At the back end of last year, you may have read my post “A Devonian in Glasgow”. Here is the follow-up, the sequel in early spring 2023.

January and February were filled up by work. In mid march by good friend Chris came here to visit me here for a weekend. I showed him some sites of the city that you will see here.

He arrived early friday evening at my flat. The first stop was the Celtic bar Heraghty’s for the best pint of Guinness in Glasgow! A real old school south-side boozer. We then went further south to the district of Shawlands. Few more drinks in the Phillies of Shawlands. This area is popular with a hipster crowd and the drinks menu caters for this with unusual cocktails. Then back to Govanhill to mine, an picked up a decent kebab on the way home.

The next morning we got a Scottish breakfast at a cafe (with tattie scones, but no square sausages) to fuel up. Its recommended to book ahead for the busier cafes, which we didn’t but found a small one near Queens Park.

The destination was then the Transport Museum (officially called the Riverside Museum) on the west end banks of the Clyde. We took a train into Central Station and then the subway to Partick. A 10 minute walk along the river from there. The Transport Museum is free of charge, (many of Scotland’s publicly funded attractions are still) and to be protected. We looked at original subway carriages. The world’s third oldest underground railway, after London and Budapest, opening 125 years ago on 14 December 1896.

You can go inside carriages and experience the space that passengers had to get to work or go out for a weekend drink.

There are Vintage Glasgow double decker buses on show from the early to mid 20th century.

You can also view classic cars and crafted models of Titanic like cruise liners like Cunard.

To the right you can see this replica of a Glasgow street including a Upholsterer, a Bakery’s cart and a Pub (The Mitre). The Carts pulled by horses. You can go inside the Upholstery and the Pub (see below – right).

You feel back in time over 100 years ago.

We took everything in, also including a precursor to the modern combustion engine and old experiential videos with employees in areas of Glasgow transport. Like early Pakistani immigrants and pioneering women who worked the Glasgow Subways or were Bus Conductresses.

The museum has 2 floors with the upstairs including Clyde Shipbuilding history. You don’t just learn, we really got a feel for the craftsmanship and its significance on the modern day successors.

We thoroughly enjoyed this and the next stop was the Glasgow Science Centre, down and across the Clyde. Less a museum and more an educational interactive exhibition. It covers human science, planets, chemistry and innovative science to name some sections. Costs about £12 for day entry. A great place to go with kids, with a variety in its exhibits. Whether its trying to get magnets to touch one another, trying to use buttons to make the muscles in plastic legs ride a pushbike (hard!) or using visual memory to recall the facial features in a video of robbery to identify the criminal.

That evening we got the subway to Hillhead in the west end for some Haggis, neeps and tatties at the Ubiquitous Chip on the fashionable Ashton Lane. Fantastic, Scottish winter comfort food. A few pints aswell and then onto the Sub Club in the city centre. The house music that night wasn’t good to be honest, but this was still a great day overall.

(The Hydro arena to the right. Famous for gigs and events like world championship boxing).

Chris went back down south the next day. He will be back.

A week later my mum came up from Devon to stay with me for 7 nights, which was very exciting.

On the first full day we took a walk south to The Burrell Collection art museum.

Reopened in March 2022, located in the peaceful Pollok country park.

The contrast between the modern building and its works being hundreds of years old (and some thousands) is particularly impressive and certainly catches the eyes.

There are so many interesting pieces here. One of the videos explains that there are just as many pieces behind sight in the gallery stockrooms. Sounds and looks like a fascinating place to work.

Another Glasgow attraction free of charge aswell. Some classic art pieces like those below.

(The Art Collector William Burrell himself)

(Very old Chinese Dog!)

We had a coffee in the cafe which looks out across Pollok park, then headed back.

The next day we headed out of Glasgow Central on the train to Lanark and the short walk to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark.

This is an 18th Century Mill village where people milled cotton, serving the whole Lanark area and beyond. You can learn much of the story and the current resident community in the Visitor Centre. That New Lanark was the UK’s largest cotton mill in 1790. 65 people live here now and there is also a hostel you can stay at.

The bridge across to the cafe, shop and river.

