Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

This evening, I went out on my bike (in the rain) with the aim of photographing certain elements of Glasgow’s public art which are illuminated and therefore best seen at night. This venture was partly successful because one of the illuminations seems to have been taken down. However, I did eventually locate an intriguing triptych on a wall up an obscure and partly blocked off side street, Tontine Lane, where footfall would be somewhere around zero.

The neon triptych  is the result of collaboration between artist Louise Crawford and architect Ian Alexander in 2001.

In researching the history of the Merchant City (of Glasgow)  reference was found to finding of a dug-out canoe in AD1781 where the Tontine Buildings now stands. I fact, four canoes were uncovered, one of which is still held in the Glasgow Museum of Transport and comprises a simple hollowed out shell. The actual location is maybe half a mile from the current course of the River Clyde and the presence of the boats may indicate an ancient stream or river bed beneath the street.

Overall, a fascinating piece of fact based art.

Neon Triptych, Tontine Lane, Glasgow

Here is another view of Glasgow’s Squiggly Bridge  which I took en-route to Tontine Lane.

Squiggly Bridge, Glasgow, At Night

This morning, I collected my tour group from the Queen Elizabeth at Greenock, Firth of Clyde and then proceeded as follows:

First to Bearsden Roman Bath House. This was connected with a nearby fort on the Antonine Wall which dates from around AD 142.

Roman Bath House, Bearsden, Glasgow

Next, we arrived at Auchentoshan Distillery where we availed of a one hour tour learning all about the malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation processes relating to Scotch whisky.

Distilling Whisky at Achentoshan Distillery, Glasgow

Maturing Whisky Casks at Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow

Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow, Scotland

Next to the impressive Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of the top such establishments in Europe and which houses some 8,000 exhibits ranging from ancient Egypt to old masters to fossils to engineering.

Kelvingrove Museuam and Art Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland

Here is an image of James Watt’s steam engine. This was transformational as the technology powered the Industrial Revolution. James Watt hailed from Glasgow.

 Next we travelled down to Pacific Quay to view the River Clyde in context of the local architecture and bridges. View included the Clyde Auditorium or ‘Armadilllo’, Science Centre, and ‘Squinty’ Bridge.

River Clyde at Glasgow, Scotland

 Next to visit Glasgow’s 13th century Cathedral. We were fortunate to engage the services of an excellent and expert Cathedral guide who, in the course of an hour’s tour, explained all facets of this important and historic building which sits on a site of Christian worship dating back to around the 6th century AD.

Inside Glasgow Cathedral, Scotland

Next, we walked across the road to visit Provand’s Lordship. This is Glasgow’s oldest house dating back to the 15thcentury and was originally part of the buildings associated with the Cathedral administration.

Provand's Lordship, Glasgow, Scotland

Our final visit was to Newark Castle which sits on the banks of the Clyde in Port Glasgow. This was connected with Maxwell family and dates from the 15th century. A programme of restoration was underway durig our visit. However, we still maanged to viist the key aspects of the interior. 

Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, Scotland

 Finally, we returned to Greenockat around 4.30pm, in time to connect with the cruise ship’s departure schedule.

Overall, a good tour but weather was indifferent with prolonged spells of rain.

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Glasgow

This morning, I visited the Titan Crane in Glasgow’s Clydebank.

This magnificent structure dates from 1907 and was once part of the famous John Brown shipbuilding works on the River Clyde. Ater a long and illustrious history dating back to the mid 19th century, shipbuilding went into prolonged decline and the yards were finally demolished in 2002. However, the Titan Crane was categorised as Catgeory ‘A’ listed structure (highest possible) and has been transformed into a tourist attraction in context of an initiate to regenerate the Clydebank area. A lift takes visitors to the top of the crane where there is  information and a film on the proud shipbuilding tradition of the Clyde, not to mention the stunning views of Glasgow to the east and Erskine Bride to the west. Visibility today was about average.

Famous ships built at the John Brown yard include: Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Royal Yacht Britannia, QE2, Lusitania and HMS Hood.

View from Titan Crane, Clydebank, Glasgow

River Clyde and Erskine Bridge viewed from Titan Crane, Clydebank

Titan Crane, Clydebank, Scotland

Can certainly recommend a trip to the crane to connect with Glasgow’s long shipbuilding tradition. Will endeavour to include a visit to the crane in my Glasgow tours in future.