers and have tackled most hills and mountains in Scotland, so we are in good hands.

After a coffee, we take to the main track to begin with before Sheila leads us up a less travelled path – it’s steep in places and we grapple with heather and rocks to steady ourselves but are rewarded with less people and magnificent 360 deg views at the top.

Conic Hill forms part of the Highland Boundary Fault which separates the Highlands from the Lowlands. We can see most of Loch Lomond and the surrounding countryside. It is truly magical.

Our descent also takes a detour down to the lake shore (the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond) for even more views and vistas.



We finish with a visit to the visitor centre – we feel pretty good after our climb and feel lucky to have had such a unique experience.

But it doesn’t stop there. Back home we shower and change then head off to catch a train into Glasgow City.

Our short train journey takes us to the East End where the Commonwealth Games will eventually take place. The streets are quiet here, some buildings with broken windows and unloved – not a place we'd want to be late at night.

It’s a short walk into the city centre and we find the perfect place to have an evening meal in the Merchant City building.
 
When we finally emerge, it’s raining but we head towards the George Square taking in the city sights as we go.
 
 
 

George Square is home to the magnificent City Chambers – a grand and imposing building that overlooks many statues including one of the famous inventor James Watt – unfortunately, I didn’t know this until days later.

We catch the train home and fall into our beds – thanks to Sheila and Gibson and their wonderful hospitality (and delicious breakfasts), we have had the most wonderful and best kind of experience of Glasgow – with locals and new friends…