Glasgow means ‘dear green place’ in Gaelic, and you don’t have to go far to see the aptness of the name. The village of Balloch, by the southern shore of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, is about one hour away. The landscape of lakeside woodlands and majestic mountains is superb for walking.
Things to do in Glasgow
Lace up those hiking boots
Hit the Lochs for some watersports
As the largest inland stretch of freshwater in mainland UK, Loch Lomond (+44 138 972 2600, www.lochlomond-trossachs.org) is the natural getaway for water sports adventures and, better yet, just under an hour from Glasgow. There are also 21 other lochs and about 50 rivers within the Trossachs National Park, which make it ideal for canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing.
Take in a concert at Britain’s oldest music hall
The Brittania Panopticon (+44 141 553 0840, www.britanniapanopticon.org) has been a figure of the city’s music scene since it opened in 1857. It claims to be the place where Stan Laurel first took to the stage in 1906 and still holds an array of aural and visual treats including silent movie nights, variety shows and concerts.
Cycle, whatever the weather
The 34km-long (21 miles) National Cycle Route 7 provides an almost traffic-free, tarmac route from central Glasgow to the village of Balloch by the southern shores of Loch Lomond. South of the city, Cathkin Braes and Pollok Park country parks have mountain bike trail. The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome (+44 141 287 7000, www.emiratesarena.co.uk) offers taster sessions.
Embrace the strange at the Hunterian Museum
The Hunterian Museum (+44 141 330 422, www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian) is Scotland’s oldest public museum and the permanent home for the litany of natural oddities and ethnographic curiosities procured by the 18th century surgeon and anatomist, John Hunter. With everything from death masks (including that of Sir Isaac Newton) to Roman artefacts from the Antonine Wall, there’s a curiosity for all tastes.
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