Glasgow Travel Forum

Hi there

Well my parents are visiting in summer and I have booked 4 of us to go to Glasgow, some questions to fellow travelers,

1. Whats the best area to reside as short stay tourists?

2. My wife and mom would like to see a castle where as myself and dad would like to go visit a brewery, how can I book a brewery visit, are there any breweries close to the city center? He's an avid fan of scotch whiskey so I really want him to see one.

3. we are visiting on the 2nd week of July, any festivals or similar events?

4. should we go to Edinburgh for 1/2 day as well?

Thanks

ER

Try the following - btw, if it's whisky you're after, it is made in a distillery. Breweries brew beer!


Glengoyne Distillery
- www.glengoyne.com - 01360 550254

Morrison Bowmore Distilllers LTD
- www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk - 0141 558 9011

Diageo
- www.diageo.com - 0141 353 0732

Amrut Distilleries Ltd
- www.glasgowonline.co.uk - 0141 427 1818

Diageo Global Supply
- www.diageo.com - 0141 885 1122

Rutherglen Scotch Whiskey Co Ltd
0141 647 4774

Bean Global (UK) Ltd
- 0141 551 9196

John Dewar & Sons Ltd
- 0141 551 4000

Diageo PLC
- www.diageo.com - 0141 885 6300

Chivas Bros Ltd
- 0141 531 1801

I've been to the Glendoyne Distillery and it is a good tour. However, it is a ways out of Glasgow and you would probably need your own transportation. That being said, it is in lovely countryside.

As for castles, there's Kelburn Castle just outside of Largs on the coast. Then within Glasgow there's Crookston Castle, and near Port Glasgow there's Newark Castle. Also Dumbarton Castle. Suggest you investigate on Goggle as to which one might suit. And then further afield there's Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle (far far better than Edinburgh Castle).

Central Glasgow is a small area. I suggest you stay in the city centre or else the west end. Also suggest the first thing you should do is take the hop on/hop off bus tour of the city so that you can get a good overall look at the place. And as you walk around, don't forget to look up - Glasgow has some stunning architecture.

You could go to Edinburgh for half a day but it wouldn't be worth it. A day visit, perhaps.

However, you only have two nights in Glasgow, so leave Edinburgh for another time.

Bothwell Castle to the east of Glasgow is a real mediaeval castle and easily reached by public transport - not sure of the bus number, will try to look later.

Dumbarton Castle has already been mentioned. Very much worth a visit and easy to reach by train from Glasgow to Dumbarton East station. Conveniently, the Auchentoshan Distillery is at Dalmuir, just a few stops short of Dumbarton East. www.auchentoshan.co.uk

Hi is the Finninston Area close to the city center and public transit, found a serviced apartment there? wondering if thats far

Thanks

ER

Well, it's close to the city centre in terms of distance but I think public transport would be a problem. Also I'm not sure I would want to wander around that area at night - it's not unsafe, just a bit of a wilderness. There's lots of new building in the area. Where about's in Finniston is the apartment? As you seem to be going for only 2 nights, I think you would be better staying in the city centre - try the Travelodge or Premier Inn and there are also a lot of low-priced but still perfectly presentable hotels, etc. in the city centre.

There is the Auchentoshan distillery which is on the A82 Dumbarton Road just beyond Clydebank but you can take the train to Dalmuir and it`s a 15 minute walk from there. You can have a taxi waiting for you at Dalmuir if you prefer. I live close to this and I can give you a phone number for a local taxi. It`s a nice visit to Auchentoshan and you can buy a bottle on your way out.

It depends on where the apartment is in Finnieston. If close to the Exhibition Centre, there's a train station and (I think) fairly frequent buses. In any case, you can walk to Argyle Street and get a bus from there. Also quite close to the University of Glasgow, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (or whatever they call it these days) and Kelvingrove Park.

Correct me if I am wrong but, Whisky without an "e" is from Scotland.
And Edinburgh for a half day, eh, we only had 4 hours in Edinburgh, and the only thing we could take in was the castle. One day I hope to get back and spend a few days exploring, but hey, half a day is better than nothing.
Diana

You could always hop on an express bus to Kilmarnock, 35-40 minutes south of Glasgow where the famous Johhny Walkers is bottled. There is the Dean Castle in the town itself. Kilmarnock is also famous for Rabbie Burn's 'First Edition'.
Walkers used to do a tour, part of the Diageo group so the number posted above should be able to give you info on their Kilmarnock Plant. For more info visit East-Ayrshires website.

Hi All

Thanks for all your replies so far

In terms of lodging we want to stay close to the center of the city, can you recommend a place for 4/5 people, a service apartment or something similar for 2 nights in August budget about £100/night

Thanks

ER

As I translate it you appear to want one room for all four people, so I would suggest that you try the Travelodge or Premier Inn, both of which have family rooms. If not, then I would still suggest the previous two, or else Google City Centre hotels Glasgow. I think it would be difficult to find an apartment for just two nights. Perhaps not but it would be extremely expensive. I know there is a Travelodge on St Vincent Street, which is very central. Also one on the street that runs behind Sauchiehall Street (Renfrew Street?) that is also central, as is the Premier Inn on George Street. Failing that, there's an Express by Holiday inn, Langham's, the Central Hotel, and a whole host of others all in the city centre. The Moat House is outside of the centre and is in fact, near to where you were considering an apartment and is not very convenient. The Hilton, the Marriott and the Holiday Inn are all more or less next to each other and I would say they are more on the fringes of central Glasgow but still within what is defined as the centre of Glasgow - but not partiucarly convenient imo.

I think another hotel with the facilities you are looking for would be the Tulip Inn, Ballater Street on the south of the river but just a ten minute walk from the centre of town.

Thanks everyone for your replies, the questions keep coming :), whats the best way to get to central Glasgow from the Airport? if we arrive late at night 11.30 p.m. whats the cheapest option of getting to the city center? also how much would a cab ride cost? also would it be safe for a single female to travel alone from the airport to the city center?

I think your only option would be to take a taxi. I'm afraid I cannot tell you what it might cost; however, I do know that sometimes if people are going to more or less the same location, then it is possible to share a ride. Yes, it is safe for a single female.