Monday, June 9, 2025

Glencoe Nature Reserve and Glasgow

 

                               



June 6, 2025 - Today we're leaving the Highlands and headed to Glasgow.  It's a two and a half hour drive, but we'll have a few things to do on the way.  The first stop was Stalker Castle that was used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  This Castle is only open a few days a week for tours, but we found a trail that had a great view.  Next we drove through Glencoe Nature Reserve with lots of great views of the sweeping mountains.  We have an Air B&B in the west end of Glasgow for the next two nights.  



We had a nice morning view of a cruise ship coming into Fort William






Continental breakfast at Ashburn house




The breakfast room






I'm on sandwich duty so we have a pack lunch for our travel day






Pretty views as we drive






Castle Stalker, which was used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (as the Castle Arghhhhhhh)






One sailboat













Next we stopped at Glencoe Nature Preserve





view from the Visitor Center





A quick little hike












I'd like to live in that house 






lunch in the car with a view (I've become addicted to Walkers cheese & onion crisps)






views everywhere






Next a quick stop at a county park with a view of Loch Lamond












there is of course a castle in the park (which is of course under repair)






We made it to Glasgow and I'm on the prowl for more clocktowers.  We had dinner around the corner at the School House.  





The server told us to try Kitty O'Shea's for live music.  It's a lovely day for a Guinness!












June 7, 2025 - We have one day to tour Glasgow, so we're going to do the Hop on/Hop off bus for $26 each.  We were able to pick up the bus around the corner and it was a great way to see all the sights without having to navigate public transport.  It was a rainy day off and on so we decided to eat at home tonight.





Our Air B&B 81 Otago St






There was a farmers market going on along the Kelvin River






Our first stop on the bus was Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum





that's a pipe organ






We enjoyed an exhibit that gave an overview of Glasgow History.  I liked that in the 1700's Daniel Defoe described Glasgow as the beautifullest city









A spitfire that dates from 1946






Next was an exhibit called the Glasgow Boys who were a group of artists based in Glasgow during the late 19th century




They painted rural people in a matter of fact way






and outdoor paintings








Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali














another bell tower





The Duke of Windsor, which is in front of the Modern Art Museum, is an icon of Glasgow.  In the early 1980's a traffic cone appeared on his head.  The city removed it and it kept reappearing.  The city was going to make the statue inaccessible, but there was an outcry to allow the cone to remain and it has become a symbol of Glasgow's humor












Next we stopped at the Glasgow Cathedral, the oldest in Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow.  The cathedral is dedicated to St Mungo (also known as Kentigurn).  The original structure was built in 1136 and the current cathedral was built in the 13th century










pretty wooden ceiling



big to little




Next we walked to the adjacent Glasgow Necropolis which is on a hill.







beautiful bridge to the necropolis






and really great views from the top (although it's not the best of days!)





The Glasgow cathedral is undergoing renovations to the Bell Tower.




No comments:

Post a Comment

Churchill War Rooms, Tower of London, St Paul's and We're Headed Home

                                               June 23, 2025 - Today we have tickets to the Churchill War Rooms, which is a historic undergr...