Kiwi Roaming

Storm Bram decided to make landfall in northern Scotland on December 6th so we had to navigate wind and rain driving north. We decided to stay in Loch Lamond so we could experience the magical countryside, the cute village of Balloch and have easy access to Glasgow via the train. This was also our first stay in a UK Bed and Breakfast, a semi-detached house where the owners live in the back half downstairs with a guest living and dining room at the street, then the guest rooms are upstairs. Ours was the largest with an ensuite and extra single bed. It was nice, clean, great “full Scottish” breakfast each morning and a very reasonable price.

We arrived after dark (4pmish) and settled in before taking our first of many walks in the rain to explore Balloch. They have gone all out decorating houses with Christmas decor here. There are about 6 pubs, a couple of other food places, a Co-op supermarket, train station, bakeries and a couple of other shops. Our walk took us over the bridge where we could see hundreds of boats – pleasure craft and riverboats – moored for the winter. Selecting our first pub to try we settled in for a couple of drinks. This, like all of the pubs we have been to on this trip, was a dog friendly pub so plenty of furry friends there as well. Very cute.

Glasgow – Next morning after our early breakfast we hopped on the train into Glasgow which is a spread out city so a great train ride in. It was due to rain so we made a beeline to the McLennan Arch – Glasgow’s own Arc de Triomphe – which has had a fascinating life, has been moved 3 times before settling in it’s permanent home at the entrance to the city gardens. As we walked towards the gardens we started to notice Santa’s, more and more the closer we got. It was of course a fundraising Santa run! The gardens were set up for the run and seemed to also have one of the cities Christmas markets there too. So the arch was covered in signage with Santa’s all around. I took a few pics for a group of runners who had just finished under the arch before we headed off.

Next on my list was Wellington with his permanent head dress of an orange cone. There is a Wellington monument in every city but this one is famous for the hat. Other highlight for me was as a standards geek, I loved stumbling across their official standards for measures on the wall of the municipal chambers.

Glasgow also has an extensive network of murals / street art and again walking around these gave us a great perspective of the city itself. These UK cities don’t have verandahs or overhang where pedestrians can shelter so you need to be wearing rain protection when walking around here. Glasgow seemed nice, it has a lovely wide pedestrian only shopping street through the middle, no cars is great, and we went into a mall to see the fantastic decorations (a recommendation from our B&B host).

Sometime around 4am I had a brain wave that since it was going to be torrential rain in the afternoon at the same time as the final F1 race of the season, we should find a pub to watch it. I tried a couple who were fully booked then landed on The Merchant where I could select my sport, the time I would arrive and leave so I booked us in for 1:45pm which was right before it pissed down. What a great way to spend the afternoon! the place was chocker, food was great and we kept ordering via QR code so didn’t miss any of the race. I wore an orange t-shirt and we thoroughly enjoyed the cliff hanger final. There was a table of Oscar supporters just along from us but everyone else was gunning for Lando so the outcome was great for the crowd.

It was dark and raining when we left so we trained back and hopped in the car to drive to a laundromat. The nearest one was 25 minutes via dual carriageway 60mph roads so a smooth ride into the city. We elected to go to a Speed Queen, a brand we used often in Spain and Portugal. A quick stop into the Sainsbury’s for food (we only need snacks after “full Scottish” and pub lunch) then back to the B&B. Steve did an amazing job driving in the rain.

Loch Lamond – Next morning there was a break in the rain so we headed to the lake. We parked at a wee inlet where two older women were in swimming having a natter, they had their woollen hats on, full wetsuits including booties and bobbed around chatting the whole time we were there. The lake is gorgeous, we can see why people come to stay here. There are grand buildings along the way, some hotels and others private residences. We also saw golf courses on the lakeside and plenty of B&B’s.

Next stop Dundee (well via a heap of places). More Glasgow pics below.