Glasgow - What To See Outside The City

• By: Editor
• On: 08/Apr/2009
• In: UK Travel Tips

Chatelherault Country Park
Located in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, is the wonderful country park with many sublime countryside views. There is a lot to see and do – you can enjoy walking along the Avon River in a charming setting, and take a stroll through large woodlands. There are also wonderful gardens, picnic sites for families and an adventure play area for the children! The refurbished William Adam Hunting Lodge is also worth a visit. Find out more about Chatelherault.

David Livingstone Centre
Here you can visit the birthplace of perhaps the most famous missionary explorer in history, who discovered for the western world some of the most beautiful parts of the African continent.  You can learn all about the life of Livingstone, through the marvellous collection of related paraphenalia at the Centre. The Centre has 20 acres of parkland with a play area for children.

Finlayson Country Estate
Finlayson Estate is located only ten minutes to the west of Glasgow Airport, and is open all year. There are majestic views to be enjoyed, wonderful gardens, play areas for children in the woodland, and majestic waterfalls. It is a great way to spend the day with the family here – the Estate merges its past with a sense of adventure for the present day! Find out more about Finlayson Country Estate.

New Lanark
New Lanark was a cotton mill village which came to the attention of the world when Robert Owen managed the plant in the early years of the 19th century. Social commentators argue that Owen improved life in the village with practises way ahead of its time. Child labour, capital punishment and poverty were outlawed in the village, and residents enjoyed a decent standard of living, with proper schooling, affordable food, free health care and decent housing. It is argued that the social revolution had its origins in the village of New Lanark. Find out more about New Lanark.

The West Highland Way
Known as the first proper long distance route in Scotland, it was first created in the 1960’s and was finished in 1980. The West Highland Way links Milngavie to Fort Willian, which is a total distance of over 150km. It runs from the outskirts of Glasgow city to the Ben Nevis Mountain. The views are simply stunning as the Way follows the shore of the freshwater lake through the Highlands of Scotland. Read more about the West Highland Way.

Glengoyne Distillery
Glengoyne Distillery is located quite close to Loch Lomond, near Glasgow. The Centre is open throughout the year for tours and tasting the whiskey! You can see how the world famous Glengoyne whiskey is brewed and how it ends up in its bottle at the famous distillery. Find out more about the Glengoyne Distillery.

Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails
Enjoy an action packed ride on the mountain trails of Carron Valley. These are man made for use all year round, and you can enjoy the fabulous scenic views as you traverse the bumpy trails and head up or down the high hills! Find out more about Carron Valley.

Auchentoshan Distillery
This Distillery dates back as far as 1823, and it is one of the only few lowland malt whiskey distilleries that is still in production.  Take a tour, have a sample drink, and find out all about this wonderful industry! Find out more about Auchentoshan.

The Waverley Paddle Steamer
The Waverley is reputed to be the last sea going paddle steamer in the world. It has been tastefully restored to its wonderful glory and a voyage on the water in this impressive steamer is an experience not to be forgotten! Find out more about the Waverley Paddle Steamer.

So there it is – a brief guide to what there is to see and do outside the city of Glasgow! The best way to explore the area is by hiring a car. To rent a car to discover the area, visit our Car Hire Glasgow page.

Have you been to Glasgow and its environs before and visited the many attractions? What did you think of them? If there are more attractions that you would like to mention, please let us know your comments!