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With our wedding in April, a lot of friends and family will be travelling a long way to come and see us, so we want to encourage people who’ve perhaps not visited Glasgow or the west of Scotland before to see some of the highlights of the area, if they have time in their schedule.

I’ve therefore put the following list together. I’d welcome any further tips and suggestions that readers might have.

Glasgow

• Shopping on Buchanan street: One of the country’s best shopping streets.
• Charles Rennie Macintosh is one of Britains best known architects. Visit buildings designed by this great man: House for an Art Lover at Bellahouston Park, the Macintosh church, or Glasgow School of Art, or simply take lunch at the Willow Tea Rooms on Buchanan street.
• Museum of Modern Art: A compact and accessible modern art gallery, right on Royal Exchange Square (behind Borders on Buchanan Street). Hopefully the statue of Wellington outside will have the famous traffic cone in place!
• Pollok Park: Britains Best Park; Europe’s best park, and our local park! See the famous Burrell Collection, wander around Pollok House and Gardens, and see some Highland Cows!
• The tenement house - A moment in time: A perfectly preserved tenement house in Glasgow, to see how so much of Glasgow used to be.
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow University, and the West End: Glasgow university’s gothic tower commands wonderful views over the west end, and is a perfect place to visit. Pop by the west end for lunch or a coffee in one of the many cafes and restaurants.

Further afield

• Loch Lomond - An easy detour on your way from Glasgow to Aberfoyle, Loch Lomond is every bit as beautiful as the songs suggest. If you’ve time, head up the west side of the loch to Luss, and take tea after a walk through the beautiful village. Or visit Balloch Country park, and go for a nice walk (although the ‘castle’ isn’t up to much).
• Helensburgh has another Macintosh house, Hill house, right at the top of the town.
• Stirling has a castle and the Wallace memorial. The memorial has William Wallace’s famous claymore. It needs to be seen to be believed! Wonderful views over the area, to the hills in the distance.
• Bannockburn. Not one to wear your England football top to! The site of Robert the Bruce’s famous victory over the English. The main highlight is the stunning statue of Robert the Bruce, that features on the Clydesdale bank £20 notes.

Closer to Aberfoyle

• Aberfoyle has a few cafes and shops to amble through. A beautiful photography shop.
• Queen Elizabeth forest park is just outside of Aberfoyle, and has a beautiful range of walks to suit every timescale. Short 20 minute walks, or 2 hour hikes. The visitors centre has wildlife displays and rangers to explain their programmes, or just a place to have a coffee and a bun.
• Don’t be tempted by the Go Ape zip slide and tree top course there: This company is trying to build a facility in Pollok park right now against the wishes of thousands of Glasgow residents. See my other posts for more on this. I can’t in good conscience recommend this right now. See www.savepollokpark.com for more.
• Loch Katerine is just a short drive along from Aberfoyle, and has cruises available.
• There’s a wonderful tea shop The Wee Blether, in Kinlochard. Definitely worth a visit if you’ve got the munchies!