Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

• Dumbarton Castle, location of a the centre of a former ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde ( before Scotland was unified in the 9th century AD).
• Port Glasgow, famous for shipbuilding and base of the P.S.Comet, Europe’s first successful steamboat service dating from 1812.
• Newark Castle, also at Port Glasgow.
• Lurg Moor Roman Fortlet, high on the moor above Greenock. Today, large cruise ships call in at Greenock.
• Helensburgh, an upscale residential area where can be found Hill House, by Rennie Mackintosh.
• The holiday destination of Dunoon.
• Inverkip, famous for its sailing boats and marinas.
• Largs, site of a defining 13th centurymarine  battle and now a popular residential location with a marina.
• Isle of Bute
• Interesting geology and raised beaches.
• Great Cumbrae Island
• Portencross Castle
• Ardrossan harbour and ferry port. Also home to a marina.
• Troon, famous for golf  and and as a ferry port.
• Isle of Arran

Firth of Clyde, Greenock and Helnsburgh. Scotland

 

 

Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, Scotland

 

 

Pencil Monument, Largs, Scotland

 

 

Inverkip Marina, Firth of Clyde, Scotland

 

 

Portencross Castle, Firth of Clyde, Scotland

 

Firth of Clyde from Dumbarton Castle, Scotland

This part of Scotland has much to offer the visitor and is a popular holiday destination.

 

 

Rooftops, Glasgow, Scotland

This evening, my theme is the City of Glasgow which is the largest city in Scotland with a population of just under 600,000. The images above and below, together with this video clip, show a rooftop panorama taken from atop the Lighthouse, a former newspaper building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

I acknowledge these images reveal an unexciting vista but below the surface Glasgow has a long history coupled with a vibrancy which attracts over 2.8M       million visitors each year. Pertinent considerations regarding Glasgow and environs:

• Has a history dating back to around the 5th century AD, possibly earlier.
• In its 19th century heyday led the way in the Industrial Revolution and became known as the Second City of the (British) Empire.
• Historically strong on shipbuilding which continues to this due in the military sector.
• European City of Culture in 1990.
• Famous for architecture with past masters of the skill including Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
• Sectarianism remains a problem focused around leading football (soccer) clubs Rangers and Celtic who in turn tend to rank as the top two teams in Scotland.
• Benefits from direct flights from the U.S. and a good springboard for tours of Scotland.
• Close to the scenic west coast of Scotland with easy access to islands like Arran and Bute.
• Just 55 miles from Scotland’s capital of Edinburgh.
• Home to the famous Burrell Collection  of antiquities and collectibles.
• Has an important 13th century Cathedral and 19th century Necropolis.
• At Govan Old Church can be found a stunning collection of 9th-11th century carved stones.

Overall, Glasgow has a lot to offer the discerning visitor. Here is a blog record of a typical tour.

Rooftops, Glasgow, Scotland

Elsewhere today, I have:

• Finalised details of a two week self-drive tour of Scotland and Ireland.
• Taken a firm booking for a Speyside Whisky tour.
• Made final preparations for a castle themed tour of Scotland

View of Rothesay from Canada Hill

View of Rothesay Castle

The 60th anniversary/Diamond Jubilee Games proved to be the “Aqua Games” as heavy rain fell continuously throughout the day. The event also featured the 2007 reunion of Clan Currie Society, which adopted the Bute Highland Games as their “home” games in Scotland four years ago in recognition of Bute’s strong Currie connections and the spirit of hospitality they received there, and which became a life patron of the Games in 2004.
Clan Commander and others in the Clan Currie tent.

Here is an image of the Waverley departing Rothesay at end of the day. Image is affected by the heavy downpour.

Another image of the Waverley

Tossing the caber.

The caber is a pole about 18 feet long weighing about 115 pounds. The athlete holds the caber upright, grasping it by its thin end, and throws it so that it lands on its heavy end and flips over. The throw is not judged on distance, but direction. If the thrower is imagined to stand at the center of a clock with 6 at his back, the thin end ideally falls at a 12 o’clock position.

Another image of caber tossing.
Heavy event in process

Hammer throwing competition

Pipe Band competition

Hammer throwing
Athletics race
Athletics race
Pipe Band competition. Note absence of waterproofs in heavy rain!!
Pipe Band competition

Pipe Band competition

Pipe Band