GLASGOW 7). Loch Lomond – The single biggest expanse of inland water in the British Isles, Loch Lomond brings together two very different Scotlands. From its 'bonnie banks', located within the boundaries of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park to Helensburghs elegant promenades and the shipping heritage of the Clyde, this is an area of dramatic contrasts. The sheltered harbour at Balmaha is the ideal centre for sailing and water-sports, while the championship golf course at Loch Lomond Golf Club regularly attracts household names to world-class golfing tournaments. Why not see Scotland as you've never seen it before by taking off and landing on the waters of Loch Lomond with Loch Lomond Seaplanes, the UK's only commercial seaplane service. They provide regular excursions, charters and lunch flights across Scotland from their base on Loch Lomond. Cruise Loch Lomond also offers cruises throughout the year allowing you to experience the beauty, tranquillity and adventure on Loch Lomond - the jewel in Scotland’s first National Park. 8). New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site – New Lanark is a beautifully restored 18th century cotton mill village nestled in the spectacular south Lanarkshire valley in southern Scotland, close to the Falls of Clyde and less than an hour from Glasgow. Discover the fascinating history of New Lanark which has been interpreted in the award-winning New Lanark Visitor Centre. The impressive cotton mill village of New Lanark was founded in 1785. New Lanark quickly became known under the enlightened management of social pioneer, Robert Owen. He provided good homes, fair wages, free health care, a new education system for villagers and the first workplace nursery school in the world! Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark, has been beautifully restored as a living community, which welcomes visitors from all over the world. www.newlanark.org 9). Falkirk Wheel – Measuring 35m, The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s only rotating boatlift and is used to connect the Forth & Clyde and Union canals in central Scotland. This magnificent, mechanical marvel has been constructed to 21st Century, state-of-the-art engineering and it is already being recognised as an iconic landmark worthy of Scotland's traditional engineering expertise. Designed to replace a series of lock gates built in the 19th Century - long since demolished and replaced by housing - The Falkirk Wheel is the showpiece of the Millennium Link project where coast-to-coast navigation of the canals has been re-established for the first time in over 40 years. www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk
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10). Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park – Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is Glasgow’s nearest big countryside attraction for healthy family fun days out or outdoor activities. All visitor centres have free parking and entry, sign posted woodland walks and nature trails, easy wildlife watching, indoor and outdoor attractions, cafes, gift shops and a Ranger Service. The park boasts seasonal row boat and mountain bike hire as well as walks in Parkhill Wood, the designed landscape woodlands of the Semple Clan. Ask the Rangers about the Parkhill Challenge - a treasure-hunt style activity suitable for all the family. www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk 11). Glengoyne Distillery – Glengoyne is open all year round for guided distillery tours, whisky tastings, in-depth blending sessions and Masterclasses. Situated just 22.5km north of Glasgow, Glengoyne is close to Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs. The visit begins with a dram of 10 year old Single Highland Malt before enjoying a guided tour of the distillery. After the tour, guests are invited in to the new state-of the-art whisky 'Sample Room' to take their whisky knowledge to new levels. With its locally hand crafted, light oak fixtures and fascinating array of sample bottles, the spectacular Sample Room is where guests can create their own unique blend of whisky, under the watchful eye of the expert blender. www.glengoyne.com 12). Stirling Castle – For generations Scotland’s royalty gathered at Stirling Castle to revel in its impressive buildings, superb sculptures, fine craftsmanship and beautiful gardens. Today, visitors can do the same. Highlights include The Great Hall, Chapel Royal, Regimental Museum of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, The Great Kitchens and Tapestry Studio. Guided tours of the castle help bring its rich and colourful past to life in vivid detail. Audio tours in six languages are available and a free guided tour of Argyll’s Lodging, one of Europe’s finest surviving 17th-century townhouses, is also included in the entry price. The Palace Project has now seen the six ground floor Kings’ and Queens’ apartments in Stirling Castle’s Renaissance Palace restored to their mid-16th century opulence. Also restored to the Castle for the first time since 1777, are the Stirling Heads, the supreme example of hand carved renaissance iconography in Scotland. The courtiers are depicted in the style of classical gods at some sort of celestial court, and this reflects the Renaissance hankering for the cultural glories of classical Rome and Greece. www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk
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