After a coffee and packed lunch on one of the benches we headed out to the Falls of Clyde, national nature reserve. 4 Waterfalls called the Linns. Below you can see 2 videos of the Corra Linn, the largest fall with a drop of 26 metres. Its a great vantage point from this position. Many much more professional photographers than myself can be seen capturing this spot of the Falls.

Its a really peaceful stroll that takes you down the river on a boardwalk past some small garden ponds where you can see plenty of Frogs living and breeding.

You can see a small cottage next to here where whoever looks after these ponds must stay.

See if you can spot the Flog to the left here poking its head out.

The walk through the Falls of Clyde really just keeps going and if you continue to the end you come out at Hyndford bridge and onto a main road.

As you head down the boardwalk, one path takes you past Bonnington Weir, another good spot for snaps.

After an hour or so, we walked back towards New Lanark village. We stopped at the cafe and gift shop building and had a look for some postcards.

When you head back out of the village, you go uphill to the exit. Do not miss the ancient graveyard though. You just head out and take a left track (signposted) to see some burial stones hidden away in the woods. This cemetery was for the local residents of the village at the time of the cotton mill.

After walking back to Lanark we had a Fish Supper in a chippy (good scran!) and then got the train back to Glasgow and home.

The next day was a lazy one, but the following day we took a trip to Auld Reekie, otherwise known as Edinburgh. When we arrived we took one of the city’s dark maroon buses to the Royal Botanic Gardens. You can see and learn about hundreds of exotic plants like these in here in one of the greenhouses. I had a particular interest in the different species of cactuses.

A colourful array of plants with impressive latin names. We walked the perimeter of the gardens so we didn’t miss anything. My mum is a keen gardener and loved this place. The west gate entrance has a cafe, shop and visitors centre. In the shop you can buy seeds, plants, pots etc. Aswell as more gift shop type presents. This building is modern.

We visited a small art exhibition in a house on the grounds. On its opening day.

This picture to the right was taken in the vibrant Rock Garden. There are approximately 5,000 species of plant here.

The Garden is made to resemble some of the mountain habitats of rural China. This is a must see if you visit Edinburgh.

After a few hours the two of us got the bus back into the city centre. We took a walk down the Royal Mile, looking in its quaint shops. You see historic buildings like the Castle and churches. Near the train station you can see Chris Hoy’s gold post box for his gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

We then got the train back to Glasgow, had some food at mine and watched some TV.

The next morning drew us to the local Queens Park for a walk. I go there a few times a week, sometimes for a jog. The video below is from the Flagpole viewpoint.

Walking to the city centre again, we passed this mural on the wall of the Hootenanny pub. This is for legendary comedian Billy Connolly.

An excellent piece of artwork to honour the bigman himself.

Just next to the St Enoch subway station and shopping centre, as you cross the Clyde.

We sat on a bench by the Clyde and had a hot drink. A nice spot to take a minute.

The final stop on the last day was the Tramway arts venue back on the southside. They were showcasing african artwork created using only recycled materials.

(The Tramway arts venue below).

After all these enjoyable and busy days, my mum went back to England after a lovely time for the both of us. Getting the opportunity to show my current home city (and places within reach) to my family.

Two days after she left I went to the Scotland Spain football match at Hampden park with my pal Jim.

A raucous home atmosphere. The tartan army packed the stadium out for a big Euro qualifier.

We had seats in the east stand and Scotland were shooting towards us in the first half.

And 7 minutes in; Scott McTominay put Scotland ahead with a clinical finish. The place was absolutely rocking now!

Scotland were up for this game. Pressing Spain and going in for tackles. Keeping more of the possession than you would expect against a team like the Spanish.

And just after half time, would you believe it; Scott McTominay scored another! A pinpoint volley from the edge of the penalty area this time.

Scotland and Hampden were on fire!

Spain were having lots of possession now but were creating little to no clear cut chances.

Scotland were on the brink and just need to keep their discipline and concentration. And then the final whistle blew…

Scotland’s biggest scalp in over a decade and the fans broke into Gala – Freed from Desire as you can see here. And thoroughly deserved. ‘Scuse the shaky camera work from me ha. The fans would sing into the night.

It was a fitting end to a special few weeks with friends and family.

If you enjoyed this post please like, share, subscribe or comment.

Safe travels!

Instagram: armchairexpert22